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from Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1906
George S. Prine, the owner of valuable farming interests comprising one hundred and seventy-three acres in Lincoln township, where he is also engaged in the breeding and shipping of Berkshire hogs, was born in Fayette county, Indiana, October 29, 1847. His father, Miles Kenneth Prine, was a native of Kentucky, and removed thence to Indiana, whence he came with his family to Mahaska county, Iowa, in the `6os, settling in Garfield township in that section on the Pella road now known as the Prine district. The Pella road in those days was a part of the old route from Burlington to Des Moines and was one of the much traveled highways of pioneer times. Mr. Prine devoted his energies to general agricultural pursuits. For many years the firm of M. K. Prine & Son was well known throughout the country as breeders of fine horses, cattle and hogs, making a specialty of Berkshire hogs. The firm has had an existence since 1871 and the business has reached extensive proportions. In politics M. K. Brine was a stanch republican and for many years was a member of the board of school directors. He believed in the employment of competent teachers and in the establishment of good schools and did everything in his power to advance the cause of public education here. He was also greatly interested in the Mahaska County Fair Association, being for many years a director and superintendent. He departed this life in 1900, at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Nelson, was a representative of a pioneer family of Indiana, whose parents occupied the farm upon which George S. Prine was born. They were natives of Maine and removed from New England to the middle west at an early day. Mrs. Prine reached the age of seventy years, five months and ten days. For nine years she was confined to her invalid's chair and had sought help at Colfax and at the Medical Institute at Omaha, but was not materially benefitted thereby. Daniel and Henry Prine, brothers of Miles K. Prine, were prominent farmers of Mahaska county for a long period, the name having been associated for many years with the business development, especially along agricultural lines, of this part of the state, Joseph D. Prine, a brother of our subject, still occupies the old family homestead. In the district schools near his father's home George S. Prine pursued his education and afterward attended the Oskaloosa Business College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1875. He had been reared to the occupation of farming and stock-raising, assisting his father from an early age, and there are few men better informed concerning the value of stock than he. For twenty-five years he never missed making an exhibit of stock at the Iowa state fairs and won many premiums. He also exhibited at other state fairs and at the different county fairs. His position in live stock circles is indicated by the fact that he was honored with the appointment to the superintendency of the swine exhibit at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis in 1904. He has also at different times been superintendent of the Iowa state fairs. He is a member of the American Berkshire Record Association, having served for two years as the president of that association, and for three years was president of the Mahaska County Fair Association. For fifteen years he acted as secretary of the Iowa Swine Breeders Association, which was organized for educational purposes in the way of scoring stock. He has prepared many papers on the subject of stock-raising which were read before this organization. The meetings of the organization were held twice a year, on which occasion there was generally a big banquet. The election of officers was held in Des Moines and the exercises covered a week. He is one of the contributors to the American Berkshire love feast, and sale. This is held at Kansas City, where one hundred bred sows are sold, only one being sold by each breeder, who must be there in person. The farm of Mr. Prine comprises one hundred and seventy-three acres of valuable hand in Lincoln township. Mahaska county, adjoining the city, on which he buys and fattens cattle in large quantities and ships to the Chicago market and to the east. Mr. Prine has been married twice. On the 10th of February, 1870. He wedded Mary Himes, a native of Ohio, who died a year later, and their son, Alford, died in infancy. On the 16th of August, 1876. Mr. Prine married Frances A. Zollars, a daughter of Uriah and Mary Zollars, who were natives of Pennsylvania and settled in Oskaloosa. The children of this marriage were Mary H., a musican of note, who is a graduate of the Oskaloosa high school; and M. Kenneth, who was born February 28, 1883, and died July 19, 1900, being killed in a runaway accident, the bit breaking in the horse's mouth. Before he passed away he expressed the desire that his mother should have the buggy and his father the horse, but Mr. Prine sold the latter at auction and gave the proceeds to the Young Men's Christian Association of Oskaloosa, of which the young man was an active member. He, too, was a graduate of the Oskaloosa high school, and was very popular among his associates, being a young man of good moral character and pleasing disposition, who was well liked by all who knew him. He was a member of Company F, Fifty-first Regiment Iowa National Guards. He was the first of the Young Men's Christian Association to pass away, and a very fine portrait of himself now adorns the walls of the association rooms. Being an only son his death was a sad blow to his parents. His burial was conducted by Company F, with ushers from his class in the Oskaloosa high school, 1900. Mr. Prine has always been an earnest republican in his political views. He is regarded as one of the representative agriculturists of his part of Iowa and has controlled business interests of great importance to the state at large and which have proved as well a source of much individual profit. He is a charter member and director of the Farmers National Bank of Oskaloosa. Upon his farm he has a splendid residence, commodious and substantial barns and sheds and all equipments for the care of crops and stock. His place is situated on the Pella road just outside the corporation limits of Oskaloosa. Coming to this county in his youth. He has since resided within its borders and has become interested in a business of much importance, his labors contributing in large measure to the improvement of the grade of stock raised in Iowa. The farming class have been greatly benefited thereby owning to the consequent advance in prices, and throughout Iowa and in other states as well Mr. Prine's opinions are regarded as authority upon many subjects connected with stock-raising.
Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy