A Curious Boy and the Plants

George Washington Carver was born in Missouri during the Civil War. When he was a young child, he and his mother were taken from the farm where they lived. George was later found and brought back, but his mother was never found. Moses and Susan Carver, who had owned the farm, cared for George and his brother James. They taught the boys to read and write. George was often sick, so he spent much of his time exploring outdoors near the Carver home. He watched plants closely and wanted to know their names and how they grew. Neighbors began calling him “the plant doctor” because he helped them care for their gardens. When George was older, he traveled to attend school because a nearby school would not admit Black students. He kept learning about plants and eventually became a scientist and teacher.