One of the most modern and attractive country homes to be found in Cedar county stands on Spruce Knoll Farm, which is owned by George W. Garey and comprises two hundred and fifty-five acres. Energy and perseverance are chief characteristics in the life of Mr. Garey, as will be noted by the fact that he today possesses three hundred and thirty-five acres of as good land as can be found in the great state of Iowa and all has been acquired through his own efforts.
He was born in Bedford county, Maryland, July 3, 1858, and when but five years of age was brought to Cedar county by his parents, George P. and Margaret Ann (Comp) Garey, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Pennsylvania, born June 11, 1823, and August 20, 1833, respectively. They were married in the Keystone state in 1850, after which they made their home in Maryland until coming to Cedar county in 1863. The father engaged in farming near Tipton and he and his wife still make their home in this section of the state. Their children, seven in number, of whom two are deceased, are as follows: John, a resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Belle, the wife of William Vest, of Missouri; George W., of this review; Jennie, who became the wife of Andrew Dickerson and is now deceased; Ella, the wife of Charles Perkins, of South Omaha, Nebraska; Bertha, who has departed this life; and Mary, the wife of William McCabe, of Tipton.
George W. Garey acquired his education in the public school at Tipton but began to earn his own livelihood at the early age of nine years, working as a farm hand by the month. He was thus employed until he reached the age of twenty-five, when he began farming for himself by operating rented land for several years. His first purchase was a tract of eight acres on section 9, Center township. In 1894 he bought one hundred and twenty acres and later added an adjoining tract of one hundred and thirty-five acres, so that in his home place he has two hundred and fifty-five acres, situated on sections 16 and 17, Center township, while his total possessions aggregate three hundred and thirty-five acres in that township. On his place in 1906 he erected a modern home, which is supplied with all conveniences and accessories for the comfort of the inmates, while the barns and outbuildings are arranged with a view to convenience and are kept in good repair. Mr. Garey carries on general farming and makes the raising of hogs one of the principal features of his work, keeping about three hundred head annually.
Mr. Garey was married in 1884, the lady of his choice being Miss Lucy Culver, who in 1865 was born on the farm which is still her home. Her father, Orace M. Culver, was born near Cleveland, Ohio, June 14, 1821, and came to Cedar county in 1838 when a young man of eighteen years. He was married in this county at the age of twenty-two to Miss Lucy A. Cook and one daughter graced this marriage, Cornelia, now the wife of J. H. Bolton, of Tipton. Mr. Culver was married a second time, in 1848, this union being with Barbara Catharine Harry, who was born near Corydon, Indiana, in December, 1826. She became the mother of nine children, of whom eight reached years of maturity, the family record being as follows: John G., deceased; Alfred L., of Adair county, Iowa; Jennie P., also of Adair county; Orace Alvah, deceased; William P., of Adair county; Walter, who died in infancy; Dolby R., deceased; Lucy, now Mrs. Garey; and Blanche N., who died at the age of twenty years. The mother of these children departed this life on the 7th of May, 1895, while the father died in Adair county in January, 1907, when he had reached the extreme old age of eighty-six years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Garey have been born two sons and one daughter, John, Blanche and Charley, all at home.
Mr. Garey deserves much credit for what he has accomplished in life, for he started out to earn his own living when most boys at such an age would indulge in the sports and pleasures of youth. He has worked diligently and persistently as the years have come and gone and today the Spruce Knoll Farm stands as the visible evidence of what he has accomplished in the business world.
