George F. Stainbrook, the efficient County Sheriff of Lee County, is one of the wide-awake and ambitious young men of Dixon who will undoubtedly make of life a success, as he is possessed of energy, industry and a perseverance that overcomes all obstacles, he claims the honor of being a native of the county, his birth having occurred in Viola Township, September 11, 1858, his father, Isaiah Stainbrook, a
native of Meadville, Crawford County, Pa., comes
of an old Pennsylvanian family of German origin.
His grandfather, Fred Stainbrook, was born and
reared in the Keystone State, and is yet living in
PawPaw, Ill., at the advanced age of ninety years.
The infirmities of age, however, rest lightly upon
him, he still retaining much of the physical and
mental vigor of middle life. his father, the great-grandfather of our subject, a Revolutionary hero,
lived and died in Pennsylvania, and was a son of
the founder of the familv in America, a German
emigrant who on leaving the Fatherland crossed
the Atlantic and settled in Crawford County, Pa.,
where his descendants have now lived for several
generations. The family have been a farming
people.
In the usual manner of farmer lads, Isaiah Stainbrook was reared to manhood, and in an
early day accompanied his parents to Illinois, the
family locating in Willow Creek Township, Lee
County where he attained his majority. In Viola
Township, he formed a matrimonial alliance with
Isabel Davidson, who was born in Canada. On
her father's side she was of Scotch descent, and on
her mother's side was of Scotch-Irish lineage.
During her girlhood she accompanied her parents
to New York, and from there the family came
to Illinois, locating on a farm in Viola Township,
where both her father and mother spent there
remaining days. They were members of the Presbyterian Church. After his marriage Isaiah Stainbrook enlisted for the late war in August, 1864,
as a member of the Seventy-fifth Illinois Infantry,
and was assigned to Company F. The regiment
served with the armies of the Cumberland and
Tennessee, and Mr. Stainbrook was with his Cornmand in all the engagements in which it participated. lie was never wounded or taken prisoner,
but still suffers from rheumatism caused by
exposure. When the war was over he was honorably discharged, and at once returned to his
home in Viola Township, where je has since
engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is one of the
successful farmers and well-known citizens of that
community, and exercises his right of franchise in
support of the Republican party. His parents
were members of the Methodist Church, and he
and his wife attend its services. Our subject is
the eldest of their four children, two sons and
two daughters. The second son, William, wedded
Rosa Johnson and is a resident farmer of Viola
Township; Mary is the wife of Charles Stout
also a farmer of that township; and Jennie married William Phillips, an agriculturist of Viola Township.
George F. Stainbrook acquired a good practical
education in the public schools, and early became
acquainted with the labors of the farm from whence
his experienccs of life in early years were all
obtained. He possesses a nature extremely practical yet progressive, and is ambitious.
To farm work he devoted his energies until a little more
than eight years ago when he was made Deputy
Sheriff of Lee County, and removed to Dixon.
He proved one of the most faithful and efficient public servants, and for eight years filled that office.
In 1890 he was elected Sheriff, and is now discharging the duties of that position with promptness and fidelity. He is the youngest Sheriff that Lee County ever had, a fact which speaks well for the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens and also for his personal popularity.
A marriage ceremony, performed in Dixon on the 16th of October, 1890, united the destinies of Mr. Stainbrook and Miss Anna B. Mulkins. Her parents, Lemuel and Helen Mulkins, are residents of this city, where their daughter was born on the 6th September 1863. She is an intelligent and cultured lady and possesses no small artistic skill, her landscape and portrait paintings both being worthy of
high commendation. Mr. and Mrs. Stainbrook attend the Methodist Church. He is connected with several civic societies, being a member of the United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen, and the Illini Tribe of Red Men. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, and takes considerable interest in political affairs, keeping himself well informed on the issues of the day.
1892 Portrait and Biographical Record Lee Co Pg 198
