 Magdalene
Stiebel
In
1851, George’s life took a turn for the better when
he married long time sweetheart Magdalene Baker, daughter
of a Moravian Missionary. Soon after their son, Sigismund,
named after George’s father, was born. Two years later
a girl, Theresa, joined the Stiebel family. Five years after
their marriage, his ships were caught in a terrible storm,
which destroyed the vessels. Unfortunately Stiebel was aboard
one of the ships which sank off the coast of Venezuela. He
managed to survive the wreckage and luckily he had the foresight
to secure all his money which was stored in a leather belt
. Stiebel’s tenacity soon began to show results, because
shortly after arriving in Venezuela he became a peddler, and
with his savings he purchased a mule to assist in transporting
his goods. His misfortune at sea quickly dulled when he began
trading gold in Venezuela. He invested in a gold mine with
his friends, and fifteen years later in 1873 the business
was showing huge profits. George Stiebel had undoubtedly made
an impressive stake in the goldmining business and the accolade
awarded to him as Jamaica’s first millionaire of African
descend seemed very deserving and appropriate. His achievements
were shattered however with the death of his son, and he returned
home to Jamaica.
Stiebel’s
love for his country and sense of civic duty kicked in almost
immediately after his return to Jamaica. It is reported that
he purchased 99 properties (it was illegal to own 100 properties
during the period) including two sugar estates, a wharf at
Church Street, Great Salt Pond and a Cattle Pen named Minard,
in St. Ann. |
