George Washington Farnsworth, b. 14 Feb 1834

IRONS, HAYES, HAHN, DILLIE

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 3/16/2004 at 12:26:03

George Washington Farnsworth of Perry Township, operates eighty acres of land on section 36. He was born near Euclid, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, Feb. 14, 1834, and received three months schooling, after which, at the age of fourteen years, he commenced learning the trade of a carpenter and joiner in the city of Cleveland, and worked at this two years. Later he engaged as a millwright, operating different mills in his native State.

In 1854 our subject set out for Iowa by boat and cars to Chicago, and thence by team to Sabula, this county. Here also he engaged in millwrighting, and in 1856 went into Grant County, Wis., where he put up three mills and operated a saw-mill three years. On the 1st of March, 1862, he enlisted as a Union soldier, in Company I, 19th Wisconsin Infantry, but later was taken from the ranks and made master mechanic. He was subsequently injured by a fall, and confined to the hospital, where he contracted a fever, but finally recovered and was sent to Camp Randall, where he remained until receiving his honorable discharge. In September, 1863, he was able to walk with a cane and crutch, and went to Michigan, where he became overseer in a mill. He returned to Iowa in June, 1864, locating in Braden Township. Later he put up a steam saw-mill, which he operated until 1881, then selling out removed to Hurstville, where he erected another mill and operated this until 1883. That year his mill was destroyed by fire, and he was obliged to rebuild. Upon selling this he took possession of his present place. Here he has made all the improvements, and carefully cultivated his eighty acres of land. His son put up a saw-mill, which is now being operated successfully.

Our subject was married in Muscoda, Wis., June 13, 1856, to Miss Elizabeth Irons, a native of Ohio. Frederick L., the eldest of their five children, is a mechanic and wheelwright, with headquarters at Andrew; Mary is the wife of S. Hayes, and lives at Maquoketa; Carrie married M. Hahn, and lives in Lyons; Frank and Oscar remain at home with their parents. Mr. Farnsworth is a straight Republican, politically, and belongs to A.W. Dripps Post No. 74, G.A.R. at Maquoketa.

The father of our subject was Havillah Farnsworth, who was born near Hartford, Conn., in 1793. The paternal grandfather, Dr. Havillah Farnsworth, Sr., was born in Rhode Island, and was graduated from a medical college. He removed to Ohio in 1813, locating near Cleveland, where he engaged in farming, and owned 300 acres of land. He also engaged considerably in the fruit business, and followed his practice likewise. He died in Ohio. Politically, he was a Republican, and religiously was a Scotch Presbyterian. His great-grandfather came from Scotland and served in the Revolutionary War, being present at the surrender of Bunker Hill.

Havillah Farnsworth, Jr., was graduated from a medical college in Connecticut, but never practiced. He learned the trade of a goldbeater in Hartford, at which he became very skillful and likewise learned cabinet-making. When twenty-two years of age he emigrated to Ohio. He participated in the War of 1812, and was wounded in the leg. After leaving the army he engaged in farming. In 1833 he purchased land near Cleveland, Ohio - 320 acres - where he built up a good home from the wilderness and lived until 1854. That year, selling out, he came to this county and purchased forty acres of land. In Ohio, in 1844, he was injured by a runaway team, having his skull fractured, and finally became an imbecile. His death took place in 1882. He had been a member of the Baptist Church.

The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Cynthia Dillie. She was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, in 1804. Her father was an early settler of this county, and was very wealthy. He was of German descent. She received a good education and taught school for some time before her marriage. She died while on a visit to her daughter near New Buffalo, Mich. She belonged to the Presbyterian Church. Her four children were named respectively: George Washington, Abigail M., now living in McHenry County, Ill.; Thomas D., a resident of Lyons, this State; and Ellen, who lives in Minnesota.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois.)