George W. Newman
George W. Newman, farmer and merchant, P.O. Mechanicsburg. Among the many enterprising families of Madison County there are none whose records are more worthy of perpetuation in the history of Madison County than the Newmans. George W. Newman, a prominent citizen of Pike Township, ws born October 3, 1818, in Ross County, Ohio. His father, Nathaniel F., was a native of Virginia, and his mother, Elizabeth (Lawrence) Newman, was a native of Delaware. In 1836, with his parents, our subject came to Madison County, and settled in Pike Township, where they remained until their decease, his father October 6, 1865, and his mother July 28, 1866. They had four children — Henry L., George W., John and Mary (deceased). Our subject had the advantages of obtaining but a meager education in his youth, but by constant reading and study he has made himself familiar with many important topics of his day. On December 30, 1841, he married Miss Martha Morse, born May 24, 1822, and a daughter of Caleb and Hulda Morse. To them have been born eight children — Anne, born January 23, 1843; Lafayette, born November 26, 1844; Caleb, born September 11, 1846; George, born March 21, 1849; Frank, born April 2, 1851; Walter, born December 22, 1852; Addie, born May 27, 1856; and Charles, born October 28, 1858. In 1859, Mr. Newman settled where he presently resides, near Liverpool. For an example of industry, perseverance and economy, our subject may be taken as a very striking one; for, after marriage, according to his own statement, "he had comparatively nothing" with which to start on the rugged journey of life; but, by continual toil and close application to his business, he continued to prosper and add to the scanty store with which he began, until to-day he is the owner of 360 acres of land, and has one of the finest homesteads in the county. He is engaged in the mercantile business at Mechanicsburg, having a fine store, and he has established a good trade. He as served as Trustee of Pike Township, and has also been Clerk and Director of the public school in his district for fourteen years. For nearly forty years, our subject enjoyed the happiness of wedded life, when, on September 6, 1881, death entered his happy home and called away his life companion.
From HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]