IAGenWeb Project - Clayton co.

George W. Pixler

George W. Pixler has been a resident of Clayton county from the time of his birth, has here gained precedence as a prominent and successful representative of agricultural and live-stock enterprise, and the unqualified popular esteem in which he is held is shown in the fact that in 1916 he is serving in the responsible office of county supervisor. His well-improved homestead farm is situated in Section 26 Grand Meadow township, and comprises three hundred and twenty acres of land. The place gives forth every evidence of thrift and good management and many of the substantial improvements on this ideal rural estate have been made by the present owner.

In the township in which he now resides, George W. Pixler was born on the 17th of February, 1861, and he was the sixth in order of birth in a family of eight children, of whom four are now living. He is a son of James M. and Eliza (Fry) Pixler, the former a native of Fayette county Pennsylvania, and the latter of Huntington county, Pennsylvania. The marriage of the parents was solemnized in Pennsylvania and in 1850 they became pioneers of Clayton county, Iowa where they resided during the first three years on a rented farm. The father then purchased a farm in Grand Meadow township and upon this place which he reclaimed and brought to a high state of cultivation, both he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives, honored pioneers whose names well merit place on the pages of Clayton county history.

George W. Pixler gained in his boyhood and youth the practical experience that admirably reinforced him for the responsibilities which he assumed when he instituted his independent career as a farmer. He fully profited by the advantages afforded in the public schools of his native county, and supplemented this by attending Fayette College during two terms. He continued to be associated with his father in the work and management of the home farm until 1884, when at the age of twenty three years he wedded Miss May Harmon, who was born in Wisconsin and the parents of whom are both deceased. About the time of his marriage Mr Pixler purchased a portion of his present fine landed estate which now comprises three hundred and twenty acres and constitutes one of the model farms of Grand Meadow township. In connection with his well ordered agricultural operations, Mr Pixler gives special attention to the raising of the black polled type of cattle and other excellent grades of live stock, and his progressiveness and use of scientific methods and policies have made him an influential factor in connection with the promotion of the agricultural and live-stock interests of his native county.

His political allegiance is given to the Republican party, he has been called upon to serve as township assessor and as a member of the school board and as before stated he is now serving in the office of the county supervisor. He is affiliated with the Brotherhood of American Yeomen and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and he and his wife attend the Methodist Episcopal church. Their pleasant home is a center of gracious hospitality and they delight there to extend welcome to their large circle of friends.

Of their eight children, all are living except the last, Lester who died at the age of two years. James R., the eldest of the number, is now one of the successful young farmers of Clayton county; Ina A. is the wife of Henry Schultz of this county; Ernest E. is engaged in farming in the state of South Dakota; Roy R. has the practical supervision of the old homestead farm of his father; and Ralph C., George F. and Gerald are the younger members of the ideal home circle.

~source: History of Clayton County, Iowa; From The Earliest Historical Times Down to the Present; by Realto E. Price, Vol. II; pg. 328-329

~OCR scanned by S. Ferrall

 

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