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         HON. GEORGE JAMISON resides on section 27, Wapello Township. Among the substantial business men of Louisa County none deserves more notice in this work than our subject, who is numbered among the pioneers of 1840. He has not only witnessed the remarkable growth of town and county, but has contributed to its development as much as any other man within its borders. He was born Aug. 25, 1817, in Ross County, Ohio, but was reared in Fayette County. His educational advantages were limited indeed, being obtained principally in the old log school-house, with its well-known fireplace, occupying almost one entire end of the building, its puncheon floor, slab seats, writing-desk around the wall, and the birch rod, that terror to evil-doers, just above the master’s desk. A description of the old log school-houses, which were then so common, affords amusement to those educated in the more modern institutions, but in just such buildings have many of the most noted men of our nation been educated, and the scanty knowledge there acquired has often served as the basis of more extended readings, culminating in the well-read lawyer, the minister, the physician, or the business man. As in the case of many others, so it has been with Mr. Jamison; he has made a proper use of all the means within his reach, until he possesses a practical knowledge of men and events which could not be obtained in text-books. On coming to Iowa he determined to obtain for himself a farm of 160 acres with good improvements, but when this desire was accomplished he was not yet satisfied, but continued to add to his original farm until he now owns more than 4,000 acres of land, which is at present stocked with 1,000 head of cattle.

On the 2d of September, 1840, Mr. Jamison was married to Hulda A. Herrick, a native of New York, who emigrated with her parents to Ohio when a mere child. By their union there are four children, who are now comfortably settled around the parents, namely: John W., Jacob H., Merit L. and Oregon B. In educational matters Mr. Jamison has always been greatly interested, and in political sentiment is a Democrat. He was honored with an election to the Seventeenth General Assembly, overcoming a majority of 800 on the Republican side.

In 1840, at the time of Mr. Jamison’s arrival in Louisa County, it was but sparsely settled, only a few of the pioneers being located in the timber. There were no railroads, and the whistle of the engine did not break the native stillness. Everything had to be hauled in wagons, times were hard and money scarce. The nearest trading-post was at Burlington, to which Mr. J. hauled dressed pork, selling it for $1.25 per 100 pounds. Wheat brought only thirty-seven and a half cents per bushel, and two-thirds of that price had to be taken out in trade. The home that Mr. Jamison enjoys, and all that he possesses in life, was acquired by his own exertions and the aid of his faithful wife. They both enjoy the respect of the entire community, and have the confidence and good-will of many warm friends.