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1900 Whiteside Bios > George T. Marfleet

Biographical Record of Whiteside Co, IL 1900

Source: The Biographical Record of Whiteside County, Illinois
Illustrated
Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1900

Transcribed by: Denise McLoughlin
Tampico Area Historical Society
www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

Pages 472-474

GEORGE T. MARFLEET, who is the head of the Rock Falls Ice Company and is a leading business man of Rock Falls, Illinois, was born in Chautauqua County, New York, November 18, 1837, and is a son of George K. and Elizabeth (Pierson) Marfleet, both natives of England, who came to the United States in early life and wee married in New York. They lived in that state until coming west in 1857, when they located in Portland township, Whiteside county, Illinois. The father died in Erie, this county, in 1873, and the mother passed away in January, 1858. Our subject is the second of their three sons: (1) Pierson K., a prominent lawyer of Prophetstown, married Lydia Ramsey, a daughter of David Ramsey, of that place. (2) Philip T. was a farmer of Prophetstown, enlisted in 1861 in the Union army during the Civil war, and died at Springfield, Illinois, in the winter of 1862.

In the county of his nativity, George T. Marfleet remained until sixteen years of age and then came overland to Portland township, Whiteside county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming for three years. Returning to the east, he attended school for a year, and on the completion of his education again came to this county, where he taught school in Tampico Townshhip through the winter months for about five years, while he worked on farms through the summer season. He continued his residence in that township until 1884, when he came to Rock Falls and was engaged in the butcher business for a time. Since then he has given his attention to the ice business, in which heis still interested with his son Kirkman under the name of the Rock Falls Ice Company. By fair and honorable dealing they have built up an extensive traade and are numbered among the representative business men of the city.

On the 13th of December, 1865, Mr. Marfleet was united in marriage with Miss Frances C. Post, a daughter of Ethan and Jane (Whitcomb) Post, of Chautauqua county, New York. Her parents came west  in 1853 and located in Iowa. Her mother died inPolk county, that state, and her father's death occurred in Newton, Kansas, September 20, 1876, and there his remains were interred. In early life he followed the occupation of farming, but later engaged in mercantile business. To Mr. and Mrs. Marfleet were born two sons, namely: Kirkman S., born in Tampico township, July 16, 1867, obtained a good education under the able insstruction of his father and during his youth assisted in the labors of the home farm. When eighteen years of age he had a great desire to go west and finally went to Kansas, but not being pleased with the country, he returned to Illinois at the end of five months. For three years and a half he was in the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, and was with the Northwestern Railroad Company from 1884 until 1893, after which he worked in the paper mill at Rock Falls for two years, and since then was engaged in the ice business with his father. They commenced operations on a small scale but now have a plant of eight hundred tons capaicty. He has been successful in his business undertakings and has alread acquired some property. George T., Jr., our subject's younger son, was born in Tampico township, September 9, 1869, and is an expert molder in the employ of the Keystone Manufacturing Company of Rock Falls. He married Effie M. Swarthout, of that city, and they have one child.

During the tryng days of the Civil war, Mr. Marfleet manifested his loyalty and patriotism by enlisting in the volunteere service in September, 1861, for three years, but before his term expired he wa discharged for disability. He has always taken an active interest inpublic affairs, is public-spirited and progressive, and while a resident of Tampico township filled a number of local offices, among thenumber being that of justice of the peace for four years. He is at present tax collector of Rock Falls and Coloma township, and is one of the highly respected and honored citizens of the place.

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