10 interesting facts about george washington carver

George Washington Carver c. He taught southern farmers to plant crops other than cotton and methods to prevent soil depletion. Apart from his work to improve the lives of farmers, Carver was also a leader in promoting environmentalism. The exact date of his birth is uncertain and was not known to Carver — however, it was before slavery was eliminated in Missouri in January , after the American Civil War.

When George was only a week old, he, a sister, and his mother were kidnapped by night raiders from Arkansas. George's brother, James, was rushed to safety from the kidnappers.

When was george washington carver born and died

The kidnappers sold the slaves in Kentucky. Moses Carver hired a Union scout named John Bentley to find them, but Bentley was only able to locate the infant George. Moses made a deal with the raiders for George's return and rewarded Bentley for finding him. After slavery was eliminated, Moses Carver and his wife Susan raised George and his older brother James as their own children.

They encouraged George in his schooling, and "Aunt Susan" taught him the basics of reading and writing. Black people were not allowed to attend the public school in Diamond Grove. George decided to go to a school for black children 10 miles 16 km south in Neosho. When he reached the town, he found the school closed for the night, so he slept in a nearby barn.

The next morning he met a kind woman, Mariah Watkins, from whom he wished to rent a room. When he introduced himself as "Carver's George," as he had done his whole life, she replied that from now on his name was "George Carver.