Biography for George Baxter Farrier

George Baxter Farrier was born East of the Alleghanies in Pennsylvania on October 31, 1805 to a farmer, Andrew Farrier. As a young man he emigrated to Clinton County, Ohio where he married Rebecca Chance on November 3, 1825. Rebecca was born on June 24, 1810 in Ohio to Lewis Chance and Elizabeth Pearson.

George and Rebecca had six children:
Children:
1) James (A?) Farrier, Sept 23, 1828, Clinton, Ohio
2) Lewis Farrier, June 4, 1830 Clinton, Ohio.
3) Isaac D. Farrier, Feb 6, 1832 Clinton, Ohio
4) Elizabeth Jane Farrier, Feb 15, 1833 Clinton, Ohio
5) +Calvin Farrier, March 18, 1835 Clinton, Ohio
6) Eliza Mariah Farrier (Dedman), Dec 14, 1837 Illinois

Five of their children were born in Ohio, but towards the end of 1837 the family moved to Washington County, Iowa where their last child, Eliza was born along the trail inside the wagon, somewhere in Illinois. George and Rebecca Farrier were among the very first settlers to Washington Co., Iowa, and both of them purchased their own parcel of land from the government under James Polk, As well as being a farmer, George was also a cord weigner or shoe maker.

1850 US Census
George Farrier, age 45, Head of House
Residence: Washington County, Iowa
George owned $1000 real estate
Occupation: farmer
Household Members:
George Farrier, age 45
Rebecca Farrier, age 44,
Lewis Farrier, age 20, b. Ohio, Farmer
Issac Farrier, age 18, b. Ohio, In School
+Calvin Farrier, age 16, b. Ohio, In School
Eliza Farrier, age 12, b. Illinois, In School

1860 US Census
Geo Farrier, age 55, Head of House
Residence: Washington County, Iowa
Occupation: farmer
Household Members:
George Farrier, age 55
Rebecca Farrier, age 54,
Mary Reed, 11

According to the Washington County, Iowa Press for Wednesday, March 1, 1865:
"Suicide of George Farrier - On Saturday evening last, Mr. George Farrier, who has resided many years a few miles southwest of this place, committed suicide by hanging himself with a check line in his barn. He had been pleasant all day, chopped his Sunday's wood, asked for some pie, saying that he was hungry, ate it and went out. In about an hour he was found by some of his family quite dead, and hanging so low that his knees touched the floor. He was an old and respected citizen, well to do in the world, and had no cause that can be assigned for this rash deed."

I'm not sure why they considered it a suicide when it seems quite shady to most who read the story. All of his children were grown, his wife was not ill, he was considered to be wealthy, and was in a pleasant mood that afternoon. It was also possible that it was a freak accident.

George Baxter Farrier died on February 25, 1865 at the age of 59, and was brried in Memorial Miller Cemetery, Wash co., Iowa.
Rebecca lived for another 41 years, and died in 1906, at the age of 96.

Their oldest son James married Mary Sarah Todd and had 10 children. It is his descendants that remained in Washington County, Iowa

Their son, Lewis Farrier remained in Iowa, but all of his descendants went to Kansas

Their son, Isaac D. Farrier married.Martha Curry and he and his descendants went to Kansas also.

Their youngest son, Calvin Farrier remained in Washington County, Iowa, but his descendants are in both Iowa and Woodward, Oklahoma.