My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE R. TRACY was born in Licking county, Ohio, Nov. 21, 1847. His father, George Tracy, was a native of Pennsylvania, but emigrated to Ohio at an early period of his life, and subsequently to Illinois, where he remained until his death. He engaged in various pursuits during the early part of his life, but farming was his chief occupation. He was a minister of the old school Baptist church; a close student of the Bible and one of the best posted men of his day on the scriptures. He died in June, 1858, in Hancock county, Ill. His wife was Barbara (Lineberger) Tracy, a native of Germany. She is still living in Illinois and is a devoted christian woman.

George R. Tracy, the subject of this sketch, worked on a farm in Illinois until twenty-two years of age. He then determined to go to Missouri and try farming on his own responsibility. He finally purchased a small farm of Mary Power, who, on January 22, 1870, became his wife. Three children were born of this union, namely — Luella May, born November 27, 1872, Emma B., born February 4, 1880, and William H., born July 4, 1882.

Mr. Tracy immigrated to Nebraska in February, 1875, and took a homestead in Thornton township, Buffalo county. He built a sod house in which the family lived for twelve years. It still stands and is in a tolerably fair state of preservation. At the time of their settlement the country was new and settlers were few and far between. Wild game was plenty, especially deer and antelope, which were frequently seen in the vicinity. Mr. Tracy was among those who suffered on account of the terrible scourge of the grasshoppers. They descended in great clouds in the summer of 1876, and completely destroyed everything green, even eating a bed of fine onions growing in the garden. They flew in such droves that they fairly darkened the sun and made a roaring noise similar to a moving train of freight cars.

When Mr. Tracy first settled on his homestead there were only a few houses in sight and it would frequently be days and even weeks before they would see a stranger or even any one they knew. During the first few winters they experienced several severe storms and blizzards, when the snow would drift so that it would be impossible almost to get about. They frequently were compelled to burn hay and corn-stalks for fuel.

Mrs. Tracy was born in Scotland county, Mo., July 3, 1849, and was the daughter of Richard and Mary (Turner) Power. Both her parents were natives of Kentucky, and after marriage located in Rush county, Ind., where several years of their early life were spent. In the spring of 1838 they started West, stopping in Illinois, however, long enough to raise and dispose of a crop, then they pushed on to Missouri, where they resided the remainder of their lives. They had nine children — four sons and five daughters.

Mr. Tracy is a pronounced religious man, although not at present a member of any church. Mrs. Tracy is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church.