Furry, George (1831 – 1912)

    George Furry, a worthy representative of one of the honored pioneer families of this county, is a native of Ohio, born in Stark county, in 1831, and is a son of Jacob and Fanny (Butler) Furry, both natives of Franklin county, Penn., the former born in 1797, and the latter in 1804. In their native State they passed their childhood days, were married, and in 1829 removed to Stark County, Ohio, where the father followed his trade of shoemaking until coming to Wood County in 1833. In Troy Township he entered a tract of land in Section 5, which he began to clear and improve, but later sold that property and purchased a farm in what is now Lake Township, but was then a part of Troy Township. He was the first settler on the Ridge, and was the second to make a purchase there. He died in Lake Township, June 21, 1866, and his wife, who survived him many years, died on the old homestead on August 21, 1887.

    Their family consisted of nine children. (1) Jacob H., who died at Pemberville, in July, 1895, had enlisted in the Union army in 1861, as a member of Company E, 72nd O. V. I., was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, after which he was honorably discharged and returned home, but in 1864 he re-enlisted in the same company and regiment, and was again sent to the hospital. He was discharged in 1865. (2) George, of this sketch, is the next in order of birth. (3) William, who became a member of the same company as his brother Jacob, was taken prisoner at the battle of Guntown, and confined in Andersonville and Florence, being incarcerated for over nine months. He now resides on the old home farm in Lake township. (4) Mrs. Jane Whitemore makes her home in Haskins, Wood County. (5) Margaret died at East Toledo, Ohio, in July, 1890. (6) John, who also enlisted in 1861, in Company E, 72nd O. V. I., died at Woodville, Sandusky Co., Ohio, May 3, 1887. He gallantly served for three years in the Union army. (7) Catherine is the wife of J. B. McCutchen, of Troy township. (8) Mary wedded Martin Shook, of the same township. (9) Charles resides at Gibsonburg, Sandusky County.
Our subject was but two years of age on coming to Wood County with his parents, the trip being made with an ox-team and cart. He was educated in the district schools of Troy and Lake Townships, and remained a member of his father’s household until seventeen years of age, when he began learning the carpenter’s trade, which he would follow during the summer season. At the age of twenty-four he again took up his books and continued his studies for four years; at the end of which time he commenced teaching. That profession he has since followed during the winter months with the exception of two terms. In 1865, at Toledo, Ohio, he enlisted in Company G, 189th O. V. I., and was mustered into the United States service at Columbus, Ohio. He was appointed first sergeant, was stationed near Huntsville, Ala., and was mustered out as sergeant major, being honorably discharged at Nashville, Tenn., September 28, 1865, after which he returned to his home in Wood County.

    In Sandusky County, Ohio, in 1862, Mr. Furry was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Jane Manchester, a native of Fremont, Ohio, who died in Lake township, Wood County, in 1867, leaving two daughters, namely: Adda Luella, who died in September, 1892; and Sarah Jane, wife of Dr. A. G. Snyder, of East Toledo, Ohio. In Lake Township, in 1870, Mr. Furry was again married, his second union being with Miss Elizabeth Wicks, whose birth occurred in Sandusky County. Her parents, John and Sarah (Hartsell) Wicks, were natives of Pennsylvania, whence they moved to Wayne County, Ohio, later to Sandusky, and finally located in Lake Township, Wood County, where they both passed away, the mother in June, 1891. Mr. and Mrs. Furry have seven children: Frank, who is married and resides at Stony Ridge, Wood County; Lottie Alinda, Mabel May, Hattie, Stella, Roy and Zoa.

In his political views, Mr. Furry is a Republican, and he and his wife are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For sixty-three years he has now made his home in Wood county, has witnessed almost its entire growth and development, and has been instrumental in helping to bring about the wonderful changes that have taken place. He has many warm friends throughout the county, and by all who k now him is held in the highest regard.

 “Wood county Ohio, Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1897”