George told his family later in his life that he and his brother were hired out as rook herders. They waved objects to keep crows out of the corn and other crops. He told with delight how this earned him 1 shilling per week. He was keenly aware that this was a life of extreme financial and education deprivation. He was unable to read or write, but he had a plan he knew he must emigrate to America to achieve.
George was baptized into the LDS church on February 14, 1860. He went to Portsmouth and sneaked aboard a ship loaded with prize cattle headed for American farms. He spent 6 weeks on the ocean eating only hard tack and salt-pork, which caused him to develop scurvy. He arrived in New York City and took an immigrant train to Iowa City where he joined a group of Saints traveling to Salt Lake City. He walked for 70 days, over 1300 miles, before reaching Salt Lake with trousers raveled to his knees and shoes without soles. He came with only one possession, a cherished bag of broad beans that propagated for many years on the Edgel farm.
After arriving in Salt Lake, George was sent to Hoytsville to help a young couple with 2 children. The father William Apgood was ill and died. George cared for the widow, Mariah Noble Apgood, and her young children. A year later, they were married.
Mariah died after giving birth to twins, one of which also died. The Wilkinson family took the tiny baby girl and George cared for the older 2 children.
Four months later, on December 20, 1865, he married Elizabeth Jane Bailey. They were the parents of 10 children, 5 survived to adulthood.
George was an ambitious, hard working man, who loved to walk. He made his living farming and raising animals. His motto was "early to bed and early to rise". He loved to "tussle with the soil by day and read in the evening". He rose early in the morning, took a deep breath of cool air and gazed in admiration on his environment.
George died at the age of 92.
George told his family later in his life that he and his brother were hired out as rook herders. They waved objects to keep crows out of the corn and other crops. He told with delight how this earned him 1 shilling per week. He was keenly aware that this was a life of extreme financial and education deprivation. He was unable to read or write, but he had a plan he knew he must emigrate to America to achieve.
George was baptized into the LDS church on February 14, 1860. He went to Portsmouth and sneaked aboard a ship loaded with prize cattle headed for American farms. He spent 6 weeks on the ocean eating only hard tack and salt-pork, which caused him to develop scurvy. He arrived in New York City and took an immigrant train to Iowa City where he joined a group of Saints traveling to Salt Lake City. He walked for 70 days, over 1300 miles, before reaching Salt Lake with trousers raveled to his knees and shoes without soles. He came with only one possession, a cherished bag of broad beans that propagated for many years on the Edgel farm.
After arriving in Salt Lake, George was sent to Hoytsville to help a young couple with 2 children. The father William Apgood was ill and died. George cared for the widow, Mariah Noble Apgood, and her young children. A year later, they were married.
Mariah died after giving birth to twins, one of which also died. The Wilkinson family took the tiny baby girl and George cared for the older 2 children.
Four months later, on December 20, 1865, he married Elizabeth Jane Bailey. They were the parents of 10 children, 5 survived to adulthood.
George was an ambitious, hard working man, who loved to walk. He made his living farming and raising animals. His motto was "early to bed and early to rise". He loved to "tussle with the soil by day and read in the evening". He rose early in the morning, took a deep breath of cool air and gazed in admiration on his environment.
George died at the age of 92.
Family Members
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Sarah Ann Edgel Roundy
1865–1917
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Mary Elizabeth Edgel Winters
1868–1966
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Louisa J Edgel Sargent
1871–1905
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John Francis Edgel
1873–1941
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Alberta Edgel
1876–1879
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Franklin James Edgel
1878–1962
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Harriet Ellen "Hattie" Edgel
1880–1892
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Clara Edgel
1882–1891
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William Ralph Edgel
1882–1968
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Ruby L Edgel
1888–1888
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