Biography - GEORGE ROWLAND WAGGONER

A native of Brighton township and widely known as a successful farmer and fine stock-raiser, George Rowland Waggoner was born October 29, 1857. He is a son of James E. Waggoner, who was born at Knoxville, Tennessee, in September, 1828. The family were among the pioneers of Maryland and George Waggoner, the grandfather on the paternal side, was born in that state about 1784. He emigrated to Tennessee and about 1834 came with his family to Illinois and engaged in farming near Alton. In the ’50s he took up his residence at Brighton, Macoupin county, where he continued until his death, which occurred in 1877. There were thirteen children in his family, one of whom died in infancy. The others are all deceased except Mary, who is the wife of Robert Halloway, of Piasa. Those deceased are: Llenry, of Godfrey; John, of Knoxville, Tennessee; Samuel, who also resided at Godfrey; Margaret, who married Benjamin Akard, of Jerseyville, Illinois; Melinda, who was the wife of John Camp, of Brighton; William of Godfrey; Ellen, who married James Reading, of Lawrence, Kansas; George Washington, of Upper Alton, Illinois; Jane, who was the wife of Joseph Andrews, of Brighton; and Wesley and James E., twins, the former of whom lived at Godfrey.

James E. Waggoner, the father of our subject, was brought to Illinois by his parents when five years old and was reared in the paternal home. He learned the carpenter’s trade, at which he worked until 1856, when he purchased eighty acres of land northeast of Brighton, in Shipman township, which he cultivated until 1874. He then moved to Brighton, where he lived until he retired from active labor in 1900. In 1856 he married Miss Almira Mundy, who was born in St. Louis, December 2, 1837, a daughter of Rowland and Asenith (Kellogg) Mundy. The father came west from New York and after spending some years in Missouri removed to White Hall, Greene county, Illinois, finally settling on a farm in Macoupin county. He died at Brighton. Mr. Waggoner died in 1905, leaving five children, the eldest of whom is the subject of this review. The others are: Louada, who is the wife of Monroe Forwood, of Piasa; Almira Ellen, who married Charles Mason, of Fort Morgan, Colorado; James E., who lives near Piasa; and Homer O., whose home is in Alhambra, California.

In the public schools George Rowland Waggoner received his preliminary education. Later he attended the Brighton Academy at Brighton and also took a course at the Jacksonville Business college at Jacksonville, Illinois. Under his father he became thoroughly acquainted with farming and stock-raising, and after arriving at maturity he rented his father’s farm, which he cultivated to good advantage until lie was thirty-five years of age. He was then married and rented another farm belonging to his father, upon which he lived until 1898. He then moved to the place which he now occupies on section 19, Shipman township, which was inherited by his wife from her father. For three years, from 1889 to 1891 inclusive, he traveled extensively in the employ of the Walter A. Wood company, manufacturers of farm machinery, covering a very extensive territory, from Texas to North Dakota. In the course of his travels he made many observations, which have been of great practical benefit to him in his work, and his farm is one of the most attractive properties in this part of the county. He is a lover of fine stock and maintains a valuable herd of registered Shropshire sheep and also a noted thoroughbred herd of Holstein cattle.

On the 27th of October, 1892, Mr. Waggoner was married to Miss Elizabeth Lowis, a daughter of John Lowis and a sister of John Lowis, Jr., a record of whom appears elsewhere in this work. To this union five children have been born, Ruth, Alice, George, Ralph and Carrie, all of whom are living at home. Fraternally Mr. Waggoner is a valued member of the Odd Fellows, and religiously he is identified with the Methodist church, being president of the board of trustees and superintendent of the Sunday school of Mount Pleasant church of Piasa. He gives his support to the republican party and has served as township collector of Brighton township, and for seven years past has discharged the duties of director of the school board. He is an intelligent man, who has made practical use of the advantages presented in this great state for those who have the ability to discover and develop them. He has a beautiful home, a bright and promising family, and may justly be regarded as one of the fortunate citizens of Macoupin county.

Extracted 20 Oct 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 247-248.