Bio: Lindsley, George (1932 - 1901)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

----Source: History of Clark County, Wisconsin (1918)

Surnames: LINDSLEY WEBSTER LAWRENCE BENEDICT TURNER SCHOENFELD

                          Mr. & Mrs. Jesse Lawrence

                          Mr. & Mrs. George Lindsley

GEORGE LINDSLEY, in former years one of the leading citizens of York Township, was born in Jefferson County, New York, July 11, 1832, son of Elijah and Harriett (Webster) Lindsley. The father was a native of New York State and the mother of Connecticut, and they were farmers by occupation. George was one of the youngest in their family of thirteen children, and was sixteen years of age when he accompanied his father to Wisconsin, the latter having become a widower. Elijah Lindsley located in Fond du Lac County, where he engaged in farming. George soon struck out for himself, and on April 15, 1856, was united in marriage with Sarah Lawrence, who was born in Jefferson County, New York, in 1840, daughter of Jesse and Almeda (Benedict) Lawrence. Her parents were natives of the same state, the father of Lewis and the mother of Oswego County. Coming to Clark County about 1875, they settled in section 21, York Township, on a piece of wild land past which there was a trail or footpath. Here Mr. Lawrence built a log house, and having traded the horses with which he had driven into the township for oxen, he set to work to clear his land, of which he had a large tract. The rest of his life was spent in that employment until he finally died at the age of 66 years, his wife dying some ten years later at the age of 72.

They were both members of the Methodist Church, and he served for some time as a member of the school board. In 1880 Mr. Lindsley and his wife located on the farm that had been opened up and improved by her father, driving across the state with a horse team and bringing stock with them. They reached York Township about Oct. 15, 1880, after a hard trip, and Mr. Lindsley at once began farming and continuing the work of clearing the unimproved land. The substantial brick house now standing on the place was erected by him. This farm was his home until his death at the age of 69 years, Aug. 8, 1901. He had become a well-known and popular resident of the township, and he served for a number of years as a member of the township board, of which he was chairman one term, also being a director on the school board.

He was a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted in 1862 in Company A, 32d Wisconsin Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea, and after the surrender of Lee and Johnston, took part in the Grand Review at Washington.

His wife still resides on the homestead in section 21, York Township. They were the parents of three children: Eugene, Ernest and Harriet. Eugene, who is now a resident of South Dakota, married Clara Breckenridg, and has two children, George and Harry. Ernest, who is a minister in the Weslyan Methodist Church, married Ella Livingston and has one son, Clare, now in Lansing, Mich. Harriet is the wife of Abel Turner, of the town of York, Clark County, and has had eleven children, of whom two, Price and Birdene, are now deceased. The living are Mabel (wife of Emil Schoenfeld), Grant, George, Clayton, Myron, Victor, Harriet, Orvill and Wilber. All except Mabel are living on the old homestead. Their oldest son works the place, while the father and second son work at carpenter work. The mother still lives in the old home.