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CHAMBERS, GEORGE FRANKLIN

CHAMBERS, SCHAFFER, NEWLIN, VAUGHN, GRANT

Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/18/2004 at 16:08:48

Biography reproduced from page 391 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:

George Franklin Chambers, engaged in general farming and stock-raising on one hundred and sixty acres on section 20, Luverne township, is a diligent and capable man and by the intelligent concentration of his efforts has prospered in his undertakings and is now numbered among the substantial agriculturists of his community.

The birth of Mr. Chambers occurred in Polk county, Iowa, on the 21st of July, 1868, his parents being Samuel E. and Elnora (Schaffer) Chambers. The father was born and reared in Ohio, as presumably was the mother, but they were married in Polk county, and there passed the early years of their domestic life. They subsequently went to Nebraska and located on a claim, but two years later returned to Iowa, settling at Mitchellville. There Samuel E. Chambers established a hardware store, which he conducted for three years, but at the expiration of that time he came to Kossuth county and bought the farm now owned by his son John. This was raw land and Mr. Chambers immediately set about making the necessary improvements and then turned his attention to the cultivation of his fields. He continued to engage in general farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of the breeding and raising of thoroughbred hogs, during the remainder of his active life. He was a public-spirited man of high standards, and despite the exacting demands of his private interests always found time to cooperate with his neighbors in promoting every movement that would advance the intellectual, moral or social welfare of the community. Together with J. F. Stevens he organized the first literary society in the neighborhood and he was also an active and earnest worker in the Methodist Episcopal church. He was interested in local politics and efficiently served for some years as township trustee. He passed away in 1892, but the mother of our subject is still living and now makes her home in Corwith. In their family were nine children, of whom our subject is the eldest. The others are as follows: William Penn, who lives in Corwith; Charles E., who died in 1900; H. O., a resident of Luverne township, mentioned at greater length elsewhere in this work; Samuel Edward, also living in this township; Mary Edith, the wife of H. E. Newlin, of Corwith; J. A., who is the assessor of Luverne township; Laura Belle, the wife of S. E. Vaughn; and Ava, now of Corwith, formerly a teacher in Algona.

George Franklin Chambers was reared at home and acquired his education in the common schools of Polk and Kossuth counties. Being the eldest of the family, he early began assisting his father with the work of the farm, and by the time he had attained maturity had a thorough and practical knowledge of tilling the fields and care of the crops. He always remained at home, and after the death of the father he and his brothers cultivated the place for their mother until she removed to Corwith, in 1899, after which they operated it for themselves. In the spring of 1901, Mr. Chambers bought his present farm, and has since effected various improvements, including the erection of fences and the tiling of the land, and now owns one of the most modern and up-to-date farms in the locality. In connection with the cultivation of his fields he formerly raised shorthorn cattle, Poland China hogs and Percheron horses, but he is not engaging very extensively in the stock business now, although he still keeps thoroughbreds. He is a member of the Poland China Record Company, and owns a complete set of records issued by the latter organization, which is doubtless the only one in the county. He met with considerable difficulty in obtaining the first fourteen of the fifty-eight volumes as they were issued before he became a member of the organization, but through a special effort he finally succeeded in obtaining them.

On the 22d of December, 1897, Mr. Chambers was united in marriage to Miss Grace Harriet Grant, the event being celebrated at Luverne. She was born at Rockford, Floyd county, Iowa, and came from there to Kossuth county with her parents in 1895. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Chambers, Lela.

The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Fairview, which Mr. Chambers has attended since early boyhood. He is one of eighteen young men who belonged to that church in 1895, none of whom at that time had ever smoked, chewed or drank, though possibly two of the number have since acquired the tobacco habit. His brother H. O. was also one of these and from the crowd a base ball team was organized. They represented the Chambers, Hanna, Clapsaddle, Stevens, Applegate, Birkofer and Mitchell families, all of whom are well known in the community. Mr. Chambers is a member of Corwith Lodge, No. 10, Brotherhood of American Yeomen, and in politics he is a stanch republican. He served for eight years as a school director but at the present time is not an office holder. He enjoys a wide and favorable acquaintance in his township and is held in high esteem by reason of his sterling worth and integrity.


 

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