He was the Governor of Puerto Rico from 1909 to 1913. He was the son of Francis Colton and Frances A. Garey Colton (1837-1869), who died in Paris, France. On October 16, 1889 as George R. Colton, he married Jessie T. McLoud or McLeod at David City, Nebraska. They were the parents of Francis Colton, born August 30, 1890; died June 18, 1947 and Ethridge McLeod Colton who changed his first name to George, born December 10, 1892; died January 1964.

The Washington Post Saturday, April 8, 1916
Death Of Col. G.R. Colton
Former Governor of Porto Rico Is a Victim of Tropical Maladies
Colonel George R. Colton, who was Governor of Porto Rico from 1909 to 1913 and who served for a number of years in important customs positions in the Philippines and Santo Domingo died Thursday night at Walter Reed Army Hospital. Death is said to have been due to disabilities contracted through residence in the tropics.

Colonel Colton was born in Illinois about 50 years ago. He was residing in Nebraska when he entered the government service. He went to the Philippines first as Lieutenant Colonel of a Nebraska regiment during the Philippines insurrection and was appointed Deputy Collector of Customs at Iloilo in 1899. He was later made Collector of the Port and in 1905 was selected to organize the Dominican Customs Service. He returned to the Philippines in 1907 as Collector of Customs at Manila and returning to the United States in 1909 assisted in the revision of the tariff laws of the Philippines. He was appointed Governor of Porto Rico in December 1909, resigning in November 1913 to engage in private business in the United States.

Colonel Colton is survived by two sons, Francis and George Colton and two sisters, Mrs. Randall Hagner and Mrs. Archibald Davis, both of this city. The funeral will be held from the residence of Mrs. Hagner, 2132 R Street Northwest this afternoon at 4 o'clock. It will be attended only by immediate members of the family. Interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery.

He was the Governor of Puerto Rico from 1909 to 1913. He was the son of Francis Colton and Frances A. Garey Colton (1837-1869), who died in Paris, France. On October 16, 1889 as George R. Colton, he married Jessie T. McLoud or McLeod at David City, Nebraska. They were the parents of Francis Colton, born August 30, 1890; died June 18, 1947 and Ethridge McLeod Colton who changed his first name to George, born December 10, 1892; died January 1964.

The Washington Post Saturday, April 8, 1916
Death Of Col. G.R. Colton
Former Governor of Porto Rico Is a Victim of Tropical Maladies
Colonel George R. Colton, who was Governor of Porto Rico from 1909 to 1913 and who served for a number of years in important customs positions in the Philippines and Santo Domingo died Thursday night at Walter Reed Army Hospital. Death is said to have been due to disabilities contracted through residence in the tropics.

Colonel Colton was born in Illinois about 50 years ago. He was residing in Nebraska when he entered the government service. He went to the Philippines first as Lieutenant Colonel of a Nebraska regiment during the Philippines insurrection and was appointed Deputy Collector of Customs at Iloilo in 1899. He was later made Collector of the Port and in 1905 was selected to organize the Dominican Customs Service. He returned to the Philippines in 1907 as Collector of Customs at Manila and returning to the United States in 1909 assisted in the revision of the tariff laws of the Philippines. He was appointed Governor of Porto Rico in December 1909, resigning in November 1913 to engage in private business in the United States.

Colonel Colton is survived by two sons, Francis and George Colton and two sisters, Mrs. Randall Hagner and Mrs. Archibald Davis, both of this city. The funeral will be held from the residence of Mrs. Hagner, 2132 R Street Northwest this afternoon at 4 o'clock. It will be attended only by immediate members of the family. Interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery.