Wadsworth, Geo.

WADSWORTH, MCMURRY

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 2/27/2013 at 08:09:13

The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa
Des Moines: Union Hist. Co., 1880.

WADSWORTH, GEO.—Scott Twp—pg 769-70. Farmer, section 12, P.O. Brooklyn. Was born in the year 1835, in Ireland, and when twelve years old immigrated to Illinois to live with an aunt, and after remaining there some time, went to Colorado, where he stayed seven years. While living here he spent part of his time in teaming between Rock Island and his home, often having very dangerous encounters with the Indians, sometimes losing his teams and load, but when he succeeded in getting through with his load was rewarded with good profits. The subject of this sketch is of Scotch parentage, having ten brother and sisters, and although he had very limited opportunities to receive an education, he is an intelligent, well read man, who, in the prime of life, has been in nearly every State in the Union. In 1867 he settled on his present farm of 200 acres of prairie land, which he had previously bought. After working and living alone for a year opening up his new place, with no houses to be seen for miles around, and for weeks at a time would see no persons near his lonely home, he in January, 1868, went to Rock Island, Illinois, and there married Miss Mary McMurry of that place. They have been blessed with four girls and two boys, who are all living at home. He was in Rock Island in 1853, when there were but few small houses and no bridges. He started in life with nothing, and to-day would not take $12,000 for his land with its improvements and stock, and is now about to make more improvements, for which he has ample means. When he began here he paid $30 per thousand for fencing, he now has all kinds of machinery, and has always paid cash for everything he bought.