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George P. Scobey

George P. Scobey, of the firm of Scobey, Taylor & Farr, dealers in horses and other live stock, is a resident of Fayette. The firm has an office in West Union, and also in Fayette. Mr. Scobey was born in Litchfield County, Conn., April 27, 1851, and is a son of Z. D. and Eleanor E. (Anderson) Scobey, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. With them he came to Iowa, in March, 1859, and the succeeding ten years of his life were spent in Delaware County, when the family came to Fayette. His education was acquired in the Upper Iowa University, after which for three years he was employed as merchant's clerk in Fayette, and then engaged in merchandising in that town for himself in company with his brother, C. R. A. Scobey, under the firm name of Scobey Brothers, which connection continued some seven or eight years, when they sold out. Mr. Scobey then engaged in his present business and formed the existing partnership with Messrs. Taylor & Farr in 1887. This firm does the largest livestock business of any in the country. Their annual business amounts to $250,000 and upwards. In addition to their usual shipping trade, they import and keep constantly on hand a number of fine Norman and French coach stock horses. Mr. Scobey is the resident partner at Fayette, and does much of the business of the firm at home and in Eastern markets.

On May 21, 1873, he was united in marriage with Miss Mattie E. Boyce, who was born in Plainfield, Carroll County, Ill., May 9, 1852, and with her parents, Joseph E. and Mary (Titsworth) Boyce came to Fayette, which has since been her home. Her mother died September 21, 1882. Her father survives and is now a resident of Sioux Falls, S. D. Four children, three sons and a daughter grace the union of Mr. and Mrs. Scobey: Edmund B., born April 10, 1876; Mary Eleanor, March 23, 1878; Charles Wilbur, April 28, 1881; and Frank Henry, April 1, 1883. All were born in Fayette. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Scobey is a Trustee, and both are actively identified with church work. In politics he is an earnest Republican, and has served two terms as Mayor of Fayette. Socially he is a member of Pleiades Lodge, No. 248, A. F. & A. M., and of Ansel Humphreys Chapter, No. 80, R. A. M. He has been a resident of Fayette continually since 1869, and for many years has been known as a prominent and respected business man of the county