GEORGE MOSER
Throughout
the years of an active, useful and honorable life, George
Moser has worked his way upward from poverty to a position of
prominence and influence, facing defeat, overcoming obstacles,
meeting reverses with high confidence and courage and
advancing steadily to final triumph. The record of his life furnishes
splendid examples of the compelling power of honesty and
industry and of the value of ambition and determination in the
development of a successful career, for he started out in life
empty-handed and is today one of the largest shippers of stock
in Wayne county. Mr.
Moser is one of the many sturdy, energetic, capable and
enterprising men whom Germany has given to America. He was born in
Wittenberg, April 24, 1866, and is a son of B. and Ushler
(Schaefer) Moser, natives of the fatherland, the former of
whom died in Humeston in 1911 and the latter in the same city
in 1899. In this
family were six children, all born in Germany: John, who is
residing in Clay township; George, of this review; Matthew,
who is assisting his brother George in the conduct of his meat
market; Mrs. Barbara Waite, of Idaho; Michael, who died in
1906; and Mary, who passed away at the age of fourteen.
George
Moser spent his early childhood in his native country, but in
1881 came to America with his parents, settling first in
Aurora, Illinois, where he remained for one year and a half. In 1883 he came to
Wayne county and has resided here ever since. At the time of his
arrival he possessed a capital of six dollars and fifty cents,
but his assets in determination and ambition were unlimited,
and with characteristic energy he set himself to work out an
honorable career. For
two years he engaged as a common laborer and then for an equal
period hired out by the month at farm labor.
The
four years after this were spent in railroad work, Mr. Moser
in the meantime saving every penny over his living expenses
and investing his money in a judicious manner. In this way he
acquired enough to stock a farm and he therefore rented land
and engaged in general agricultural pursuits. For two years he
developed this property and was just beginning to make some
progress toward success when his farm buildings and all of his
stock were destroyed by fire.
At this time also his wife, who had aided him in his
reverses and shared his hardships, passed away, leaving him to
face a situation that would have discouraged an ordinary man. However, with
renewed energy Mr. Moser set himself to repair his fortunes
and at length became interested in the live stock business,
shipping his own animals.
Gradually he extended his activities to include the
buying, selling and shipping of other stock, and at length his
patronage increased and extended until today he has become one
of the largest stock dealers in Wayne county. In 1906 he
purchased a meat market in Humeston and in addition to this
owns and operates five hundred and ten acres of land, with
three sets of improvements.
His farming, stock-raising and meat business he carries
on practically as one enterprise, displaying in the management
of his extensive business interests the executive force and
power of control upon which his success is founded.
Mr.
Moser has been twice married.
In 1891 he wedded Miss Bertha Ruff, who was born in
Clay township and who passed away in the same section in 1892. One child, Ernest,
was born to this union.
In 1893 Mr. Moser married Miss Emma Grouch, a native of
Iowa, born March 7, 1860.
She is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Grouch, both of
whom have passed away. Mr.
and Mrs. Moser have one son, Leo, who was born in Clay
township, June 54, 1897.
The family resides in a beautiful home just south of
the city, in Richman township, and are well known throughout
the entire community.
Mr. Moser gives his allegiance to the progressive party and is active and progressive in all matters of citizenship, serving at the present time as a member of the town council. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is today one of the prominent and representative men in Humeston and is a valuable addition to the ranks of its citizenship. Coming penniless and unknown from Germany over a quarter of a century ago, he has fully realized the hope which brought him to our shores, regarding America as another name for opportunity. The record of his courageous, sturdy and undaunted struggle against obstacles and reverses and the final triumph of his successful life may well serve as a spur to others equally unfortunate and as a hope and inspiration to those who come after.