Page 552

 

W. W. GEORGE

 

W. W. George is living a retired life in Lenox, merely looking after his farming and invested interests.  He formerly led a very busy and useful life whereby he acquired the success that now enables him to rest from labor.  He was born in Franklin county, Indiana, June 17, 1855, a son of B. F. George, who was also born in that county, January 3, 1829.  The father was reared in his native state and was there married to Miss Rebecca Abraham, who was likewise born in Franklin county.  He gave his attention to farming in that district for some years but in 1859 removed to Iowa, making the journey to this state in a prairie schooner.  He reached Adams county in July of that year and chose that section as his destination for his father, Hiram George, had been there in 1855 and entered land for himself and some friends.  B. V. George also purchased land which was partially improved and after adding more improvements to the place he extended its boundaries by additional purchases and continued to make his home in Adams county for many years.  Later he removed to Kansas and after about fourteen years spent in the Sunflower state, passed away in February, 1908, when he had reached the advanced age of seventy-eight years.  The mother preceded him to the home beyond, her death occurring in 1905.  They reared a family numbering two sons and two daughters: W. W., of this review; M. B., a resident of Adams county, Iowa; Lucy, the wife of George Wiechen, a resident of Sedgwick county, Kansas; and Laura E., the wife of E. V. Fritts, of Lincoln county, that state.

 

W. W. George was a little lad of about four years when he was taken from the place of his nativity to Adams county, Iowa.  He was reared in the latter place and began his education in the country schools near his father's home.  Later he attended the high school at Cromwell for one year.  He remained with his father during the period of his boyhood and youth and in the spring and summer months rendered valuable assistance on the home farm.  He thus gained practical knowledge of the best methods of agriculture, so that he was well fitted to carry on work of this kind when he started out on his own account.

 

In October, 1882, he won a companion and helpmate through his marriage to Miss Lizzie Roth, who was born in Illinois remaining there to the age of sixteen years, when she went to Adams county, this state.  Her father, Joseph Roth, was a farmer, following that pursuit first in Illinois and later in Adams county, Iowa.  Mrs. George engaged in teaching or several years prior to her marriage.

 

(Page 553) Following his marriage Mr. George engaged in farming in Adams county until 1891 and in that year removed to Bison, Rush county, Kansas, and engaged in the lumber business.  Later he purchased an elevator and carried on a grain business in connection with his lumberyard.  After six years of prosperity he returned to Taylor county and purchased a nice home in Lenox, which he has since occupied.  He here formed a partnership with Robert Martin in the establishment of a furniture, hardware and implement business, in which he was actively engaged for three years.  He then disposed of his mercantile concern and has since lived retired, although he looks after the rental of his two farms, one of three hundred acres in Adams county, and a second in Kansas.

 

Mr. and Mrs. George have two sons: J. A., a young man at home; and W. Roy, a student in Washburn College, at Topeka, Kansas.  They lost their only daughter, the eldest of the family, who died in 1905 when nineteen years of age.  Mr. George is a democrat in his political affiliations but has never desired public office, for in former years his time was fully occupied with his business affairs.  He is a member of the United Presbyterian church at Lenox, and belongs to K. P. lodge, in which he is serving as vice chancellor.  Mr. and Mrs. George have spent several seasons in California, Utah and other western states and have thus indulged their love of travel.  Mr. George is one of the substantial and public-spirited citizens of Taylor county, for he has been identified with its interests for many years.  He is a man of exemplary habits, strict integrity, and has a strong personality, and Lenox is proud to number him among her best citizens.