He came to Daviess County from LaRue County in the 1880's with hismother. For reasons that remain unclear, George spent much of hisyouth with a Spencer family and a Walters family in LaRue County.According to an old insurance policy, George's father died when Georgewas only 11 years old, but his mother lived until George was 26 yearsold. Perhaps Elizabeth, unable to support three children, moved inwith those families after her husband's death.
George often proudly referred to his LaFollette relatives who hadmoved to Wisconsin and became very prominent in politics. TheLaFollette family generated two Wisconsin governors, a state AttorneyGeneral, and at least two U.S. Senators, one of which was aPresidential candidate on the Progressive Party ticket in 1924.