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G. B. Darnell

This young man is a representative of the younger generation of farmers who are doing so much to give Fayette county high standing in the agricultural world. Few men of his years have led a more industrious life as a soil tiller, stock raiser and dairyman. He has “made good” in all departments of his work and has something to show for his years of labor. Still in the prime of life, there are many more years of usefulness before Mr. Darnell. He is enterprising, industrious, full of ambition and it would be strange if such a man did not succeed. The family is of Illinois origin and was long identified with the agricultural interests of that state.

 G. B. Darnell was born in Illinois March 2, 1877, and came with his parents the same year to the old farm, his parents being J. C. and Mary M. (Rogers) Darnell, both natives of DeKalb county, Illinois. The son received a good education, having the benefit of both the common schools and a university training. When he entered the Upper Iowa University, he decided that as his life was to be that of a farmer he needed a more practical education than is usually obtained at the college.

There was an excellent commercial department attached to the university and this he entered with a determination to get its full benefits. He studied book-keeping and other branches of the knowledge that is needed on the farm every day, and when he was graduated, June 1, 1896, he felt that he was much better equipped for the work to which he intended to devote his life. Immediately after leaving college he took up farming on the home place near Randalia. The farm consisted of three hundred and twenty acres and for five years he conducted it on the shares with his parents and did well with the business. His mother died March 28, 1902, and this untoward event caused a complete alteration in his plans. Soon after he bought the farm and engaged in the dairy business, and kept this up until August 31, 1910, when he disposed of his interests by sale.

On January 19, 1898, Mr. Darnell married Carrie M., daughter of George and Lucy Whiteley, residents of Fayette county for many years. The Whiteleys were early settlers of the county and always regarded as among the most substantial residents. Mr. and Mrs. Darnell have two children: Zella, born November 14, 1898, and Donald, born August 23, 1900.

~transcribed for the Fayette Co IAGenWeb project by Ann Borden