GEORGE F. BOOSINGER, who resides on section 17, is one of the early settlers of Cahokia township, having made his home there since his arrival in the county in 1840. His entire life has been spent as a farmer and upon the same section where he still makes his home. He now has a fine farm of two hundred and seven acres, under a high state of cultivation, and supplied with good buildings, all of which were erected by himself and stand as monuments to his thrift and industry. The place is also well stocked. His home is a commodious and tasty farm residence, supplied with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. By his fellow townsmen Mr. Boosinger is accounted one of the thrifty and enterprising stock raisers of this community. He has lived to see all the country round about him improved from the raw prairie to its present advanced position, having come to this county during his boyhood, in company with his parents, George and M. Antoinette (Workinger) Boosinger.

The Boosinger family came from Virginia, and in the early days of Ohio's history settled in the Buckeye State, where the grandfather of our subject was accidentally shot while one day out hunting. He had a deerskin hung over his shoulders, and by another hunter was shot, his death occurring from the effects of that wound about a month later. He was then well advanced in years, having attained to the age of seventy. His wife survived him some time, and died when well advanced in life. George Boosinger had accompanied his parents to Ohio when a child, and in Portage County was reared to manhood. He enlisted as a private for the War of 1812, and served as a teamster during that struggle. On his return he married an Ohio lady, who died some years later leaving five children. He was a second time married to Antoinette Workinger, a lady of German birth, who with her parents had crossed the Atlantic and located in Portage County, where he father and mother died. They began their domestic life upon a farm in that county, where seven of their children were born. With their family they left Ohio in 1836, joining the Mormon colony en route for the West, and traveling overland, at length made a settlement in Ray County, Mo., near the followers of Joseph Smith, to whose creed Mr. Boosinger subscribed. In 1839 they came to Illinois, and after spending a year on Smooth Prairie, in Madison County, took up their residence in Cahokia Township, where the father purchased an unbroken tract of land on section 17. The farm which he there developed he made his home until his death in 1862, at the age of seventy-nine years. He had spent his life as a hard working man, and adhered to the faith which he had professed in Portage County. His wife preceded him to the final rest, dying at the age of sixty-six. In early life she joined the Lutheran Church, but afterward became a Methodist, and subsequently united with the Christian Church, dying in that faith.

Our subject was born in Portage County, Ohio, January 28, 1825, and was the second of the family of eight children. He was therefore a lad of only fifteen summers when he came with his family to this county. Under the parental roof he was reared to manhood, and gave his father the benefit of his labors until he had attained to mature years, when he was united in marriage with Miss Maria Edwards, who was born August 28, 1832, and grew to womanhood in Sandusky, Ohio. Her parents were Milton W. and Esther (Powers) Edwards. They came to this county in an early day, settling in Gillespie Township, where the mother died in the prime of life. She was a consistent member of the Christian Church, and a lady of many excellencies of character. After her death, Mr. Edwards went South, and made his home with his son in St. Joseph, La., where he died six months later. He studied medicine at Elyria, Ohio, and was also a carpenter, devoting his energies to both lines of business. He was a Democrat in politics, and lived an upright life, which won him many friends.

Mr. and Mrs. Boosinger began their domestic life upon the farm which is still their home, and which he developed from its primitive condition, making the once wild land to bloom and blossom as the rose. Their fine residence and comfortable surroundings all indicate the prosperity, which has crowned their efforts. Their home has been blessed by the presence of two children, and they also lost two in infancy. Carrie is now the wife of Marcus W. Clark, who owns and operates a farm in Gillespie Township, and unto them have been born three children - Marcia, Harvey and Frank. Frank S. is a successful druggist and enterprising business man of Gillespie. He married Miss Lula Brown, and they have one child, Marcus. Mr. and Mrs. Boosinger are people of worth, ranking high in the esteem of their many acquaintances. He is a Republican in politics, has served for eight years as Road Commissioner, and for the long period of thirty-five years has been a school officer, which fact shows that he has the educational interests of the community at heart. Our subject is President of the Gillespie Brass Band.