George W. Tracy

ALEXANDER, BISHOP, GILKEY, GRENNARD, POLT, SWITZER, TRACY, WRIGHT

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 9/10/2004 at 10:04:47

George W. Tracy, a successful farmer of Douglas township, Madison county, Iowa, was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, upon a farm, on the 14th. of February, 1840. His parents, Vezy and Nancy (Grennard) Tracy, were both born in Lexington, Kentucky, the father on the 9th of April, 1801, and the mother on the 6th of November, 1801. He passed away on the 1st of April, 1865, at the age of sixty-four, and her death occurred on the 21st of February, 1898. Vezy Tracy worked as a farm hand in Kentucky in his early manhood but in 1830 removed to Indiana and there continued to work for others for some time. He was determined to acquire land of his own and lived most frugally, saving enough from his wages at nine dollars a month to buy a farm from the government. He became the owner of two hundred and forty acres of land which was timbered and for a number of years devoted his time to clearing and improving his property. While living in Indiana he often went down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans in flat-boats and worked his way back. He had many interesting experiences on those trips and learned much of the country bordering the two great rivers. He resided upon his farm until his death and all who knew him spoke well of him. He was a sincere Christian, honest in all his dealings and ready to do another a favor and, moreover, he never used profanity. To him and his wife were born two children, of whom our subject is the elder.

George W. Tracy pursued his education in a log schoolhouse and was there taught the three R’s, but as the school system of the time was very primitive he did not progress much further in his scholastic training. However, he learned much concerning the best methods of agriculture, and the sturdy life of the pioneer impressed upon him the value of the. virile qualities of determination, courage and self-reliance. When nineteen years of age he began operating his father's farm and so continued until 1864, in which year he removed by team to Henry county, Illinois, where he had previously purchased land. He still has in his possession an old rope-bottom bed which he hauled from Rock Island at that time. Four years later he removed to Madison county, Iowa, crossing the Mississippi river on the ice at New Boston, Illinois. Upon his arrival in this county he settled upon the farm in Douglas township which is still his home and immediately began the cultivation of his land. Although he pays considerable attention to the raising of the usual crops he takes especial pride in his thoroughbred Hambletonian horses and his fine Hereford cattle. He has exhibited a number of the latter at the county fair and has always taken prizes, but he has bred his stock chiefly for commercial purposes and has made the exhibiting of it a secondary issue. When he came to this county from Indiana he purchased his first herd from General Lew Wallace, including the cow which was then the champion of Indiana. He owns two hundred and forty acres of good land, and his farming and stock-raising bring to him annually a good income.

Mr. Tracy was married on the 1st of September, 1859, to Miss Sarah Gilky, who was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, on the i5th of August, 1839, a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Switzer) Gilky, both natives of Kentucky. The father's birth occurred in 1797 and he passed away in 1855, in the Hoosier state, when fifty-eight years of age. His wife, who was born in 1806, died at the age of sixty-three. Mr. Gilky was reared to manhood in Ohio and removed to Indiana when that was still a pioneer state and there began farming his quarter section of land. He was a whig in his political belief and his religious allegiance was given to the Hardshell Baptist church. He was a substantial citizen and did well his part in transforming the region in which he lived from a wild district to a cultivated and prosperous one. To him and his wife were born five children, of whom Mrs. Tracy is the eldest. She has become the mother of five children, as follows: James A., who was born in Montgomery county, Indiana, on the 18th of June, 1860, married Miss Mary Polt, a native of Wheeling, West Virginia, who died in March. 1907, leaving three children as follows: Roy, who resides in South Dakota; Winifred, who is teaching school in that state; and Edward,- also a resident of South Dakota. James A. Tracy is a resident of Plankinton, South Dakota, and was for a number of years engaged in the agricultural implement business there. Effie May gave her hand in marriage to Dean Alexander and has passed away, leaving a son, Eugene. Edward, a landowner and farmer in Union county, this state, is married and has two children, Lester and Dora. Leota is the wife of Wesley Bishop, who is farming near Andover, Kansas, and they have a son, Alfred Dale. Oliver E., who was born April 26, 1867, is a farmer of Lincoln township. He married Miss Adella Wright and they have two children, Fay and Fern, twins, born in 1910.

Mr. Tracy is a democrat but has no desire to hold office. He was elected township trustee at one time but did not serve his term out. His religious affiliation is with the Christian church, of which he is a member in good standing. In 1867 he was made a Mason at Berlin, Illinois, now Swedona, and is at present a member of Evening Star Lodge, No. 43, A. F. & A. M., at Winterset. For a number of years he was a member of the American Hereford Cattle Breeders Association. When he first came to this county it was necessary to haul lumber from Des Moines although Winterset was at that time quite a thriving village. He has never regretted his removal here and the county has benefited from his activities as a farmer and stock-raiser and from his public-spirited cooperation in many worthy movements.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915”