GEORGE E. HUSBAND, who has attained distinction as a successful farmer of Scott County, is a native of Illinois, and was born June 12, 1846. A complete record of his ancestry appears in another part of this volume, in the biography of Charles J. Husband.
George E. Husband was reared on a farm, and received his schooling at the public and subscription schools, where he acquired a substantial education, which has been supplemented in later years by copious reading a current literature. He remained at home, working on the old homestead until his father's death, and in 1870 he began to operate his share of the property, which at that time was destitute of substantial improvements. He immediately erected a house 38 x 50, one well adapted for a farmer's home, and which is surrounded by a well kept yard; in fact everything connected with his home denotes intelligence and industry. Mr. Husband's farm presents a pleasant landscape, orchards and groves being noticeable, thus breaking the monotony that is usually inseparable from a prairie farm. He has continued improving his homestead, until he can now point with justifiable pride, to a magnificent farm of 400 acres, and which is one of the best in Scott County, conveniently located, being only four miles from Bluffs, which is a good market town. The place is also well watered with living springs, an adjunct which adds value to the farm. He has now 335 acres under plow, the most of which he leases to tenants. He feeds a great deal of stock, and ships many cattle and hogs.
Mr. Husband was married in Pike County, this State, Oct. 29, 1872, to Miss Nancy E. Dimmitt, daughter of Thomas Dimmitt. Her father was a native of Ohio, and was born in 1822, of Welsh ancestry. He came to Illinois when quite young, and when he became twenty-one years of age he commenced farming for himself, which he continued until he sold out and removed to Kansas in 1875. He remained in that state for three years, when he returned to Illinois, and now lives in Griggsville. His wife's maiden name was Hannah Wade. She was born in England in 1823, and came to America when she was ten years old, settling in Pike County with her parents. She died in 1872. For many years she was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died in that faith. Following are the names of her ten children: Frank W., John S., Charles, James W., Nancy Ellen, Elizabeth, Mary A., Grace, Victoria and Clarissa. Mrs. Husband's grandfather, John Dimmitt, was a native of Ohio, and in 1830 came to this state and located in Pike County, where he engaged in farming on an extensive scale, and in his time was a prominent citizen.
George E. Husband is the father of four children. Fannie and Geo. I. are living, while Ashley D. and Arthur O. are dead. He is the President of the School Board, an office which he has satisfactorily filled for six years. Politically he is a prominent Republican, and as evidence that he wields great influence in Republican councils, it may be stated that he is a member of the County Central Committee, and has represented his party in county and state conventions many times. As a farmer, he has been eminently successful, and the fact of his being a well preserved man, strong and robust, is evidence that in his younger days he adhered to the commendable plan of taking care of himself, and that he has been temperate in all things. He possesses the happy combination - and which is a rare one - of being a sound, shrewd business man and a highly successful farmer.
Mr. Husband has numerous traits of character that make him very popular, and which call forth many good words for him from his neighbors and from those with whom he holds business relations. He is charitable, and possesses those special characteristics that go to make up an intelligent and valuable citizen. His dealings with his fellow man have always been such as to merit confidence, and upon this record is based his well deserved prosperity. There is room in this great big world for more men like George E. Husband.