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George & Dexter Folensbee

In every locality no class of people are more respected or stand higher as a whole than the country-bred sons, for it is from the farm that spring the substantial men of the land. If we will review the lives of many of the men who have a place in our country's history, we will find that they received their early training amidst the wholesome influence of the farm fireside.

While the subject of this sketch has not attained a high degree of prominence, he has the right to claim the esteem of his fellow men, and he does rank among the leading citizens and farmers in his native county in point of clean character, which is the keynote of a successful life. He is one whose life has been linked with that of the pleasant environments of the farm from his infancy. He was born in Illyria township, Fayette county, Iowa, September 17, 1859, the oldest living son in a family of six children, and has had a continuous residence in this county. His parents, Dexter and Isabelle Meikle Folensbee, located here about 1855 and had a share in assisting in the growth and improvement of Fayette county.

Dexter Folensbee was born in Enfield, New Hampshire, March 3, 1823. His wife was a native of Scotland, the place of her birth being near Edinburgh, and the year 1826. When Isabelle Meikle was a maiden of fifteen summers, she, in company with her parents, embarked to America, little realizing perhaps, that in this foreign country she was to meet her husband. A little prior to her arrival in Trumbull county, Ohio, where her parents settled, young Folensbee's parents had come from the New England states, both families locating on nearby farms. Here these young people grew up and a romance began which resulted in their marriage, in April, 1846. About ten years later they came to Iowa and remained for a short time at Lima, in Westfield township, when they removed to Illyria township and located on a farm of forty acres which he entered in section 20. They lived here eight or ten years and, selling their property to a good advantage, they bought a farm of one hundred and fifty acres in sections 18 and 19, which they made their residence until they passed away. Dexter Folensbee died July 31, 1891, his wife expiring November 14, 1885. They were adherents to Christianity, and, although deprived of present-day church affiliations, they worshipped within their home and lived every-day lives consistent for a follower of God. Politically, Mr. Folensbee was a Whig. Later he became a Republican, and assisted local politics by efficiently holding several minor township offices. They were the parents of six children, of whom two died quite young. Those living are Mrs. Jennette Eller, the oldest; George, the subject of this sketch; Frank Folensbee, and Mrs. Adelia Shepard, who reside in Westfield township.

George Folensbee remained with his parents and assisted with the farm duties until his marriage. At the age of twenty-one years he concluded to accept responsibility and began renting land and working it in connection with that of his parents. At the time of his marriage, September 16, 1886, to Mary E. Pritchard, he took up his abode on a farm of one hundred acres in Illyria township, section 8, which was a gift to his wife from her parents, William and Esther PRICE Pritchard, it being the old homestead of her parents, and on which she has lived since less than one year of age. They keep it in the best of condition and it may truly be said that it is a valuable piece of property. Mr. and Mrs. Folensbee had educational advantages alike, both having received the instruction that the district school offered. They are the proud parents of one child, a daughter of education and many accomplishments. She was born October 6, 1887. Mr. Folensbee is a Republican. He has never taken an active interest in office seeking, but prefers studying the issues at hand and voting as behooves the honest American citizen.