Sampson, George

SAMPSON, STOWE, ALLEN, PEGRAM

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/30/2009 at 15:31:04

History of Poweshiek Co. Iowa (1911)

GEORGE SAMPSON

The possibilities under the favoring influences of the republic for ambitious and deserving young men from foreign lands are clearly illustrated in the career of George Sampson, now a leading contractor of Grinnell. He was born in Norway, November 5, 1849, the son of Sigard and Anna Sampson, both of whom were natives of Norway. The father was a miner and died when the subject of this review was a child of four years. The mother came to America in 1867 and settled at Spring Valley, Minnesota, where she lived until her death, which occurred on the 4th of March, 1876.

George Sampson possessed limited opportunities of education in the common schools of his native land and was early set to work herding cattle. At twelve years of age he secured employment on a stage route in Norway and continued for four years, after which he worked upon a farm. In 1869 he crossed the ocean to the new world and for two years applied himself to farming in Spring Valley, Minnesota. Having decided to take up government land he went west for that purpose, but not being able to find a desirable location he returned to Minnesota, in 1871, and went to Mankato, where he worked for wages on a farm and attended school for three months. At Mankato he became acquainted with William Roberts, a mason, and under Mr. Roberts he learned the mason's trade. In 1873 he began as a contractor at Spring Valley and three years later, on July 7, 1876, arrived at Grinnell, Iowa, where he readily secured work at his trade. He went to Omaha for a short time, but believing Grinnell to be a more favorable location he returned to this city and on September 1, 1877, began as contractor in stone and brick work. Since that time he has extended his operations, and he now does general contracting in the city and surrounding towns. He has applied himself to such good purpose that he is now at the head of a large and growing concern and one which has erected many of the substantial buildings in this part of the county.

On the 15th day of November, 1876, Mr. Sampson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Stowe of Grinnell, daughter of Luther Watson and Phebe R. (Allen) Stowe, the father being a native of Massachusetts and the mother of New York. They came west in 1856 and located at Oak Grove, Iowa, where they lived for twenty years. In 1876 the family moved to Grinnell. The father was born in 1819 and is now living in this city, having reached the age of ninety-two years. The mother is deceased. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sampson, namely: Cora B., wife of Samuel M. Pegram, of Lincoln, Illinois, who is engaged in the dry goods business at Muskogee, Oklahoma; and Louis J., who is married and is engaged in the mason's trade at Rockford, Illinois.

Mr. Sampson gives his support to the republican party and holds membership in the Methodist church of Grinnell. He is identified prominently with the Masonic order, being a member of Grinnell Lodge, No. 273, A.F. & A.M., of Grinnell, Palestine Chapter, No. 101, R.A.M . of Grinnell, and of the commandery and shrine, being also connected with the Odd Fellows.

Coming to this country as a young man he started at the very foundation by learning the language and gradually forged his way through obstacles until he became established in a permanent and lucrative business. It required pluck, zeal and unswerving perseverance, but he was liberally endowed with all of these necessary qualities and he is today one of the substantial and progressive citizens of Poweshiek county. His life may truly be designated as active and useful, and in all his business transactions he has been entirely honorable and trustworthy, and he possesses the esteem and confidence of all with whom his relations, socially or in business, have brought him in contact.