Justice George McCann was born in Elmira, Chemung County, on June 23, 1864. He attended the public schools and the Elmira Free Academy. He received both his undergraduate (1886) and law degrees (1888) from Cornell University. He was admitted to the Bar in 1888 at Syracuse. He began practicing in Elmira with Rockwell, McDowell & McCann. From 1894 to 1902, he was a member of the Elmira Board of Education; for two years he held the title of president of the Board. From 1903 to 1914, he was County Judge and Surrogate of Chemung County. He was elected a Supreme Court Justice in 1913. He was designated to the Appellate Division in 1923 (to succeed Justice Kiley) and served on the Court for six years. Justice McCann’s father was a prominent Chemung County farmer. Justice McCann died in 1933. Justice McCann was very involved in Elmira civic affairs.