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George W. Taite was born in Jefferson CO., N. Y., June 23, 1838. His parents, George W. and Jeanette (Kearns) Taite, were natives of Scotland, and came to America about 1833. They first settled in New York, and afterward moved to Wisconsin and remained there as long as they lived. George was eight years of age when his parents moved to Wisconsin. He lived there until the death of this mother, then came to Muskegon, Mich., where he was engaged in farming, and lumbering until the summer of 1883, when, in company with Henry Orton, engaged to take charge of the County Poor Farm of Newaygo County. This farm consists of 140 acres, 96 of which are under cultivation. In June 1875, Mr. Taite purchased 60 acres of land in Sherman Township, and cultivated it until the spring of 1882, when he sold it to Bryan Waters.
He was first married July 1, 1866, at Newaygo, to Florence Joslin, daughter of Daniel Joslin, of the same place, and they had one child, George, born April 9, 1871. He was again married, February 13, 1883, to Rhoda, daughter of Ansel and Roseltha Steel, the former a native of New York and the latter of Ohio; they settled in Michigan in an early day.
For 15 years Mr. Taite was foreman of large lumbering companies, being three years with Kelly, Wood & Co., of Muskegon, five years with O. W. Squires, etc. He was a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the G. A. R. In politics he was a National. June 12, 1861, he enlisted in the 3d Mich. Inf., and on account of disability, having received a gunshot wound in his left hand at the battle of Malvern Hill. He was in the first battle of Bull Run, when, with 160 men, he was detailed as advance skirmisher. He was in the Peninsular campaign with McClellan, at Fair Oaks, siege of Yorktown, Williamsburg and several others. Mr. Taite received a pension, which he greatly deserves.
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