George Tiedeman

George Tiedeman house in Savannah

Tiedeman was born on September 11, 1861, in Charleston, South Carolina, the son of Amelia (née Corby) and Otto Tiedeman[1] His father had immigrated to South Carolina from Germany in 1840.[2] His father worked as a grocer.[2] He had two brothers and a sister.[2] In 1887, he moved to Savannah to work at his brother Irvin's wholesale grocery business.[2] He became politically active and served on the local Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Trade, and president of the Georgia State Savings Association.[2]

He won an election as an alderman and thereafter was elected to three terms as mayor.[2][3] While mayor, he brought the American Grand Prix race to Savannah (1908 American Grand Prize, 1910 American Grand Prize, 1911 Vanderbilt Cup, and the 1911 American Grand Prize).[2] A great believer in technology, he outfitted the city with electric street lights and motorized the fire department.[2]

In 1890, he married Sarah Floride Shivers (1867–1843) of Savannah; they had three children: Carsten (1902–1979), Inez, and George (1894–1901).[1] Inez married Roy Chapin, the founder of the Hudson Motor Car Company.[2] Tiedeman died on June 30, 1935, and is buried at the Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah.[1]