George Washington Auxier (1841 - 1895)

Born 10 Nov 1841 in Johnson, Kentucky, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Angeline Prater — married 24 Nov 1865 in Magoffin, Kentucky, United States

Descendants

Died 21 Aug 1895 at age 53 in Johnson, Kentucky, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Steven Morehead [send private message]

George Auxier was born in Kentucky.

George engaged in farming in Kentucky.

Sergeant George Auxier served in the United States Civil War.
Enlisted: 25 April 1863
Mustered out: 15 September 1865
Side: USA
Regiment(s): 39th Regiment, Kentucky Mounted Infantry

Biography

George Washington Auxier 1841-1895

When George Washington Auxier was a young boy, his father moved with his family to the Blockhouse Bottom just opposite East Point where he built a large colonial style house. It was one of the first houses in the Big Sandy Valley to have plastered walls. The plaster was brought up the Big Sandy River by flat boat. An artist of some note came to the home and painted the portraits of Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln on the smooth white plastered walls where they remained in good condition until about 1907.

George Washington Auxier was a handsome man of fine stature, six feet tall, with a high broad forehead, black hair and piercing black eyes. In later years, he weighed 250 pounds. He, his brothers and sisters were gifted with deep melodious voices. Lacking other forms of entertainment at the time, the friends and neighbors would gather at their home to hear them sing hymns and songs popular at that time.

George joined the 39th Kentucky Volunteers and was a sergeant in this company. He was with his brother, Captain David Valentine Auxier at the battle of Saltville, Virginia and saw him wounded in battle. He and some soldiers were able to get him to shelter in a nearby barn. Although Captain Auxier was mortally wounded, he urged them back into battle. Later, when they were able to return they found he had been taken to a residence where he died from of his wounds.

The deaths of his parents left several unmarried brothers and sisters at home. Nathaniel and Edward were only two and four years old. George Washington, as the eldest brother, felt it his duty to stay at home and help provide for their welfare and education, therefore, he and his young wife, Ann, remained on the farm with them. They served as father and mother to them until all except Nathaniel and Edward were grown and married. At that time they left the old homestead and took Nathaniel and Edward with them.

George Washington Auxier was a man of ability and many interests. He, his sons and his brothers, Nathaniel and Edward, operated the farm raising tobacco, corn, cattle and hogs. At the same time he owned one of the few general stores in the county having his merchandise brought up the Big Sandy River by steamboat from Catlettsburg to Paintsville. It was then hauled by oxen or mule team to his store at Fish Trap. His customers came by wagon with their families as far as ten to twelve miles. They brought their produce which they exchanged for farm machinery, household articles, dress goods and groceries. The families spent the day trading, visiting and partaking of the good food prepared by his wife, Ann, and their daughters.

There was also a tannery on the place where hides were tanned and prepared for leather goods. Operations of this tannery ceased after one of the workmen was killed by lightning while at work.

George was a Republican who was interested and well informed in politics. He was twice elected to the office of Sheriff of Johnson County serving for a period of nine years. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge. He was well educated for his day. He had a very pleasing personality and was considered the best known and most popular man in the county. He had a beautiful melodious singing voice and sang and played the violin and banjo with his sons as long as he lived.

He and his wife were Methodists. They were very interested in religion; very tolerant and helpful to all denominations. They were known for their good deeds and hospitality. When the United Baptist Church held an annual association nearby, they entertained more than one hundred people in their home.

On December 3, 1865, at her home on Burning Fork in Magoffin County, Kentucky, George Washington Auxier married Angeline Prater, the daughter of John Prater and Jemima Auxier Prater. They were the parents of;

1. Isaac Lincoln Auxier who married Jemima Catherine Wheeler.
2. Louisa Hester Ann Auxier who married David Jesse Vanhoose.
3. Samuel Nathaniel Auxier (1869-1942) who married Rosa Bell (Stapleton) Auxier (1874-1960).
4. John David Auxier who died at the age of 2.
5. William Andrew Auxier who married (1) Louisa McKenzie (2) Lula Brooks Hankle.
6. Millard Mayo Auxier who married Teresa Stapleton.
7. Albert Auxier who died at age 1.
8. Sarah Jemima Auxier who married Wilson Rice.
9. Martha Auxier who married Henry Elmer Trimble.
10. George Garfield Auxier who married Lula Mae Salyer.
11. Mary Frances Auxier who died at age 3.

Sources

• "United States Census, 1850", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M65Z-ZWD : Wed Oct 04 11:21:23 UTC 2023), Entry for Nathaniel Auxier and Hester A Auxier, Johnson, Kentucky, United States, 1850.
• "United States Census, 1860", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MZBC-24T : Thu Oct 05 10:33:56 UTC 2023), Entry for Nathanael Auxier and Hesteson Auxier, Johnson, Kentucky, United States, 1860.
• "Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V5ZD-7KB : Fri Oct 20 00:12:38 UTC 2023), Entry for George W Auxier and Angalina Prater, Magoffin, Kentucky, United States, 24 Nov 1865.
• "United States Census, 1870", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXWF-669 : Thu Oct 05 12:22:12 UTC 2023), Entry for George W Auxier and Angelina Auxier, 1870.
• "United States Census, 1880", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCZ3-TKS : Thu Oct 05 14:18:12 UTC 2023), Entry for George W. Anpier and Angeliene Anpier, 1880.
• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/47316613/george-washington-auxier: accessed 01 November 2023), memorial page for George Washington Auxier (10 Nov 1841–21 Aug 1895), Find a Grave Memorial ID 47316613, citing Johnson County Memorial Cemetery, Staffordsville, Johnson County, Kentucky, USA; Maintained by The Kentucky Hill Hunter (contributor 47428064).
• George Washington Auxier at FamilySearch