FLINDERS, George B. - 1914

FLINDERS, GUTH, HAWLEY, BAILEY, MOREY, KINGSTON, GASKILL

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 7/8/2009 at 14:57:52

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

GEORGE B. FLINDERS.

Since 1881 George B. Flinders has engaged in general farming and stock- raising upon a fine property in Cherokee county and each year has witnessed his increased prosperity and prominence. He now owns three hundred and sixty acres of highly improved land on section 8, Spring township, and occupies an enviable position among substantial and representative agriculturists. He was born in England, August 30, 1852, and came to America with his parents in 1865. They settled in De Kalb county, Illinois, and there the father followed the tailoring trade for a time, later becoming a teacher of instrumental music. His wife passed away in Illinois and the father later moved from that state to Webster county, Iowa, settling there in 1872. A number of years later he took up his residence in Chinook, Montana, making his home with his daughter until his death, which occurred when he was seventyfive years of age. He and his wife became the parents of seven children: George B., of this review; Mrs. Albert Sterling, of Stockton, Kansas; Annie, who married Joseph Guth, of Spokane, Washington; Samuel, of OBrien county, Iowa; Mrs. Mary J. Hawley who lives in Des Moines county, Iowa, and Sarah and John, deceased.

George B. Flinders acquired his education in the public schools of England and Illinois and afterward studied music in Washington, D. C. From the time he was twenty years of age until he was twenty-seven he was a very successful music teacher and he followed this occupation to some extent during his first years in Iowa. He came to this state in 1881 and in the same year purchased the property whereon he has since resided. He has added two hundred acres to his original tract and now owns three hundred and sixty acres of valuable land on section 8, Spring township, two hundred of which are in a high state of cultivation and yield bounteous harvests as a reward of the owners careful supervision and practical labor. Mr. Flinders is a large stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Larrabee, of which he serves as president, an office which calls forth his initiative spirit and his organizing power and in which he has accomplished a great deal of important work.

On October 18, 1877, Mr. Flinders married Miss Anna A. Bailey, a native of New York state and a daughter of Cyrenius and Jane A. (Morey) Bailey, both natives of the Empire state. They settled at Shabbona, Illinois, in 1856 and there resided until 1891, when they moved to Cherokee county, where the father passed away February 28, 1905. The mother makes her home with the subject of this review and has reached the age of eightyseven. To their union were born seven children, two of whom still survive: Anna A., wife of the subject of this review; and Asa C., of Sutherland, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Flinders have four children. Jessie is the wife of Joseph T. Kingston, of Amelia, Canada. Orlow is a graduate of the Minnesota State University and also took a course in law. He afterward engaged in teaching school but has now large interests in the pine woods of Ontario, Canada. He resides at Port Francis. Clara married O. M. Gaskill, an elevator owner and grain merchant of Tripp county, South Dakota. Lawrence G., who completes the family, resides at home.

The family of Mr. Flinders are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he is a democrat in his political views. He never seeks public office but for the past twentyfive years has rendered .the township excellent service as clerk. He has also been secretary of the school board and township assessor for some time. As a result of his persistent energy and unabating industry he has gained a place among the substantial farmers of the county, while personally he enjoys the esteem and regard of all who know him.