George Washington Vest was born June 19, 1817 in Jasper County Georgia to the parents of John L. Vest and Sarah Woodall.

George later moved to Morgan County, Alabama were he met Parthena Glasscock and on Febuary 8, 1822 they united in marriage.

When the Vests left Alabama for Texas there were a number of familes who were not Vests in the caravan, amoung the three families were four preachers.

In 1860 the Reverend and family moved to Houston, Texas and lived in the city until the epidemic of yellow fever broke out. In order to escape this fever and avoid quartine, they moved into the country and rented a farm, where they lived one crop season. Then moved to Williamson County, near Georgetown, then on to San Saba County and bought a place in the forks of the San Saba and Colorado Rivers. Which consisted of 4,400 acres was claimed by a widow of the Mexico War. Rev. Vest cleared some of this and built a house. Rev. Vest invested heavily in sheep, but was forced to sell at a lower price a loss he never recovered from.

In the Summer of 1864 was a very hot and dry season. All the crops Rev. Vest had was a little Wheat in the river bottom. The wheat had been cut and was ready to be shocked, June 3 was a clear , hot day. That night there was lighting in the far west. The next morning June 4, the family was out in the field shocking wheat. They heard a roaring sound and looked up to see water coming down the riverbottom. It spread from hill to hill carrying everything that water can move. The family escaped with their lives, but lost all of their household goods. After losing the land, house and sheep in the disaster Rev. Vest and family went back to Williamson County, on Brushy Creek near Leander, The family later moved back to San Saba County.

All of these trying years Rev. George devoted his time to supporting his family, preaching the gospel, and organizing Methodist Churches. He served as pastor, missionary, evangelist and president of the Annual Conference, as part of his work.

In the middle of November 1891 Rev. George moved to Roswell, New Mexico and then in the summer of 1892 went to Capitan, New Mexico.

On March 31, 1903 the Rev. George Washington Vest went to Heaven to be with the Lord. Before he died and his last words he spoke which he requested might be published, were: "I'm going home to die no more", "Peace Sweet Peace!" "Glory to God!". He seemed auxious to go, and he died one of the most triumphant deaths ever witnessed.

His life has been an example of faithfulness and piety, and his good works will follow him.