Board: Message Boards > Localities > North America > United States > States > Indiana > Counties > Wells URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.indiana.counties.wells/2011/mb.as hx Subject: Biography of George Dulinsky Author: WellsVolunteer Date: Tuesday, October 16, 2001 Classification: Biography Surnames: Dulinsky, Leist, Yarger, Oswart, McClain, Kelley
From "Biographical Memoirs of Wells County, Indiana," 1903, pp. 261-263. GEORGE DULINSKY. Weaving, like spinning, in the homes of the country is a thing of the past. Yet less than forty years ago it was no very rare thing to hear, on approaching a farm house, the hum of the spinning wheel or the rattle of the shuttle in the loom. Of either accomplishment, weaving or spinning, the present generation knows comparatively nothing. In the early settlement of Indiana weaving was a species of skilled labor much in demand. William Dulinsky, father of George, the subject of this sketch, was a weaver and put his knowledge of the business to good use while clearing his land and making a home for his family in Wells county during the 'fifties. George Dulinsky, the subject hereof, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, July 26, 1844. He was the son of William Dulinsky, a native of Poland who came to America when a lad of only fourteen years. William's first employment in this country was in a woolen mill in the east. He was a steady lad, observant and quick to learn, and when given an oportunity (sic) to learn weaving he made the most of it. Becoming an expert weaver, he decided to try his fortune in the west. He secured a position in his business in Pickaway county, Ohio, where he met and married Miss Mary Leist, a native of the same place. She was a daughter of George and Barbara Leist, natives of Pennsylvania, but had come to Ohio and made settlement there early in life. They spent the remaining years of their lives in their new home in Ohio. For a number of years after their marriage, Mr. And Mrs. William Dulinsky continued to reside in Pickaway county, he working at his trade of weaving. Finally, in 1850, he moved his family to Wells county, Indiana, bought a farm of forty acres in the woods of Nottingham township and proceeded to make a home. A log cabin, stable and five acres of cleared land were all the improvements there were on the place. For fifteen years this constituted the home of the family. During this time William Dulinsky equipped an apartment which he devoted to the business of weaving. He was about the only weaver in that region and consequently had plenty to do. In 1864 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of timber lands west of where his son George, the subject of this sketch, now resides. This place he cleared, improved and occupied until his death, which occurred in 1891. He followed the business of weaving until 1881, when he gave it up as unprofitable and no longer of much use in a country place. Mrs. Dulinsky is still living on the old home place. She is eighty-four years old, but strong and active. She is the mother of five children, four of whom are still living. George, the subject hereof, is the oldest of the family: Samuel and Levi both reside on the old home place; Ellen is dead and Barbara resides with her mother. The opportunities for receiving an education afforded to George Dulinsky were by no means all that could be desired. In those days the public schools of Nottingham township was open only three months in the year. These three months, however, were utilized by George to the very best advantage. He attended the sessions right along up to the time that he was nineteen years of age. A year previous he began working out by the month, but continued to make his home with his parents. On June 27, 1869, he was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Yarger, who was born in Ohio, November 22, 1842. She was the daughter of Joseph and Margaret Yarger, old settlers of Wells county, but both now deceased. The first year of their married life Mr. And Mrs. Dulinsky occupied the William Oswart farm, the next three years he cultivated his father's farm and for the next four years he was on the McClain place. By this time he had accumulated sufficient money to purchase a place of his own. He bought sixty acres of timber land, paying four hundred dollars cash and going in debt for as much more. This he has cleared and improved and upon it he now resides. When they started in life at the time of their marriage, the Dulinskys were owners of very little property. He had a two-year old colt and two pigs and she had a cow. From this small beginning they have by hard work and good management secured a very fair start in life. In 1880, after buying their place, he built a round-log house eighteen by twenty-four feet, and a pole barn. Both were raised the same day. While clearing his land he continued to rent some ground, farmed it and made a good living for his family. He also worked at ditching and such other employment as he could secure. He is now the owner of a well improved farm of eighty acres, seventy of which is under cultivation. In 1895 he erected a handsome, comfortable home and a substantial, commodious barn upon the place. He carries on general farming and stock raising, prefers Poland China hogs, but is of the opinion the better success is secured by a mixture with the Chester White. The ordinary run of cattle he considers quite good enough to attain success with on the farm, if the products are fed instead of being sold. On his place he has six oil wells from which he realizes a nice little sum each month. Farming has been his life work and he has made it profitable. Along toward the latter days of the war, in 1865, George Dulinsky was drafted for service in the Federal army and taken to Wabash. It was the last call made for troops and was most peremptory. He and thirteen others were taken forthwith without getting any time whatever to adjust their affairs. Only seven were needed, but fourteen were drawn. The seven were secured from his fellow victims of the draft before Mr. Dulinsky's turn on the list came, so he was permitted to return home without a uniform. To Mr. And Mrs. Dulinsky six children have been born, viz: Orlando, born December 10, 1869, married Della Ira, now lives in Nottingham township and is working in the oil fields; Mary Estella died in childhood; Emma, born June 29, 1875, married Bert Kelley and now resides in Nottingham township; she is the mother of two children, Lelo F. and Marion; Lewis was born June 13, 1878, and resides at home with his parents; Nora died in infancy; Oscar died in childhood. In politics George Dulinsky is a Democrat, always votes the ticket and warms up some during the heat of the political campaign. In local affairs, however, he prefers to be independent and vote for the man. He is a man who commands the respect and esteem of all his fellow citizens.
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