GEORGE PICKRELL was for many years prominent among the intelligent and progressive farmers and stock raiser of this county. His whole course as a man and a citizen was such as to reflect honor on the citizenship of this, his native county, and his untimely death in 1886 when scarcely past life's prime was felt as a loss to the community where he was so well known and greatly respected. In connection with this sketch his portrait is shown on the opposite page.
Mr. Pickrell came of one of the early pioneer families of this section of the country and was born here February 19, 1832. His father, Jesse A. Pickrell was born in Montgomery County, Ky., June 13, 1805, and was married in Mechanicsburg, this county December 18, 1828 to Elizabeth Churchill, who was born September 11, 1811. Our subject was reared on a farm and was early noted for his good sense and thoughtful ways. He was well educated, attending in early life the public schools, and later becoming a student at Eureka College, where he spent a year in profitable study. He afterward made an overland trip to California. He returned in season to take part in the war and on the second call for volunteers assisted in raising troops, but as the regiment was full he was not accepted. He then went to Missouri and joined the Eleventh Missouri Infantry and ere long rose to the position of Quartermaster with the rank of Captain. While holding that office he showed the same integrity and patriotism that were his characteristics in after years, and he did noble service in the army.
Mr. Pickrell was honorably discharged from his regiment, and returning to this county, resumed farming and stock raising in which business he took great delight. His father dying he succeeded to the Pickrell homestead, which is one of the beautiful and solid homes in a region noted for fine residences. It is very pleasantly located facing north on the Wabash Railroad and surrounded by trees and flowers, externally; within it is an exponent of wealth and culture.
Mr. Pickrell was married to Miss Emma H. Winn December 27, 1864. Mrs. Pickrell is a daughter of Dr. Charles L. and Nancy Winn and was born December 29, 1842. She is a lady of refinement and culture, and was given the advantages of superior education, graduating from the Female College at Jacksonville, Ill., and being afterward employed as a teacher of mathematics in that institution of learning. Since her husband's death she has taken up his work and is highly successful along the lines laid down by him. She is the mother of four children, three daughters and one son, all of whom are at home, and these children she is rearing with the admirable tact of a sensible, courageous woman.
Mr. Pickrell was a man of fine personality, of massive build, rather below the medium height, with a grand rugged head and shoulders. He was of an affable, genial disposition and once his friend always his friend. He has left to his family the priceless legacy of an untarnished name and a good example of honesty and industry. He possessed sensible views on all subjects of general interest and in his political sentiments was a Republican.