Biography - George Travers
GEORGE B. TRAVERS, a representative farmer and stock-raiser of Pitman Township, living on section 7, is a native of Dorsetshire, England, who was born December 22, 1828, and was the son of Joseph and Eliza Travers, both of whom were natives of England.
Our subject was reared to years of maturity in his native county and was taught the principles of good farming. He went to school in England, but was interrupted in his education, so that his knowledge is almost all self-gained. The father thought that America would give the family better opportunities than did Britain, so they took passage at Liverpool, England, in 1850 for the United States and arrived in New York City after a trip of twenty-four days. The "greyhounds" of the ocean were not yet built, and scarcely conceived of in the brains of the daring navigator.
The destination of the Travers family was Macoupin County, and thither they came as soon as they landed in Illinois. They were among the early settlers, but the father and mother did not live long enough in the new land to enjoy the results of their venture, the mother dying in 1851, and the father, missing her encouragement, died in 1855. The children who survive are George B., Joseph, Mathew, James; Eliza, the wife of Henry Weiss; and Elizabeth, the widow of John Morris.
After arriving in Illinois, our subject began work on a farm, and engaged with Henry Law, of Macoupin County, to work for $11 per month. After the death of his father, our subject assumed the management of the family, and became their mainstay. To him they all looked for assistance, and nobly did he perform the offices of both parents. His marriage took place June 9, 1858, to Miss Frances J. Swafford, born in Kentucky, the daughter of Hiram and Mary (Hudspeth) Swafford, her parents being early settlers of Macoupin County, Ill. To Mr. and Mrs. Travers five children were born: Albert E., Edwin C., George E., Frederick J., and Jennie M.
For several years after marriage our subject farmed as a renter in Macoupin County, but in 1869 he moved to Montgomery County and settled on a farm, and there he now resides. He owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, and this is a reward of honest labor. He commands the respect of all who know him and his example shows to others what may be accomplished in overcoming adverse circumstances. In his political opinions Mr. Travers is a Republican and always votes with the party which he thinks protects the interests of the poor man in his efforts to better his condition. The Patrons of Husbandry, an agricultural association, claims Mr. Travers as a valued member, and for twenty years he has served his township as School Director. For nearly two years he has been the efficient Highway Commissioner of Pitman Township and for one year he acted as Township Collector. The success of Mr. Travers' life has been obtained through honest integrity and persevering labor, and his whole career has marked him as a man in whom his fellow citizens can take pride.
Extracted 29 Nov 2016 by Norma Hass from 1892 Portrait and Biographical Record of Montgomery and Bond Counties, Illinois, pages 149-150.
