GEORGE W. WAKEFIELD
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George W. Wakefield, the son of George W. W. and Mary (Clare) Wakefield, was born near Bloomfield, Davis county, Iowa, June 26, 1853, and in the following year, when he was but an infant, his parents moved into Cass county. He was reared here on these beautiful prairies and has grown up, so to speak, with this his adopted home. When he had attained a suitable age he commenced attendance upon the primitive schools of that transition period, in the rude log cabin that is seen by so many eminent men in the glamour that memory throws around their early days, as their only alma mater. Here George received the elements of his education, going to school during the short days of winter, and in the summer helping on the farm, for in pioneer days, all had to labor for the advancement of the family. Shortly before he had attained the full years of manhood, he felt inclined to start out on life's pilgrimage, alone, working for his own hand, and giving his father some fifty dollars for three months of his time, he purchased a team of his father for two hundred dollars, on credit, and rented a part of his father's farm, and fed cattle in partnership with his father and brother. This he continued for three years, and having succeeded well at his first venture, he purchased a tract of land lying south of Anita, containing one hundred and twenty acres, which he had broken a year later. Here he built a good dwelling house, and a barn, set out a grove and made some other improvements. This place he still owns. During the hard times of 1876, and the failure of crops in this locality that ensued, he was obliged, by adverse circumstances, to sell off his personal property, and went to work, heroically, to make enough to pay off the indebtedness against his farm. After working out, by the month, for three years, and renting the place to the best possible advantage, he succeeded in clearing off the mortgage on the 1st of October, 1879. He now borrowed some money to buy some young cattle and some corn, and commenced to feed. Mr. Wakefield has transacted one of the largest businesses in the cattle and stock line in southwestern Iowa, and some of his deals were simply enormous. Great natural shrewdness, excellent business ability, coupled with industry, perseverance and energy soon raised him to a position of easy competency and comfort. In 1881, finding that cattle had become so high that there was but little money in the handling of them, and great risk, he retired from the business. He then purchased some four hundred acres of land, in Edna township, which was then in a wild state, but, now he has about three hundred acres under cultivation, has erected a fine cottage surrounded with neat barns and other outbuildings, and the place looks thrifty and prosperous. George W. Wakefield and Lizzie Boggs were united in marriage on the 26th of June, 1882, at Red Oak, Montgomery county, Iowa. The lady is the youngest daughter of Henry Boggs, of that place. Of this union there is one child, a sunny, winsome lass, whom its happy parents call by the name of Maude. Mr. and Mrs. Wakefield are among the most prominent people in the township, if not the whole county.
Contributed by Lisa Varnes-Rex from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pp. 756-757. Portraits pp. 416-417.
