Binegar, George W.

BINEGAR, FARMER, SHELEY, CESSLER, DUNLAP, NEELY, ADAMS

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 11/30/2012 at 07:15:57

Poweshiek county has been signally favored in the class of men who have filled her public offices, for on the whole they are those to whom the word citizenship is no mere idle term. They have been faithful to the duties and obligations devolving upon them and of this class George W. Binegar is a representative, faithfully and fearless discharging the duties of the office of sheriff.
He was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, June 20, 1844 and is a son of James and Elizabeth (Farmer) Binegar, both of whom were natives of Ohio, where they resided until they came to Iowa in 1849, driving across the country in wagons drawn by three teams. They settled in Forest Home, Union township, Poweshiek county, where the father entered land, but died of fever here in the first summer after his arrival, and one of the sons of the family passed away about the same time. The mother long survived and departed this life in Scott township in 1895, when eighty-five years of age. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom seven reached adult age, while four are yet living.
George W. Binegar may well be numbered among the pioneers of Poweshiek county, for he has resided within its borders continuously since 1849, or for sixty-two years. In the early days he shared with the family in all of the hardships and privations which come to those who establish homes on the frontier. He aided in the arduous task of developing and cultivating new land and continued to follow farming until September, 1861, when in response to the country's call for troops, he joined Company I, of the Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. After serving for a year he was honorably discharged but enlisted gain in February, 1863, when he became a member of Company C, Twenty-eighth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, continuing with that regiment until October 19, 1864, when he was wounded at the battle of Cedar Creek, Winchester, Fisher's Hill and the Red River campaign, besides others of minor importance.
When the war was over Mr. Binegar resumed active connection with farming interests and made his home most of the time in Sugar Creek township until his removal to Scott township. There he followed farming for six years, after which he came to Montezuma, following his election to the office of sheriff in 1897. He filled the position for nine years, including four regular terms and one extra year, owing to a change in the law. He also served for four years as deputy under his son, George Edward Binegar, whose second term expired on the 1st of January, 1911. The father has filled other offices including that of constable and township trustee. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party and he has served as one of its local committeemen.
In 1865 Mr. Binegar was married to Miss Hulda Sheley, who was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, in 1850, and when but a few years old came to Iowa with her parents, Samuel and Margaret (Cessler) Sheley, who were natives of the Buckeye state and became early residents of Poweshiek county, where they were born eleven children: Charles Irwin, now living in Montezuma; Jennie, the wife of Frank Dunlap, of Knoxville, Iowa; Maggie, who died at the age of 16 years; George Edward, who was the sheriff of the county; James who died at the age of twenty-six years; Russia, the wife of Jacob Neely, of Des Moines; Louise, the wife of Joseph Adams, of Oskaloosa, Iowa; Viola, of Minneapolis; Matthew, a resident of Des Moines; Evan, who also makes her home in Minneapolis; and Addie Gertrude, who died at the age of fourteen months.
The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which faith they reared their family, and Mr. Binegar belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic. He has made a credible record in business and in office and is as true and loyal to his country today as when he followed the nation's starry banner upon the battlefields of the south.

History of Poweshiek County Iowa
- A Record of Settlement, Organizations, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II
written by Prof. L. F. Parker.
Published by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., in 1911
Pages 724-725