Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 269-270; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
George E. Lindzey. How frequently is it the case that
natural ability and energy combined accomplish truly wonderful results
raising a man from the obscurity of poverty to the importance of
publicity that great wealth brings. Truly, what is commonly
called “self-made men,” are usually those that occupy the highest
positions both in National and State affairs, and reach higher
positions in the commercial world than those whose childhood was
surrounded by every opportunity.
The subject of the present sketch commenced life with virtually
nothing, so far as finances go; and has by dint of good judgment,
pleasing address and energy, massed quite a comfortable fortune.
At this writing he has retired from active business, and passes his
days at his handsome residence on Main Street in Farmington. His
health is poor indeed, but it was partially for this reason that he
concluded to settle in this city, hoping the pure atmosphere and
pleasant society found here would benefit him.
Mr. Lindzey was born in Worcester County, in the State of
Massachusetts, being the son of William Lindzey, and his natal day fell
upon the 12th of February, 1843. His earliest recollections are
of Greenville, a little cotton manufacturing village about then miles
from Providence, where he attended school for a time. However,
the greater part of his education was received in the common schools of
Fairview Township, and much of his youth was spent on a farm.
December 2, 1880, our subject was united in marriage with Miss
Martha Williams, of Hillsborough, Ohio, daughter of Addison and
Margaret (Noble) Williams. Her grandfather, Daniel Williams, was
a native of North Carolina, but emigrated to Ohio at an early
date. He was of Scotch-Irish descent. Her father was born
in Highland County, Ohio, and in that State married. The mother
died in 1850, at the age of thirty-two, leaving five children, only two
of whom reached maturity, viz.: Martha (Mrs. Lindzey), and John
N., who is a carpenter and lives in Decatur, Ill. He married Miss
Martha Lynn, of Sullivan, Ill. Soon after sustaining the sad loss
of his beloved companion, Mr. Williams moved to Iowa, but in a short
time removed to the State of Indian, where he married. His
daughter was brought up by her paternal grandparents, and when they
died she went to live with an aunt, Mrs. Caroline Rogers, near
Hillsboro, Ohio. Mrs. Lindzey’s father served through the late
war. He was severely wounded at Richmond, where he was taken
prisoner and allowed to languish away in Andersonville Prison, in the
spring of the year that witnessed the restoration of peace throughout
the country.
Our subject and his wife have never been blessed with
children. They are both exceedingly popular in the community in
which they reside, and possessing all the comforts of life, watch the
years glide swiftly by. They settled here in 1890, taking
possessing of the residence they had built during the preceding
year. Mr. Lindzey cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham
Lincoln, and is still a strong supporter of the Republican party.
He is generally respected for his strict integrity and high sense of
honor, both in the great and small affairs of life. He owns a
considerable amount of real estate in Farmington and other
places. He is besides, interested in stock-raising, owning some
extra fine horses and cattle.
Our subject’s father, William Lindzey, was an Englishman by
birth and education, and for many years after reaching manhood worked
in the cotton and woolen manufactories of that country, After
coming to the United States he continued his work in these
manufactories through the Eastern cities, moving from place to place in
the States of Connecticut and Rhode Island; and in the fall of 1850
removed from the latter State to Illinois, making the trip by boat and
rail to New York City, and then up the Hudson, and finally by way of
the Great Lakes, Illinois Canal and Illinois River to the mouth of
Copperas Creek. After reaching this State he purchased one
hundred and sixty acres of land in Fairview Township. He next
removed to Yates City, where he owned real estate. His death
occurred in the year 1876, after he had attained his seventy-second
birthday. William Lindzey was married in England to Miss Hannah
Dix, and after the birth of three children came to America, as above
state. They were the parents of ten children, named as
follows: John, Caroline, Emms, Matilda, Harriet, Hannah, James,
George, and two who died while young.
To such men as our subject the United States owes her present
enviable reputation in commercial circles - men who not afraid of
personal hardship and the trials that in an active career without
financial assistance only too naturally come to each life, are strong
and brave enough to carry out Hamlet’s advice, and “by opposing
troubles, end them.”
Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County, Illinois: containing
full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and
representative citizens of the county: together with portraits and
biographies of all the presidents of the United States, and governors
of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890; page 551-552
& 555; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
George Lindzey. How frequently is it the case that natural
ability and energy combined accomplish truly wonderful results, raising
a man from the obscurity of poverty to the importance and publicity
that great wealth brings. Truly, what are called self-made men
are usually those that occupy the highest positions both in national
and State affairs, and reach higher positions in the commercial world
than those whose childhood was surrounded by every opportunity.
The subject of this sketch commenced life with virtually nothing, so
far as finances go; and has by dint of good judgment, pleasing address
and energy, amassed quite a comfortable fortune. At this writing
he has retired from active participation in toilsome labor, and passes
his days at his handsome residence on Main Street, in Farmington.
