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;
This week's featured connections are Redheads: George is 17 degrees from Catherine of Aragón, 17 degrees from Clara Bow, 24 degrees from Julia Gillard, 12 degrees from Nancy Hart, 15 degrees from Rutherford Hayes, 15 degrees from Rita Hayworth, 19 degrees from Leonard Kelly, 18 degrees from Rose Leslie, 20 degrees from Damian Lewis, 15 degrees from Maureen O'Hara, 23 degrees from Jopie Schaft and 35 degrees from Eirik Thorvaldsson on our single family tree. Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.
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Categories: Kentucky Farmers | 39th Regiment, Kentucky Infantry, United States Civil War