Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Waters, George ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com March 25, 2006, 5:46 pm Author: Bio/Gen Record LaSalle/Grundy 1900 George Waters George Waters, Mazon, Illinois, is one of the substantial farmers and respected citizens of Mazon township, of which he is a native and in which his father was one of the earliest pioneers. George Waters is a son of William and Bathena (Booth) Waters. William Waters was born August 12, 1818, in London, England, a son of William Waters, Sr., who came to America in 1833. He left England February 6, 1833, and landed at New York April 11, 1833, bringing his family, except his son William, who had come over a few years earlier. The elder William Waters was a stonemason and became a contractor in stone work on the Michigan canal, and constructed many of the docks along the canal, notably those at Joliet. His children were William, John, James, Elijah, Robert and Ann. William Waters, Jr., a son of William Waters, Sr., and the father of George Waters, left home in 1828, when he was about ten years of age, and crossed the Atlantic ocean with his uncle, William Atkins, and his family. William Atkins, who had married his father’s sister, settled on Hickory creek, three miles southeast of Joliet, Illinois, and there passed his remaining days. He improved a farm and became well known as an enterprising and public-spirited citizen. William Waters, Jr., lived with Mr. Atkins for some years, and when a young man went to Vermilion county, Indiana, eighteen miles north of Terre Haute. There he married Bathena Booth, and they settled in Vermilion county, Indiana, and lived with her mother, who had married a Mr. Hiddle. It should be stated that her mother’s estate eventually went to the Hiddle heirs. William Waters came to Grundy county, Illinois, in 1846, and located wild land, which he entered in 1847, and here he settled and made improvements. That pioneer farm of forty acres is a part of the larger farm which his son George now owns and operates. To this he added forty acres, more of wild land, which he purchased at a dollar and a quarter an acre. Mr. Waters made the first improvement and built the first log cabin on the east side of the middle branch of the Mazon, or Brewster’s slough, as it is called. He soon put the land under a good state of cultivation and erected substantial pioneer buildings. He was a well-known citizen and respected pioneer farmer. In politics he was a Douglas or war Democrat. His children were: Jane, who died May 12, 1862, aged sixteen years, one month and twenty-five days; Henry; Jonas and George, twins; and William and Susan died in infancy. By thrift and industry Mr. Waters added to this land, and at his death owned one hundred and thirty-seven acres. He died September 14, 1861, aged forty-three years, one month and three days, as the result of an accident. Bathena, the wife of William Waters, died March 18, 1856, aged thirty-five years, four months and eight days. George Waters, the immediate subject of this sketch, was born on the old homestead where he now lives, February 22, 1851. He received a good common- school education, and learned farming thoroughly. He prospered by industry and good management and became a substantial citizen, and during recent years has been engaged somewhat extensively in the grain business. He is a trusted citizen of his township, and for nine years filled the office of road commissioner to the entire satisfaction of the people. In political opinion he is a Republican. He was married December 1, 1872, in old Mazon, to Sarah Johnston, born April 5, 1852, on the George Miers farm in Mazon township, a daughter of Matthew and Mary J. (Preston) Johnston. Matthew Johnston was from Pennsylvania and married in Guernsey county, Ohio, Mary J. Preston. He settled in Ohio, where he worked at his trade of bricklayer, and in 1851 moved to Illinois and settled in Mazon township. He afterward bought a farm in Good Farm township, where he owns three hundred and sixty acres, and became a prosperous farmer and well-to-do citizen. His children are William, Andrew, Mary, Hattie (who died an infant), Sarah, Finley, John, Charles, Belle and Nellie. Mr. Johnston and his wife are both members of the Methodist church, and he is a Republican in politics. He has retired from active life and is living in Mazon, where he is respected as a public-spirited and helpful citizen. He has always been an upright and valued member of the community and has reared an excellent family. After their marriage George Waters and his wife remained on the old homestead, and here he has passed all his life since, and will doubtless end his days. He has been deservedly prosperous and now owns four hundred and seventy-eight acres of fine farm land and is regarded as one of the most substantial farmers of his township. To George and Sarah (Johnston) Waters have been born two children: Berton, born July 1, 1877; and Ethel I., born December 28, 1885, and died January 27, 1892, aged about six years. Mr. Waters is a public-spirited man and is interested in all measures tending to the public good, and is especially desirous that good roads shall be secured and maintained throughout the country, and is willing to do his part toward the accomplishment of this end. He has through life maintained a high character, and is well known for reliability and capability as a practical business man. Additional Comments: Source: Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p480-482 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/waters651nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/ File size: 6.1 Kb