Untitled From Commemorative Biographical Record of the Counties of Rock, Green, Grant, Iowa and Lafayette Wisconsin, publ. 1901- page 904-905

GEORGE S. WHITCHER (deceased), for many years a prosperous and successful dairy farmer, was born in New Hampshire, May 4, 1830, and was a son of John and Annie (CULVER) WHITCHER. The father was born in Maine, and the mother in Vermont.

For a time after their marriage our subject's parents lived in New Hampshire, and then moved to Michigan where they lived some years. They moved to Ohio, and spent some years there before coming in 1844 to Wisconsin, where they settled on land afterward owned by their son, George S. They reared a family of well-educated sons and daughters, the older daughters teaching school in Ohio, and for a number of years being prominent in the educational work of Grant county. Mr. and Mrs. WHITCHER both died in Grant county.

George S. WHITCHER crossed the Plains to California when only eighteen years old, and was very successful in the gold mines of that distant land. Returning with ample funds, he purchased the property where he lived and died. In 1859 he married Miss Rhoda L. COOLEY, of Belmont, Lafayette county, a daughter of a prominent old New England family. The father was born in Hartford county, Conn., in 1806, and the mother in Vermont in 1811. Mr. COOLEY was a man of good education, and was a school teacher in his native State, where he learned surveying. Moving to Ohio, in 1833, he was often called upon to do surveying in that State. Mr. COOLEY married before locating in Ohio, and in 1856 moved to Wisconsin, where he bought a farm near Belmont, Lafayette county, engaging in its cultivation until 1869. That year he bought a far in the town of Lima, and made his home thereon until his death, in 1887. Mrs. COOLEY died in 1897. She was the mother of eight children, seven of whom are living: (1) Mary is Mrs. Nathan J. EVERETT, of Cortland, Ohio. (2) Frank B. died in 1893. (3) Rhoda L., Mrs. WHITCHER, was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1836, and obtained her education in that State where she taught school several years. (4) Roswell, born in Ohio, is now a resident of Waverly, Neb. (5) Richard, born in Ohio, spent three years as a soldier in an Ohio regiment during the Civil war, and is now a farmer at Waverly, Neb. (6) Alfred S. lives at Eagle, Neb. (7) Timothy, born in Ohio, lives at Brainard, Neb. (8) Edward L. born in Ohio, graduated from the Platteville State Normal, and is now principal of a high school in Oklahoma.

After his marriage George S. WHITCHER settled on the quarter-section he had purchased from the government, and gradually added to it from time to time until he owned over six hundred acres, the greater part well cultivated land. Here he had a fine home, barns, and other outbuildings needed for farm work. In 1880 he built a large cheese factory on the farm, and a stone creamery building in the town of Lima. As superintendent of this he kept close watch of its operations until his death, July 31, 1898. Mrs. WHITCHER was left a widow with five children: (1) John F., born in Lima, in September, 1860, was educated in the State Normal at Platteville, and was a teacher some three years. His father had purchased him a farm in Nebraska, and he spent several years in its cultivation. When his father died he returned to the home, and is assisting his mother in the management of their extensive business interests. (2) Fannie L., born in 1863, had a normal school training, and was a successful teacher previous to her marriage to Peter J. CONNER. They live in Lincoln, Neb., and have four children, George W., Clay, Blanche and William McKinley. (3) Lee, born in 1866, married Miss Mercy LYMBURGER, of Nebraska, and they now reside on a portion of his father's estate, with their three children, Frank, Oris, and Walter. (4) Nora, born in 1872, married John KENNY, a farmer in the town of Lima, and is the mother of two children, Ira G. and Catheirne. (5) George S., born in 1876, prepared for teaching at the Platteville State Normal, and for several terms was engaged in the school room. At the present time he is assisting his mother in the management of their extensive estate.

George S. WHITCHER was always a Democrat, and frequently took a prominent part in political gatherings. He was interested in the work of the local churches, and freely contributed to their support. For many years he was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and took an active interest in its work. Mrs. WHITCHER is a lady of character and ability, and, though she mourns the loss of her kind and indulgent husband, finds comfort in her honorable and industrious family of children, trained in the ways of right and truth. They have an extensive estate, and give its management much care and thought.



This biography generously submitted by Carol Holmbeck