GEORGE T. W. SHEFFIELD, for years an honored and prosperous business man of Greene county, passed away May 28, 1880, after more than a half century's residence in this state. His activity in business, throughout the long years which he spent in this state, made him well known in Greene county, and his name was ever associated with all that is honorable in business and in public life. His genuine worth was acknowledged by all who knew him and as one of the pioneers of the county he aided in laying the foundation for its present progress and prosperity and ever fostered those movements which have contributed to its substantial upbuilding.

Mr. Sheffield was born in Nodaway county, Virginia, July 24, 1815, and in his very early childhood he was taken by his parents to Kentucky, where his father died when the son was only five years of age. The mother married again and her second husband squandered her property, so that it was necessary for Mr. Sheffield, when only ten years of age, to start out in life on his own account. His educational privileges were therefore very limited, his other advantages few, but in the face of discouraging circumstances, with many obstacles in his path, he steadily worked his way upward, each difficulty seeming to serve as a new impetus for further effort and great accomplishment. He came to Illinois in 1827 and located first in Adams county. On leaving Kentucky he went first to New Orleans and thence made his way up the river on a steamer to St. Louis, whence he came to this state. He was employed for a time as a farm hand for Mr. Black, west of Carrollton, at four dollars per month, and he was noted among the laborers in the field for his liberal spirit and largeness of heart, being always ready and willing to bear the heaviest part of the burden. He came to Greenfield very early and as one of its pioneer merchants opened a small store in which he gradually built up a good business and conducted an extensive trade. He erected a large building in which to conduct his mercantile enterprise and when he had successfully conducted his commercial interests for a number of years he withdrew from that field of business activity and turned his attention to the banking business. In 1870 he became connected with the banking firm of Skillings, Sheffield & Company, as one of its organizers, and after a period of four or five years he and his son purchased the interests of the other partners and the bank of Sheffield & Company was organized, with the father, son and son-in-law, J. W. Hutchinson, as partners in the enterprise. Mr. Sheffield became president of the institution and continued at its head until his death, conducting a general banking business, whereby they won very gratifying success. Theirs became known as one of the most reliable moneyed concerns of the county, maintaining a business policy that neither sought nor required disguise. Through the years of an active business career George T. W. Sheffield accumulated a large fortune, becoming one of the substantial men of the county. He did much for the improvement and progress of this section of the state and was largely instrumental in securing the building of the railroad line which is now a part of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad system.

Other business interests claimed the attention and benefitted by the efforts of Mr. Sheffield. He was at one time proprietor of a flouring mill at Rockbridge, and thus he was closely associated with various industrial and commercial interests which led to the substantial upbuilding of the county. He dealt considerably in real estate, making judicious investments, and the rise in property, consequent upon the settlement of the county, made his realty of much value.

On the 3d of November, 1842, Mr. Sheffield was married to Miss Harriet Carter, a native of Virginia, who spent her girlhood days in the neighborhood in which her husband was reared. She survived him for a number of years, passing away in June, 1890. They were the parents of seven children, of whom four are yet living: John R., the only son, a banker, of Greenfield, represented elsewhere in this work; Mrs. J. B. Boyd, of Seattle, Washington; Mrs. H. H. Montgomery, of Carrollton; and Mrs. F. P. Metcalf, of Springfield, Illinois.

Mr. Sheffield was a member of the Odd Fellows society and although he never united with any church, he had a firm faith in the Christian religion and lived a most moral and exemplary life. He was a particularly strong advocate of the cause of temperance and always furthered every movement that had for its object the uplifting of men. At one time he was a trustee for the Central Hospital for the Insane at Jacksonville. His political support was unfalteringly given to the Republican party and he enjoyed the acquaintance and respect of many of the leaders of the party in this state. As an active, useful member of society he had scarcely an equal. He engaged in public measures with an untiring zeal and with his abundant means it was his pleasure to promote the public good. In his home, gentle and tender, he was to his children a friend as well as father and the companionship there was ideal in character. Coming to this part of the state when advancing civilization had but just made her entrance here, he put forth every effort in his power to promote public progress and improvement, and all through his life he commanded the respect and good will of his fellow citizens. Said one who knew him: "He was an honest man,"-honest not only in his business relations, but in every word and deed, with the honesty that despises shams and hypocrisy and stands for upright manhood.