History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
curred in Peiiusylvauia iu 1855, lie returned to Lee county and
settled in Eranklin Grove, where he lived for a year. He then
removed to a farm near Ashton and the remainder of his life was
devoted to general agricultural pursuits. He became much at-
tached to the farm and would not return to the town. His last four
years were spent upon a farm near Franklin Grove, his industry
and energy—his dominant qualities—finding expression in the
careful and systematic manner with which he developed and improved
his land. He owned six quarter sections near Ashton and
a half section near Franklin Grove, making altogether twelve hundi'ed
and eighty acres in this county, in addition to which he had
extensive property holdings in Iowa. He secured his land entirely
through his persistent and intelligently directed efforts and always
gave personal supervision to the management and development of
his faims.
In Pennsylvania in 1855 Mr. George was united in marriage
to Miss Susanna Reed, who was born in York, Pennsylvania, June
7, 1833, and died on the old home farm near Ashton, Illinois,
November 23, 1898, when sixty-five years of age. In their family
were four children :
Martha, who became the wife of Joseph Sanders,
and who died in 1888 leaving three children ; William, born
in 1859, who passed away in 1877 ; Ira, born August 17, 1864, who
died October 13, 1907, leaving a widow and three children; and
Mary, who is the wife of Charles Weybright and resides upon the
farm formerly owned by her fathei- near Franklin Grove. Mr.
Weybright was born at Harrisburg, now Bnglewood, Montgomery
county, Ohio, June 12, 1874, and there resided until twenty-one
years of age. He is a graduate of the commercial department of
the Mount Morris (111.) College. In 1901 lie wedded Mary George
and removed to Wichita, Kansas, where they remained for eight
years, Mr. Weybright being there engaged in the milling business.
In June, 1908, they returned to the old home farm near Franklin
Grove in order to care for Mr. George with whom they continued
until the latter 's death. Unto INIr. and Mrs. Weybright have been
born three children : Leslie, Clare and Olive. Mr. Weybright is
an enterprising, progressive business man and in the control of
his farming interests displays excellent business ability and keen
discernment.
The death of Mr. George occurred February 14. 1912, when he
had reached the venerable age of more than eighty-three years.
He was a member of the Church of the Brethren and made frequent
and generous donations to various churches and charities.
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