George W. Will

As printed in 1911

GEORGE W. WILL.

Living in Moscow township, Muscatine county, where his father located in the pioneer days, George W. Will enjoys many advantages of which the old settlers little dreamed. He owns a beautiful farm, supplied with modern facilities and within easy access of the nearest railroad stations, which are reached over good roads, thus leaving little to be desired as to market facilities. As he engaged in both agriculture and stock-raising, he is in a position of independence greatly longed for by those who regard farming as the ideal life of man.

He was born on the farm where he now lives July 15, 1862, a son of George and Anna Margaret (Kurtz) Will. The father was a native of Germany and came to the United States with his parents in 1836, the family locating in Muscatine county, Iowa. Here he found work in various lines, principally in operating a horse power threshing machine, his duties requiring him to continue with the machine during the entire winter. The old chafY piles was then in use, the chaff and wheat being thrown inside of a rail pen and the wheat separated later with a farming mill. When the family settled in this county there were no gristmills near and the corn for family use was ground in the coffee mill. By diligence and economy Mr. Will became very successful as a farmer and was recognized as one of the prosperous men of Wilton township. He gave his support to the democratic party and for a number of years served as trustee of the township. In religious views he adhered to the Lutheran church, to which he was a liberal contributor. He was one of the men who established the church of that denomination at Moscow, Iowa. He lived to an advanced age, departing this life in 1897. The mother of our subject was also a native of Germany, coming to the United States with her brother after she grew up. She was married to Mr. Will in Muscatine county and now makes her home with her son George W.. at the age of seventy-nine years. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Will two are now living: George W., and John H., a farmer who resides near Nichols Station, Iowa. The two eldest died in infancy and the third at the age of nine months. Christ N. and Frank W. passed away after arriving at maturity. Vol. n— 11

George W. Will was reared upon the home farm and under his father became thoroughly acquainted with the duties pertaining to the vocation to which he has devoted his life. After the death of his father he became manager of the farm and during the fourteen years that have elapsed has made many improvements. He is now the owner of four hundred acres of valuable land in Moscow township, which he cultivates along well approved lines, and he also handles graded stock quite extensively.

In 1889 Mr. Will was united in marriage, in Bloomington township, Muscatine county, to Miss Kate L. Schmidt, who was born in Chicago, May 8, 1870, and was an infant at the time of the great fire, the parents and child narrowly escaping with their lives by fleeing from their home. One child, who died at the age of two years, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Will.

Politically a democrat, Mr. Will gives his stanch support to the party and served for five years with general acceptance as trustee of his township. He and his family are earnest members of the Lutheran church and willing workers in every cause that seeks to promote the permanent welfare of those with whom they are associated. He is a man of laudable ambition and enterprise, as is to be noted in the neat and prosperous appearance of his farm and the commodious home provided with all desirable comforts and elegancies of life. Kindly in disposition and hospitable to a degree unknown in crowded communities, he has a host of friends and well-wishes in a county where he has been known from his boyhood.

As printed in History of Muscatine County, Iowa, from the earliest settlements to the present time; (1911). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.