 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 black millionaire
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. |
