GEORGE WASHINGTON DULEY

(From the History of Callaway County Missouri, 1884, page 883-884.)
Transcribed by Kris Breid, 24 November 2004

GEORGE WASHINGTON DULEY, farmer, stockman and merchant, Guthrie. Like many of the most respectable and worthy citizens of Callaway county, Mr. Dudley [sic] comes of an old Kentucky family, his parents, Nathaniel and Sarah Dudley [sic], having settled in this county form the Blue Grass State in 1820.

Geo. W. was the sixth of their family of nine children, but the second of the only three now living, and was born in this county on the 22d of February, 1823. The other two living are P. H. and Wm. W; the deceased, Claiborne, John, Margaret, Samuel, E. C. and Milton. The father was a farmer by occupation, and to this Geo. W. was brought up. School advantages in those early days were very indifferent, and the son had the benefit of but little or no school instruction. But appreciating the importance of an education, by study at home during leisure hours he succeeded in acquiring a sufficient knowledge of books for all practical purposes. Reared in the country, free from all the influences that tend to taint the moral as well as the physical life of the young, he grew up to strong and vigorous manhood, and with a character and physique well qualified to enter the activities and responsibilities of life. Intelligent, industrious and energetic, it was plainly to be seen that he was destined for a successful career.

While still under the age of majority, he pushed out from the parental mooring for himself and began the active voyage of life. Trained to the occupation of farming, that naturally became his permanent calling; and possessed of energies that would have made him successful in any field of exertion, he has by steady industry and intelligent management become one of the substantial, well-to-do farmers of the county. His landed estate covers an area of 400 acres, a handsome body of land, nearly all of which is improved and in cultivation or pasturage. In every respect his homestead is a substantial and comfortable one. And besides farming in a general way, he raises large numbers of graded stock and deals in stock quite extensively.

With an energy and enterprise that could not be satisfied with the labors and responsibilities of a large stock farm alone, and with a versatility of adaptation to different pursuits that cannot but be admired, a number of years ago he added the mercantile business to his other active interests by establishing a store at Guthrie, which he has since conducted. In this he has been as successful as on the farm. He has an excellent store, which commands a large and profitable trade. As a citizen and neighbor, and in every relation of life, Mr. Duley has so lived that he has not tarnished the name which he inherited without a blot. His reputation is well grounded in the esteem of the community where he lives.

In September, 1850, he was married to Miss Amanda Wilkerson, originally from Kentucky, a lady well worthy to be his wife. They have two children, Sallie Isabel and Wm. Hanley. Three are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Duley are among the oldest and most highly respected residents of the township.

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