GEORGE S. WING, who is widely and favorably known throughout Rush Township and vicinity owns and operates a good farm on section 16. He is the offspring of an excellent family, being the son of Samuel D. Wing, who was born near what was then North Fairhaven, Mass., but now Acushnet, Bristol County, about 1787. The mother was Sarah Pope Hathaway, the daughter «»r a captain in the Revolutionary Army. After their marriage settled on the old homestead of the family in Acushnet, where the father tilled the soil and where both parents spent the remainder of their lives. Mr, Wing during his younger years occupied himself as a ship carpenter. The parental household included nine children— six sons and three daughters. The subject of this sketch was the fifth child of his parents, whose family, with one exception, all grew to mature years. George S. was born in North Fairhaven, Jan. 12, 1829, and lived upon a farm until a lad of fourteen years. Not being very strong physically it was thought best that he should pursue some other calling, and he accordingly repaired to Grafton, Mass., and served one year as an apprentice at the tailor trade. Then returning to Fairhaven he worked in a tailor's shop about one year and thence proceeded to Providence, R. L, working as a journeyman there also a year. In the meantime he had displayed more than ordinary musical talent, so he quit the tailoring business and engaged as a performer on the violin, first in the theaters in Providence, and afterward traveled three years, visiting the principal towns in the New England States.

At the expiration of this time Mr. Wing returned to the old farm and followed agriculture a period of eight years. In March, 1856, he set out for the West, and coming to this county made his home for the year following with his cousin, S. W. Hathaway of Guilford. In the winter of 1856 he came to Millville, which was then a flourishing little village, and in company with Luther Conan furnished music for dancing parties during that winter. In April, 1857, he settled on the farm in Rush Township, which he has since occupied. This comprises 160 acres of good land with fair improvements.

Mr. Wing was married in Darlington, Wis., Feb. 29,1859, to Mrs. Martha Gates, daughter of L. P. and Marcia (Babb) Woodworth and widow of Allen Gates, who died of cholera at Warren, this State, in 1854. Mrs. Wing was born in Aslitabula County, Ohio, and by her first husband became the mother of one child, William Allen Gates. Of her marriage to our subject there were born eight children—Luther P. is a farmer and a school-teacher combined, and makes his home in La Fayette County, Wis; George S., Jr., is farming near Independence, Iowa; Sarah M. died when about nine months old; Micah H., Anna S.. and Mark E. are at the home of their parents. Philip J. died when less than a year old; Alvin E. is at home.

Our subject, familiarly known as Squire Wing, was in former years a Republican, later joined the Green backers but now votes independently. He served as Justice of the Peace from 1857 until 1880. He has also officiated as Township Clerk, and is one of the organizers of the Home Insurance Company. He was at one time engaged for a number of years in purchasing tobacco for a Chicago firm. Of late years, however, ho has given his attention exclusively to farming and stock-raising. He is prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Blue Lodge No. 278, Warren Chapter, and Galena Commandery No. 40.

Transcribed by Christine Walters - Portrait and Biographical Album of Jo Daviess and Carroll Counties, Illinois (1889)