Glider, George

GLIDER, SCHEARS, FERGUSON, REED

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 3/30/2021 at 14:41:04

George Glider, section 20, Lime Creek Township, is a farmer and stock-raiser. He was born in Erie County, N.Y., Oct. 15, 1841, and is the son of Henry and Sarah (Schears) Glider, both natives of Germany. They emigrated to America in an early day, and located in Buffalo, N.Y., where they lived about five years, then purchased a small farm near that city, upon which they resided for eighteen years, when they came to Iowa, in 1858, and bought thirty-five acres of land on section 20, Lime Creek Township, Washington County, where they reared nine children, namely: Dorothy, deceased; Henry, a resident of Wellman; Sarah is the wife of Jacob Bowers, residing in Buffalo, N.Y.; George, the subject of this sketch; Philip, a farmer in Lime Creek Township; Jacob, a resident of Wellman; Christ, also a resident of Wellman; Peter, a miner in Idaho; Charles died in infancy. The father died Oct. 5, 1865. He was a stonemason by trade, and an industrious and upright man. The mother died June 13, 1881. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The early life of our subject was spent upon the farm and in attendance at the common schools, until 1862, when he enlisted in Washington, March 13, in Co. H, 7th Iowa Vol. Inf., for three years. He first went to Muscatine, then to Davenport, where the regiment took boats for Pittsburg Landing, from there to Corinth, where Mr. Glider was taken sick and sent back to Shiloh, at which place he lay sick with fever and smallpox for some time. He was offered a furlough which he refused, and, as soon as he was able, returned to the regiment at Camp Montgomery, near Corinth. From there they went to La Grange, Miss., and thence to Moscow, from which place they went back to Corinth. The regiment then participated in the raid after Gen. Forest, then went to Bethel and from there to Middle Tennessee, where, in the winter of 1863, it veteranized, and Mr. Glider enlisted for three years more. He then returned home on a furlough of thirty days, at the end of which time he rejoined his regiment at Nashville, going by way of Keokuk and the Cumberland River. From Nashville they went successively to Pulaski, Elk River, Ala.; Huntsville, Chattanooga, Brand’s Roost, and then with Sherman on his famous march to the sea. The regiment was the first to cross the pontoons at Marietta, Ga., making a charge in which they drove out the rebels, and captured two canon, but in about fifteen minutes lost ninety-five men. From there they went to Atlanta, and from Atlanta were sent back to Rome, then ordered back to Atlanta, where they arrived just in time to see the enemy leaving, when they were again ordered to Rome, where they resumed the march to Atlanta and Macon, following the Macon & Columbus Railroad, destroying the road. They next went to Savannah, and from there to Columbus, S.C., where, after making the march of 160 miles, they made a successful charge, driving the enemy through South Carolina into North Carolina, skirmishing as they went, until they reached Goldsboro, N.C. From there they went to Raleigh, N. C., then continued the march to Richmond, Va., and on to Washington, D.C., where they were found among Sherman’s brave boys in the grand review. The regiment afterward went to Wheeling, W. Va., then by steamer to Louisville, Ky., then to Michigan City and Chicago, and from there to Davenport, where Mr. Glider received his discharge, after serving three years and four months. He then returned home to Washington County, and resumed his occupation of farming. He purchased thirty acres of land, to which he has since added, and now owns a farm of 105 acres, all under a high state of cultivation. His horses and cattle are of the best, and in the last few years he has in the season turned his attention to threshing grain.

On the 30th day of December, 1865, Mr. Glider was united in marriage with Miss Myra Ferguson, who was born Aug. 3, 1847, and is the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Reed) Ferguson, natives of New York. They are the parents of nine children – Sarah C., Nettie M., Sherman W., John B., Albert W., Mary C., Myra L. and Eva F. Mr. and Mrs. Glider are members of the Evangelical Church.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of George Glider, pages 176-177.