THIS FILE IS FOR GENEALOGICAL PURPOSES ONLY

George Washington SYLVESTER

George Washington Sylvester Home
Plainview Twp., Wabasha Co., MN, circa 1870

BIRTH: 6 APR 1828, Phillips, Franklin Co., ME
DEATH: 10 SEP 1876, Plainview, Wabasha Co., MN
BURIAL: Woodland Cemetery, Plainview, Wabasha Co., MN

Father: Caleb Barker SYLVESTER
Mother: Joanna WHITNEY

Family 1: Matilda A. COOK

MARRIAGE: 18 MAR 1856, Highland, Iowa Co., WI

                                                _William SYLVESTER _
                           _Charles SYLVESTER _|
                          |                    |_Mary Springer LOW _
 _Caleb Barker SYLVESTER _|
|                         |                     _Caleb BARKER ______
|                         |_Lucy BARKER _______|
|                                              |____________________
|
|--George Washington SYLVESTER 
|
|                                               _Abel WHITNEY ______
|                          _Micah WHITNEY _____|
|                         |                    |_Mary CANE _________
|_Joanna WHITNEY _________|
                          |                     _Andrew COBB _______
                          |_Hannah COBB _______|
                                               |_Hannah GREEN ______

INDEX

Notes

[NI0116] Updated February 12, 2005. Compiled by Howder (www.howderfamily.com) from the following source(s):

(1) 1850 United States Census for Wisconsin, Iowa Co., Mifflin Twp.: District No. 6; Household 1094; September 19, 1850.

George W. Sylvester is the son of Caleb and Joanna Sylvester. He was born in Maine, is 22 years old, and is a farmer with real estate valued at $200.

(2) Manzow, Ron, ed., "The Sylvester Family of Plainview, Minnesota -- a collection of information taken from the Plainview News, other newspapers, letters, and diaries beginning in 1884" (Plainview, Minnesota: Plainview History Center, 2001).

- 1829 (April 6): Born in Phillips, ME. (Sylvester family descendant chart)
- 1856: (March 18): Married Matilda A. Cook in Wisconsin, and moved to a farm in Woodland (near Plainview, MN) that same Spring. (page 22)

(3) United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management General Land Office Records.

- December 1, 1856: Purchased 160 acres in Wabasha Co., MN; Part SE; Section 25, Township 108-N, Range 11-W.

(4) 1860 United States Census for Minnesota, Wabasha Co., Town 108 R 11 - Plainview (Plainview Post Office): Page 41; June 18, 1860.

G. W. Sylvester is head of household, married to Matilda [Cook] Sylvester. He is 32 years old, born in Maine, and is a farmer with real estate valued at $1,600 and personal estate valued at $1,000. Their child in the household is Edwin L. Sylvester. Maria Cook is a 15 year old servant born in Canada - East (her relationship to Matilda Cook, if any, is unknown). G. W.'s sister Abby F. [Abigail F. Sylvester] Yetter and family live two households away, and his brother Franklin Sylvester and family live three households away.

(5) 1870 United States Census for Minnesota, Wabasha Co., Plainview Twp. (Plainview Post Office): page 10; dwelling 66; family 64; July 22, 1870.

George Sylvester is head of household, married to Matilda (Cook) Sylvester. He was born in Maine, is 42 years old and is a farmer with real estate valued at $6,000 and personal estate valued at $1,200. He is eligible to vote. Children listed in the household are: Edwin, Hattie, George and Electa.

(6) Death Certificate for George W. Sylvester.

- Lists date of death as September 10, 1876.
- Lists age as 48 years, 5 months, 4 days.
- Place of Birth: Maine
- Place of Death: Town of Plainview [Wabasha Co., MN]
- Cause of Death: Paralysis

(7) Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge & Others, compilers, "The History of Wabasha County Minnesota" (Winona, MN: H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1920). Biography of George W. Sylvester.

