George Waters

One of the most able, active and progressive of Allamakee county's native sons is George Waters, who now owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred and forty acres in Post township and who in partnership with his brother has other extensive holdings in this locality. No one is better known as a successful breeder and shipper of registered cattle and high-grade horses and the business affairs which claim his attention are all well managed and systematically conducted, bringing to him a prosperity which places him among the men of worth and affluence in this section of the state.

Mr. Waters was born in Ludlow township, this county, on the 21st of August, 1858, and is a son of George and Sophia (Hill) Waters, natives of County Wicklow, Ireland, the former born October 23, 1824, and the latter July 29, 1832. In early life the father was a member of the police force in County Wicklow but in 1854 crossed the Atlantic to America, settling first in Pennsylvania, where for four years he worked in the coal mines. In 1858 he came west to Iowa and purchased a small farm of thirty acres in Ludlow township, Allamakee county, which he improved and cultivated for a number of years. In the spring of 1870 he disposed of that property and removed one mile north in the same township, engaging in farming there until his death, which occurred January 4, 1887. His wife survived him some time, dying October 3, 1910. In their family were eleven children, of whom the subject of this review is the third in the order of birth.

George Waters acquired his education in the district schools of Ludlow township and from an early age was a practical and able agriculturist, having aided in the operation of the homestead and afterward working at farm labor in the employ of others. When he was about twenty-four years of age he operated a threshing machine throughout his locality and afterward purchased eighty acres of land, which he cultivated and improved for two years. At the end of that time he sold his property and rented his present farm, afterward purchasing this tract of land, upon which he has resided continuously since that time. This comprises one hundred and forty acres and in addition Mr. Waters is a partner with his brother Edward in the ownership of the Willow Lawn Stock Farm, a highly improved property of three hundred and forty-nine acres. The brothers are extensively engaged in the cattle and horse business here, breeding registered Hereford cattle, which they ship to all parts of the United States, their principal markets being the central states. They are also large buyers and shippers of all kinds of horses and both are reliable, enterprising and successful business men, managing capably the important concerns with which they are connected. In addition to his work as a stock-raiser and agriculturist Mr. Waters is also a professional auctioneer and has attained a wide reputation I being frequently called to other states. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Cooperative Company at Postville and in the Citizens State Bank of that city and his activities, extending to many fields, are important as elements in the general advancement.

On the 13th of December, 1882, Mr. Waters married Miss Eliza Eaton, who was born in Post township on the 13th of December, 1861. She is the daughter of Wells and Mary (Wood) Eaton, natives of Nova Scotia, Canada, the former born March 2, 1822, and the latter April 14, 1825. The father in early life worked at calking vessels in Nova Scotia but in 1845 came to the United States, locating in Walworth county, Wisconsin, where he engaged I farming. He was also a pioneer in Iowa, coming to this state in 1853 and locating upon a farm in Post township, Allamakee county, whereon he continued to reside until his death, which occurred on the 6th of May, 1881. He was one of the leading promoters and organizers of Bethel church, was elected a member of its first board of trustees and served in that position until his death. His wife afterward removed to Postville, where her death occurred May 14, 1904. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom the wife of our subject is the eighth in the order of firth. Mr. and Mrs. Waters have two children: Cloy E., who was born April 27, 1894; and Eaton A., born July 29, 1902.

Mr. Waters is a member of the American Hereford Cattle Breeders Association of Kansas City, Missouri, but beyond this has no fraternal or club affiliations. He is a man of exemplary character and genuine personal worth and his long residence in this part of Iowa has brought him success in business and the respect confidence and regard of all who are associated with him.

-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Jan Miller

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