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Jasper County, Iowa
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George Millgate The
lamented subject of this sketch, now sleeping the sleep of the just in God's
quiet acre, was in life one of the best known agriculturists of Rock Creek
Township, he being one of that worthy class of men who fight their own way to
success through unfavorable environment, and a study of his life record reveals
the intrinsic worth of a character which not only can bravely endure so rough a
test, but gain new strength through the discipline. Mr. Millgate was not favored by inherited wealth or the
assistance of influential friends, but in spite of this, by perseverance,
industry and wise economy, he attained a comfortable station in life and left
behind him not only valuable material wealth, but what his family and wide
circle of friends and admirers should be far prouder of an unblemished
reputation and a good name. George
Millgate was born in County Kent, England, October 5, 1849, the son of William
and Harriet (Giles) Millgate, who were both born in England. There they grew up,
were educated and married and they spent their mature life engaged in market
gardening near the city of Sandwich, England. Their family consisted of eight
children, of whom George, subject of this biographical memoir, and James came to
America, the rest remaining in England. George Millgate grew to young manhood in his native country, and
received his education in a paid school. Not
being able to discern any great future for himself in his native land, and
having been apprised of the vast opportunities in the United States, he set sail
for our shores when he was twenty-one years of age.
After stopping for some time in New York City, he then went to Fulton,
Illinois, and he worked at farming there for a period of five years, during
which time, by sticking closely to his work and being economical, he got a good
start. He then came to Jasper
County, Iowa, and bought eighty acres in Rock Creek Township, this country being
wild at that time, but he could see that it had a great future, so went to work
industriously and began to prosper, later buying one hundred and sixty acres in
Richland Township, the eastern part of the County. He kept his land well improved and under a high state of
cultivation. He carried on general
farming and stock raising on an extensive scale and met with a large measure of
success all along the line. He kept
his home and immediate surroundings in an up-to-date manner, having established
an attractive home and substantial and convenient outbuildings, and he always
kept an excellent grade of livestock. Mr. Millgate was a faithful member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church and liberally supported the same.
He was regarded by all as a good and useful man and when his death
occurred, on August 11, 1901, after a lingering illness, having been confined to
a hospital for a period of two years, nothing but words of praise for his life
of industry, integrity, kindness and public spirit was uttered by those who knew
him. He was a man of fortitude and
was never heard to complain during the days of his trying afflictions. On August 14, 1884, Mr. Millgate was united in marriage with Roxie Foster, who was born on August 27, 1855, in Richland Township, Jasper County, the daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Young) Foster, a well known and highly respected pioneer family of Jasper County. Here Mrs. Millgate grew to womanhood and received her education. She proved to be a very faithful helpmeet and much of the subject's success was due to her encouragement, sympathy and counsel. Since he has passed away she is, with the assistance of her children, carrying out most successfully the work he here inaugurated, keeping the homestead in excellent condition and causing it to yield an annual income of no small proportions. She is a woman of tact, good judgment and progressive ideas and, like her husband: before her, enjoys a wide circle of friends. She and her family lead simple and unobtrusive lives and stand well in the social life of the community, the children, named as follows, being young people of fine characters and much promise: Sylvester, born November 17, 1885, is now a veterinary surgeon; Oliver, born June 8, 1888; Maria, born January 16, 1893; Verner, born November 17, 1896. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa, Gen.
James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, B.F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN,
1912, p. 1050. |
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