"George W. Sylvester was one of the worthy band of pioneers who helped develop this region [Wabasha Co., MN] from an almost untrodden wilderness into the prosperous and productive farming country that it is today. He did his share of the hard work, he and his family took their share of the privations, hardships and inconveniences, and his name will long be held in honored remembrance. He performed efficient service on the town board in the early days, he took an active interest in public affairs, and his influence was ever on the side of those things which he believed to be just and right. George W. Sylvester was born at Phillips, Maine, the son of Caleb and Joanna (Whitney) Sylvester."

"Two of the sons [of Caleb Barker Sylvester], Charles and George W., the subject of this sketch, assisted their father on the farm, and when they attained suitable years, secured employment in the near-by lead mines. In 1851, thrilled with the story of the gold finds in California, the two brothers set out across the plains with an ox team bound for the Pacific coast. Three years of strenuous work in the gold fields netted them each $2,000. There were many opportunities for them in that western country, but life so far away from home and kindred did not appeal strongly to them, so they started back to Wisconsin. With the memory of that long, dangerous trip across the wild plains clearly in their mind, they decided to make the return trip by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and accordingly set out by that route, but it was not until several months later, and after encountering many thrilling adventures, including a shipwreck, that the young men were once more at the parental fireside. A year later, in 1855, the two brothers came to Minnesota, and secured land in this county, George W. claiming the southeast quarter of section 25, in Plainview Township. That winter he spent with his parents in Wisconsin, was there married, and in the spring of 1856, with his bride, settled on his claim in this county. He built a house, started to develop his farm, and worked at his trade as a wagon-maker. In addition to this he also worked for his neighbors as a carpenter, so that many of the pioneer homes of the township still standing are the work of his hands, and a tribute to the skill, permanency and ability with which he wrought. In 1860 he erected on his farm the biggest barn in the neighborhood and painted it red, this "Big Red Barn" being a landmark in the township for many years. In 1875 he replaced his first home with the commodious farm house, which, enlarged and remodeled, is still standing. When the Woodland post office was established at his home he was made the first postmaster. As already mentioned, he was one of the early officers of the town. Fraternally he was affiliated with the Odd Fellows and the Masons. His religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church. After a useful and well-spent life he died September 6, 1876."

(8) Family History, Volume S(4), Sylvester, Daughters of the American Revolution library, Washington, DC., p. 2.

(9) George W. Sylvester family reunion. Plainview, MN (August 16-18, 2002).

- The George W. Sylvester home and farm still exists and is located on the north side of Township Road 8 Rural area of Plainview Township (latitude / longitude; N44°07.490' / W92°05.051'). It has been established that George's father Caleb surveyed much of the land in Wabasha in anticipation of it being opened for homesteads and the family likely knew the choice parcels in advance. George chose his location wisely. While today Township Road 8 is a sleepy, isolated gravel path, it served as the major territorial road in the 1850's and provided the easiest access to the Mississippi for transportation of crops and as a general conduit for commerce. This is probably also why the homestead served as the first Post Office in the area.
- George W. Sylvester is buried at the Woodland Cemetery. The cemetery is located on the south side of Road 25 at the "T" intersection with Road T238 (within eyesight of the township maintenance building) in a rural area of Plainview Township (latitude/longitude; N44°07.698' / W92°06.559'). It is less than a mile from the George W. Sylvester farm. His headstone reads: "George W. / Sylvester / Died / Sept. 10, 1876, / 48 Ys. 6 Ms. 4 Ds." The obelisk on top has both a Masonic and an Odd Fellows symbol.

(10) Jewell family records. August 6, 2002.

- Occupations included Miner, Wagon maker, Carpenter, and Postmaster.

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Additional Notes.

Mayflower lineage: Howland/Tilley -1; Hope Howland -2; Hope Chipman -3; Samuel Cobb -4; Chipman Cobb -5; Andrew Cobb -6 (DAR/SAR ancestor); Hannah Cobb -7; Joanna Whitney -8; George Sylvester -9.