Here in the Garber neighborhood, there have been some wonderful individuals who have contributed to the success of our community. Here on Roark, we had a fellow who came at just the right time—Mr. George Atwood. He was remembered as a gifted fruit and horticulture expert, and he had a busy sawmill operation here as well. He wasn't an Ozarks native, but was originally from Vermont. His career success in everything from publishing to agriculture to teaching is quite impressive, so here's a look at his remarkable career.
Born George Albert Atwood on January 15, 1840, in Barnard, Vermont, he was the fourth of ten children born to George H. and Mary N. (Culver) Atwood. His father was a descendant of William Penn and his mother was a descendant of Samuel Adams.
With strong New England roots and an excellent work ethic, young George took to farm work growing up and did very well keeping up with his education. He took a school teaching position as a young adult and furthered his education in Meriden, New Hampshire, at Kimball Union Academy. He would also become involved in studies at Oswego Business College, Oswego, New York.
In 1862 he enlisted in the Union Army, serving in Company B of the Twelfth Vermont Volunteer Militia. He served nine months and was honorably discharged.
It was in 1863 when Atwood took a position with the Treasury Department and worked two years as a clerk. He was in Washington when President Lincoln was assassinated. Learning that there was no advancement from his clerk position, he resigned and returned to Vermont, farming for a year.
In 1867 he and his wife headed west, settling in Adel, Iowa. Here he took on a newspaper publishing position for the Adel Gazette. Serving a term with the U.S. Postal service while in Adel, he would relocate to Kansas where he became a successful newspaper publisher.
For the next seventeen years Atwood was in charge of four newspapers in Ellsworth, Lawrence, Manhattan and Leavenworth, becoming one of the leading journalists in the State of Kansas.
In 1875 he took a two-year position with the Kansas State Legislature. Atwood was sent to Fort Harker, an abandoned military post, where he helped prepare the property for settlers and assisted in rebuilding the area after the 1874 grasshopper plague. He would work at Fort Harker for four years.
Health reasons sent Atwood to Grand Forks, North Dakota, briefly, and then Florida where he became heavily involved in agriculture planting orange groves. This was planned to be a permanent move. Due to unexpected freezes, this venture didn't work out. Returning to Grand Forks, Atwood established and agricultural newspaper, the “Northern Farmer.”
Owning land near Neosho, the warmer Missouri climate brought him permanently to the Ozarks where he settled in Springfield in 1893. He soon established "The Practical Fruit Grower" publication and would become southwest Missouri's leading expert in the many varieties of fruit. He was also heavily involved with the Ozark Fruit Growers Association, one of the largest groups of its kind in the Midwest.
Atwood purchased land in Boone County, Arkansas, planting much of it in peaches, and here at Garber purchased land a short distance from the townsite inside the Stone County line. This is where he established a pear orchard and sawmill, capitalizing on the opportunity of railroad ties. The Atwood Lumber company provided work opportunities for many of the Garber men as the railroad tie industry brought more money than farming. George's son Ward assisted in the management of Atwood Lumber and would own the property into the 1930s.
The orchard and vineyard at the Maine Fishing and Hunting Club near Hollister was laid out and planted by Atwood and it became extremely successful. The property would soon become under the ownership of the School of the Ozarks.
George Atwood married Vermont native Rosa Ward in 1865 and they had three children together, two which made it to adulthood--daughter Nellie, known as "Birdie" born in 1868, and son Ward, born in 1876. Ward would sell the Garber sawmill and orchard property to Tommy and Margie Walden in the late 1930s; the pear orchard remained active for many years after.
George became stricken with an illness in March 1911 and passed away at his home in Springfield on May 2, 1911 at the age of seventy-one. His passing made newspaper headlines all across Missouri, Arkansas and Kansas.
J.K. Ross at Garber commented in his newspaper column on May 11, 1911 Atwood's impact on the community.
"The passing of G.A. Atwood at his home in Springfield last week has taken away one of Taney County's best friends, as Mr. Atwood had invested in considerable fruit land and devoted much of his time to developing horticulture, not only in Taney County, but in other parts as well."
George Albert Atwood was laid to rest in Springfield's Maple Park Cemetery. It was an honor to have his involvement in the success of our Garber community.
Happy trails. everyone!
Comentarios