Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 436

GEORGE CHASE, and early settler of Muscatine County, Iowa, and a prominent citizen of West Liberty, was born in Washington County, N.Y., Nov. 22, 1830, and is a son of Nehemiah and Mary ( Scoby ) Chase, both of whom were natives of New York, born of English parentage, whose history can be traced back to 1630, when the family landed in the country. Mr. Chase was a farmer and stock-raiser, and, accompnaied by his wife and eight children, emigrated to Muscatine County, Iowa in 1847, locating on a farm ten miles above Muscatine. This continued to be his home for nine months, when he romved to Wapsinonoc Township, there purchasing a farm of 700 acres partly in Cedar County, where he made his home until his death, which occurred in May, 1883, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. His wife died in 1886, when eighty-six years of age. They were the parents of eight children: Hannah, now the wife of Alexander Fulton, a contractor and builder of West Liberty; Eliza, who was the wife W.H.Wright, died in 1863; William S., a resident farmer of Cedar County; Joseph, who is engaged in farming in the same county; George, the subject of this sketch; Benjamin, who is engaged in farming near Ord, Neb.; James T., who was killed by a horse in the spring of 1848, when fourteen years of age; Thomas K., a soldier of the late war, and a citizen of West Liberty, Iowa. The parents were both members of the Society of Friends. Mr. Chas was a strong Abolitionist, and when a party was formed having a prospect of success, that in its platform opposed that institution, he joined its ranks, and continued to cast his ballot with the Republicans until his death. In early life he had voted with the Whig party. Enterprising and progressive, he was ever ready to take a step in advance, and always exerted his influence and gave liberally of his means for the forwarding of all social or moral interests.

Our subject was sixteen years of age when he came to this county with his parents, and for forty-two years has been identified with the history of his community. He was reared to farm life, and received his education in the common schools of the county. When eighteen years of age he assumed the management of a farm of 265 acres of land on section 1, Wapsinonoc Township, there he made his home for forty years, being principally engaged in raising Short-horn cattle. Industrious, enterprising, and possessed of good business ability, he was quite successful, and added to his original farm until it aggregated 388 acres. On the 14th of September, 1852, the marriage of George Chase and Miss Emeline Tyler, a native of Wayne County, Ohio, was celebrated. The lady is a daughter of Benjamin and Rachel ( Smith ) Tyler, the former born in the Empire State, and the letter a native of Vermont. Five children have graced their union: Millard C., who is now a general merchant of Humeston, Wayne Co., Iowa; Allie R., wife of Elmer Holdemere, who owns and operates a creamery at Humeston, Iowa; Cora M., who wedded James Stoops, a general merchant of Humeston; Frederick G., a dealer in lumber and coal at the same place; and Amy E., wife of Henry C. Ady, of Cedar County, Iowa. In his political sentiments Mr. Chase is a supporter of the Republican party. He has been honored by his fellow-citizens with several local offices, has served as Township Clerk, and has held the position of County Supervisor for two terms. He is now living a retired life in West Liberty, where he is surrounded by many warm friends. He came to Muscatine County in the earliest days of its history, when the Indians had not yet all been driven from the community, when many of the new thriving towns were unfounded and the land was an almost unbroken prairie. He has aided in the rapid changes and in the transformation which has placed Muscatine County in the foremost ranks in the great State of Iowa, and has been a prominent factor in the promotion of all its worthy interests.


Back to 1889 History of Muscatine Co. Index Page

Back to the Muscatine Co. IAGenWeb Index Page