George Wellington Chrysup was born in Florence, Pike County, Illinois on February 1, 1845. He was the son of William L. and Jane Ann Barney Chrysup. His parents had come to Pike County in 1826 where they stayed until 1850. Leaving young George behind, they ventured across the prairies and mountains to California where they stayed until 1857 at which time, they started the journey back to Pike County. On April 24, 1859, the Chrysup’s were on board the steamboat St Nicholas about one and half miles below Helena, Arkansas when the boat exploded killing both William and Jane.
At age fourteen George found himself an orphan. He was taken in by his maternal grandfather Colonel Benjamin Barney. Colonel Barney had been born in Massachusetts in 1795, where he lived until he relocated to Huron County, Ohio in March of 1817. Over the next years he worked as a farm hand until 1825 when he moved west to Illinois. His first stop was in Shawneetown, Illinois until moving to Atlas in 1826.
Benjamin Barney ran one of the first blacksmith shops in the area which made his services invaluable. He was the first to burn coal which had been mined and brought west from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was a veteran of the Black Hawk War serving in the Second Illinois Mounted Riflemen.
At age seventeen George answered Lincoln’s call for 75,000 troops to enlist for 90 days in the 10th Illinois Infantry. After his 90 days were up, he enlisted in Company B, 28th Illinois Infantry for 3 years of service. By the end of the war, he was performing the duties of Captain of Company B but because he was never officially sworn in at the higher rank he was discharged as a 1st lieutenant.
After the war George returned to his home near Barry where on April 18, 1867, he married Katie Harvey. In the years following he farmed and ran a mercantile business specializing in groceries and hardware. He served as postmaster and justice of the peace. His political alignment was always Republican. George was active in the John McTucker Grand Army of the Republic Post #154 in Barry.
George Wellington Chrysup passed away on December 1, 1906, and was laid to rest in Park Lawn.