Representative George Chandler View All Years
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George Chandler
Des Moines County
GEORGE CHANDLER. He was born in Fryeburg, Maine, February 1, 1810, and was a representative in the eighth generation of the descendants of William and Anna (Annis) Chandler, who settled in Roxbury, Massachusetts, in 1637. His parents were Joseph and Hannah (Farrington) Chandler, and he was the youngest son in a family of thirteen children. He was a direct descendant in the male line from the oldest son in seven successive generations of Chandlers, all residents of Massachusetts, Maine and New Hamphire, and represented in succeeding generations in the successive wars of the country, the French and Indian, the Colonial, and the Revolutionary wars. George Chandler attended Phillips Academy at Exeter, New Hampshire, at a time when Daniel Webster was an instructor there. He left home in 1829 at the age of nineteen years and settled in Weathersfield, New York, where he remained for a decade, during which period he engaged in business as a carpenter and builder. He came to Burlington in 1840 and invested in town lots. He also industriously pursued his trade in the city and surrounding country, and not long afterward he purchased a farm, forming a part of his permanent residence. This was known as Spring Creek Farm on Lower Sandridge, five miles south of Burlington and bordering the Fort Madison road. Upon that farm he resided throughout his subsequent life, except a portion of his last years, which were spent in the home of his daughter, Mrs. Swiler, then living in Delavan, Wisconsin. Mr. Chandler was united in marriage to Matilda (Goddard) Sisloff, the widow of Joseph Sisloff, of Natchez, Mississippi.. The death of Mr. Chandler occurred in Delavan, Wisconsin, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Swiler, May 6, 1895, but his remains were brought back to Des Moines county for interment in the Chandler cemetery on the home farm on Lower Sandridge. Throughout his entire life he was an advocate of the democratic party but was loyal to Lincoln and his administration during the Civil war. He served for many years as assessor of Union township and was well acquainted with all of the residents of the township and nearly everyone in the county. In business he was known as a highly successful and substantial farmer of Des Moines county, and was also a prominent stock dealer and trader. Preceding and during the Civil war he was constantly engaged in buying and shipping immense droves of hogs and cattle to the Chicago market. The first house which he had upon his farm was a log cabin containing but three rooms. He afterward built an elegant country residence, and there the good old time hospitality was ever extended to the many friends of the family. He spent practically all of his active life upon the farm and only gave up work upon that place when in advanced years he was persuaded to live with his daughter, Mrs. Swiler, in Wisconsin, passing away at her home when he had reached the ripe old age of eighty five years. Mr. Chandler was widely known as Uncle George, a term expressive of his friendliness, his approachableness and his kindly spirit. Mr. Chandler was truly a gentleman of the old school, courteous, kindly, loving truth, honor and self-respect more than fame, wealth or position.
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