George H. Rossiter
George H. Rossiter, who follows farming on section 27, Lincoln township, Worth county, not far from Manly, was born in Monroe county, New York, on the 28th of December, 1847,his parents being George and Mary (Sharp) Rossiter. The father was a native of Lincolnshire, England, and the mother was also born in that country, where they were married. The father followed the occupation of farming there until the early '40s, when he came to the United States with his family, crossing the Atlantic in a sailing vessel which was eight weeks in making the trip. He established his home in New York state and there took up farm work, being employed on the same farm as Duncan McKercher. He afterward removed to Rock county, Wisconsin, in 1849, becoming one of the pioneer settlers of that section of the state. He there purchased eighty acres of land, upon which he built a log cabin and began life in the west in true pioneer style. His land was largely undeveloped and unimproved. He began the arduous task of converting it into productive fields and as the years passed he added substantial modern buildings and made other improvements which converted the place into a valuable farm property, whereon he remained until, having acquired a substantial competence, he retired from active business life. His last days were spent at Orfordville, Wisconsin, where he passed away at the age of eighty-six years, his birth having occurred in 1817. His political faith throughout the period of his residence in the new world was that of the republican party, while his religious belief was that of the Methodist Episcopal church.
George H. Rossiter spent his youthful days upon the home farm in Wisconsin and worked with his father to the age of seventeen, when, in response to the country's call for troops, he enlisted in the cause of the Union, joining the "Boys in Blue" of Company H, Forty-ninth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in 1865. He served for ten months and was then honorably discharged, after which he returned to his Wisconsin home and for three years thereafter was employed as a farm hand. He then took up the carpenter's trade, which he followed until the spring of 1876. It was at that date that Mr. Rossiter came to Iowa, at which time Manly contained but two or three small cabins. He purchased a tract of farm land of eighty acres, on which a part of Manly now stands. He built a frame house and began transforming the wild prairie land into productive fields. He is still operating some of his land, but sold off a number of his lots for town residences, and the Flower Brothers Lumber Company also occupies a part of the old homestead.
In 1875 Mr. Rossiter was united in marriage to Miss Ella M. Gavy, a daughter of Frederick and Julia Addie Gavy, the former born on the isle of Guernsey, while the mother was a native of New York city. They were married in the eastern metropolis and removed to Rock county, Wisconsin, where Mr. Gavy purchased land which he developed and improved. For many years he carried on general farming and at length retired from active business life and spent his remaining days in the home of his children, passing away in Chester, Iowa. His widow died in Wisconsin. Mrs. Rossiter was born in Plymouth, Wisconsin, and by her marriage has become the mother of a son, Harry C.
In politics Mr. Rossiter follows an independent course. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a loyal adherent of its principles and purposes, having assisted in establishing the lodge in Manly. He is also a member of the Grand Army post at Northwood and thus maintains pleasant relations with his old military comrades. He has ever been as true and loyal to his country in days of peace as in time of war and has put forth every effort to support the interests that are typified by the nation's starry banner. As a business man he has steadily progressed and in addition to conducting his farming interests he has become the president of the Manly Grain Company, the vice president of the Manly Lumber Company and a stockholder in the Farmers Bank of Manly. He has thus constantly broadened his interests and promoted the scope of his activities and his careful investments and wise management of his business affairs have brought to him ever increasing success. He ranks with the substantial residents of Worth county and Manly numbers him among her valued residents.
SOURCE: HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTY, IOWA, 1918, VOL II, PAGE 552
Transcribed by Gordon Felland, August 14, 2006