Biographical notes
on
George W.9 Quimby


(George W.9, Omar A.8, Benjamin7, Moses6, John5, John4, John3, Robert2)




History of Whatcom County, Volume II, by Lottie Roeder Roth, 1926, pps. 378-379:



GEORGE W. QUIMBY

Among the old and honored citizens of Whatcom county who because of their long and useful lives are deserving of specific mention in the history of this county, stands George W. Quimby, who after an active and interesting career is now making his home with his son Fred, in the vicinity of Everson. He is a man of strong and forceful personality, who has made an indelible impress on the lives of those with whom he has come in contact, and no man in his community enjoys to a greater extent the admiration and respect of the people generally. Mr. Quimby is a native of Wisconsin, born in 1842, and is a son of O. A. and Emmanda (Crippen) Quimby, both of whom were natives of Vermont. The father was a blacksmith by trade and was a man of eminently respectable standing in his community.

George W. Quimby had but little opportunity for attending school but he had an ambition for learning and throughout his life has been a close and studious reader, and he is consequently a well informed man. At the age of nineteen years he enlisted for service in the Civil war, in which he served five years and two months, his last regiment being the Thirty-second Wisconsin. He had a splendid war record, among his special services being that of a scout under General Sherman on the march from Atlanta to the sea. He last served under General Howard, and because of his splendid service he was promoted to the rank of captain, in which capacity he commanded a company of colored troops. He took part in a number of important battles and campaigns and since the war he has written a history of the "march to the sea." On his return to civil life Mr. Quimby returned to Wisconsin and devoted his attention to farming. Eventually he went to South Dakota, where he took up a homestead, on which he lived about one and a half years, at the end of which time he went to Nebraska and engaged in the real estate business along the frontier. Then, moving father south, he started the town of Verdigre, Nebraska, in which enterprise he was successful. After remaining in Nebraska about ten years, Mr. Quimby, in 1898, came to Whatcom county, locating in Bellingham, where he remained about four years, during which time he carefully inspected the various sections of the county, looking for a location that suited him, for he was a that time practically retired and wanted a place of pleasant and convenient surroundings in which to reside. He afterward located near Lynden, where he lived for three or four years, or until his wife's death, in 1918, after which he lived with his children until about 1923, when he lost his sight, since which time he has made his home with his son Fred.

Mr. Quimby was married in 1865 to Miss Mary E. Stevenson, a daughter of George Stevenson, who was born in Germany and who was the captain of one of Stephen Girard's ships. Mrs. Quimby died in 1918.   To Mr. and Mrs. Quimby were born seven children, namely:   Mrs. Rosina Cleveland, deceased; Mrs. Manie Beck, deceased, who left two children; Mrs. Maud Smith, of Bellingham, who is the mother of four children; Fred, who is married and is living on the present home place, and is the father of three children; Walter, who is married and is living in British Columbia; Willard, of Bellingham, who is married and has seven children; and Mrs. Verdie Parker, of Lynden, who is the mother of three children. There are also eleven great-grandchildren.

Mr. Quimby has always taken an active part in public affairs in the various communities where he has lived, and while living at Creighton, Nebraska, he served as justice of the peace. On one occasion, during a trial, one of the lawyers was especially annoying to the court. Finally, the justice adjourned court for five minutes in order to "lick" the lawyer, preferring to do that rather than fine him for contempt of court. The lawyer and the justice were ever afterward good friends. Also while living in Creighton, Mr. Quimby acted for a while as editor of a newspaper. He belongs to that class of substantial citizens who, while their lives may not show any meteoric qualities, always, by their support of the political, moral and social status for the general good, promote the real welfare of their respective communities. Fidelity of purpose, keenness of perception, unswerving integrity and sound common sense have been the marked characteristics of his makeup, and these qualities, together with his genial and friendly manner, have won for him the sincere respect and esteem of all who know him.


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History of Nebraska:



GEORGE W. QUIMBY, real estate agency, was born in Knox County, Ohio. In 1853 came to Waupaca County, Wis. In 1868 came to Dakota. In the winter of 1869-70 removed to Niobrara. January 1, 1871, he came to Creighton, where he has since resided. He is the oldest settler in this locality, and made the first claim. He was the first Postmaster here; held the office about two years. He enlisted in 1862, in Company B, Thirty-second Wisconsin Infantry. Served sixty-two months. Was mustered out as Captain.

 

BAZILE MILLS.

This town is situated on Bazile Creek, about three miles north of Creighton. It is in the midst of a fine agricultural country, and is one of the most enterprising towns in Knox County. The first settler was Samuel D. Brooks, who located his claim where the town and mill now are. William Saunders moved in, in the spring of 1872, and S. N. Saunders in the fall. In 1873, Charles A. Lyon, James Connervey, and John Miners joined them, and in 1874 Dr. George Roberts, and Frank Schneider.

Before coming to Nebraska, Mr. Brooks had formed, in his mind, a plan of building a grist mill, and a year before locating his claim, he, together with George Quimby, Henry Sturgess, David J. Quimby, C. J. Benner, and two of his sons, came in and located the town of Mansfield. In 1871, the Bruce colony came in and laid out the town of Creighton. Settlers were coming in to join the Bruce colony, from Rhode Island and Connecticut, and the heads of the Mansfield settlement found it necessary to perfect the plan of building a mill, as rapidly as possible. So they began to get out the timber and stone for the building. The dam was constructed in 1873, and in 1874, the mill itself was commenced. Owing to the grasshopper raid of that year, and the two following ones, it was not completed until 1877. It is a well constructed two and a half story building, and cost about $20,000. The town site was laid out the same year, and in 1878, Brooks Bros., completed their large store building, and opened their store.



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