general man of service

[krisstte]

Does it mean "main assistant"?

Newspaperman's office, 1833.

He looked up to find Marcus Baker, his secretary and general man of service, in the doorway. He waved him in. “Enter.” The man set a stack of newsprint on the desk, topped with a collection of envelopes. “Tomorrow’s news and today’s mail.

S. MacLean "Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover"

 

[Tarheel]

He was his assistant, yes.

He might have been the only one for all I know.

 

[emsr2d2]

Does it the bold part mean "main assistant"?

Setting: Newspaperman's office, 1833.

He looked up to find Marcus Baker, his secretary and general man of service, in the doorway. He waved him in. “Enter.” The man set a stack of newsprint on the desk, topped with a collection of envelopes. “Tomorrow’s news and today’s mail."

S. MacLean "Never Judge a Lady by Her Cover" by S Maclean

Note my corrections above.

To me, "a general man of service" means that Marcus is someone who helps whoever "he" is, in a general way.