His health is poor indeed, and it was partially for this reason that he
concluded to settle in this city, hoping the pure atmosphere and
pleasant society found here would benefit him.
Mr. Lindzey was born in Worcester County, Mass., and his natal
day fell upon February 12, 1843. His earliest recollections are
of Greenville, a little cotton manufacturing village about en miles
from Providence, R. I., where he attended school for a time.
However, the greater part of his education was received in the common
schools of Fairview Township, Fulton County, to which his parents came
years ago, and much of his youth was spent on a farm. Having
determined to follow agriculture he became in time an extensive
operator, and still owns a fine farm in Knox County, that he improved,
placing upon it excellent buildings, including a cozy dwelling.
He has been much interested in breeding stock, and his droves of
Poland-China hogs and herds of Short-horn cattle are unsurpassed.
In equines, of which he is an ardent admirer and an excellent judge,
his choice was Normans and Cleveland Bays, both of which were raised
upon his farm.
Our subject’s father – William Lindzey – was an Englishman by
birth and education, and for many years after reaching manhood worked
in the cotton and woolen manufactories in his native land. After
coming to the United States, he continued his work in similar
establishments, moving from place to place in the States of Connecticut
and Rhode Island. In the fall of 1850 he removed from the latter
State to Illinois, making the trip by boat and rail to New York City,
thence on the Hudson River and Erie Canal, and finally by way of the
Great Lakes, Illinois Canal and Illinois River to the mouth of Copperas
Creek. After landing he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of
land in Fairview Township, Fulton County, and by industry became quite
well-to-do. He subsequently removed to Yates City, Knox County,
where he also owned real estate.
William Lindzey was married in England to Miss Hannah Dix and
three of their children were born in the mother country. The
household band was made up of ten sons and daughters – John, Caroline,
Emma, Matilda, Harriet, Hannah, James, George and two who died while
young. The father died in 1876 after he had passed his
seventy-second birthday, and the mother breathed her last at the home
of our subject in Knox County, when sixty-eight years old. Both
were professors of religion, holding membership in the Free Will
Baptist Church. A devoted Christian, the father took great
interest in the duties pertaining to Christian work, and being of a
retiring nature, paid little attention to political honors.
George Lindzey, our subject, was married December 2, 1880, to
Miss Martha Williams of Hillsborough, Ohio, daughter of Addison and
Margaret (Noble) Williams. This lady was born in Highland County,
Oho, and being left motherless when young was cared for by her paternal
grandparents. After their demise she went to live with an aunt,
Mrs. Carolina Rogers, and grew to womanhood in the State of her
nativity. While on a visit to friends in Moultrie, this State,
she met at Fairview the gentleman to whom she gave her hand in
marriage. She is dowered with good looks, good nature and
estimable mental and moral qualities, and in addition possesses skill
in housewifely arts.
Mrs. Lindzey’s grandfather, Daniel Williams, was a native of
North Carolina, but emigrated to Ohio at an early date; he was of
Scotch-Irish descent. His son Addison was born in Highland
County, Oho, and in that State married. Soon after the loss of
his beloved companion, which occurred in 1850, at the early age of
thirty-two years, Addison Williams went to Iowa but soon removed to
Indian where he made a second marriage. >From that State he
enlisted in the Union Army and after serving many long months was
wounded at Richmond, taken prisoner, and allowed to languish away and
die in Andersonville in the spring of the year that witnessed the
restoration of peace to our country.
Mrs. Lindzey is one of a family of five children and she and a
brother – John N. – are the only survivors. Three of the brothers
were participants in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, John being a
member of the cavalry forces from Ohio. He served three years,
then veteranized. He is now living at Decatur, this State, and is
engaged in the electric light works of that city, being an expert
carpenter and mechanic. His wife was known in her girlhood as
Miss Martha Lynn, and was a resident of Sullivan, Moultrie County.
Our subject and his wife have never been blessed with
children. They are both exceedingly popular in the community in
which they reside, and possessing all the comforts of life watch the
years glide swiftly by. They settled in Farmington in 1890,
taking possession of the residence they had built during the preceding
year. Mr. Lindzey cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham
Lincoln in 1864, and is still a strong supporter of the Republican
party. He is generally respected for his strict integrity and
high sense of honor both in the great and small affairs of life.
Mrs. Lindzey belongs to the Christian Church, with which she united in
Vienna, Ohio, in 1868, while in her girlhood.
To such men as our subject the United States owes her present
enviable reputation in commercial circles – men who, not afraid of
personal hardship and the trials that in an active career without
financial assistance only too naturally come to each life, are strong
and brave enough to carry out Hamlet’s advice, and “by opposing
troubles, end them”
