George F. Boosinger, one of the substantial farmers
and stock raisers of Macoupin County, owning a fine, well improved farm of
207 acres, situated in sections 17 and 18, Cahokia township, was born in
what was then Portage County, Ohio, now included in Summit County, January
28, 1825, and is a son of George and Mary (Workinger) Boosinger.
The
grandfather of our subject came to America from Germany prior to the
Revolutionary War, in which he took part, later removing to Virginia, in
which State the father of our subject was born. The latter became a pioneer
in Ohio, but later moved to Missouri, where he fell under the influence of
Joseph Smith, the Morman prophet. He became a preacher of the faith but
finally left that body on account of the belief in plural mar-' riages to
which he could not give assent. In payment for his services in the War of
1812 he received from the government a pension and a tract of 160 acres of
land in Montgomery County, Illinois. He died in Cahokia township, Macoupin
County in 1861, aged 77 years. He was twice married, five children being
born to his first union, and six to the second. His second wife, Mary
Workinger, who was of German parents, after leaving her native land first
settled at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and later in Ohio. She died in 1859, aged
65 years, leaving six children: Mrs. Mary A. Pettengill, of Bunker Hill,
Macoupin County; George F., of this sketch; John Wesley, deceased; Nathan,
who was accidentally killed in boyhood; Mrs. Christiann Rice, deceased; and
Mrs. Charlotte Peter, of Oregon.
George F. Boosinger accompanied his
father from Ohio to Ray County, Missouri, in 1836, remaining there until
March, 1839, when he came to Illinois and lived one year at Smooth Prairie,
in 1840 settling in Cahokia township, Macoupin County, where he has lived
ever since with the exception of the year 1850, which he spent in gold
mining in California. His brother had crossed the plains in 1849, but our
subject made the trip by way of New Orleans and the Isthmus of Panama, and
they returned together. In 1851 Mr. Boosinger bought his present farm and
settled on it the following year. He has lately disposed of 20 acres of land
to the new railroad that is now being built and he also sold a portion to
the "Big Four" Railroad. Some 20 years ago he sold the coal which underlies
his farm to the McKinney & Young Coal Company. He deems it probable that he
will be obliged to sell more railroad rights-of-way, his land lying in the
path of projected railroad extensions. When he first came here and the
country was but unbroken prairie, he bought 160 acres of his farm for $10
per acre, and the remainder for $35 per acre; its value has in the
intervening years much more than trebled. He has passed through all the
hardships which attended the path of the early settlers, and in an
interesting way recalls the times when he made trips of 30 miles to the
nearest mill at Alton, and to St. Louis to reach a market. Mr. Boosinger has
engaged in general farming, raising wheat, corn, oats and hay and has made a
specialty of high grade cattle and swine. His land is all highly improved
and he has some of the finest orchards in his section.
In 1851 Mr.
Boosinger married Marie Edwards, who was born in Michigan, removed with her
parents to Ohio, and later came to Macoupin County. They have two children:
Mrs. Carrie Clark of Gillespie, Macoupin County; and Frank S., who operates
the homestead farm. Frank S. Boosinger married Lulu Brown and they have
three children — Mark, Mae and Edwin R.
The subject of this sketch
is a musician and for eight years was president of the Gillespie Brass Band,
making many trips with the organization through this State and Missouri,
playing cornet, clarinet and violin. For 40 years his services were in
request at local entertainments. In politics Mr. Boosinger is a Republican
and for a number of years was a member of the township central committee.
For nine years he was highway commisioner and under his direction the
greater number of the excellent highways of the locality were laid out. He
has done much for the advancement of educational facilities in his
neighborhood and served as school director for 42 years. When the farmers
organized, he was active in support of the enterprise and became a valued
member of the Farmers' Alliance. He is a member of the Farmers' Mutual
Benefit Association, and for many years was active in the Gillespie lodge of
Odd Fellows, No. 220. For some years Mr. Boosinger has been much interested
in the study of Spiritualism.
This venerable citizen of the township
is held in very high esteem. He has been prominently identified with almost
everything which has promoted the growth and development of the township and
few men are more widely known. He belongs to a band that is but too rapidly
passing away, and with its last member will go much of that sturdy
perseverance and indomitable courage which made possible the subjugation of
Nature and the building of the happy homes of the present.
Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 477-479.
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