USA > Iowa > Adair County > History of Adair County, Iowa, and its people, Volume II > Part 35
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JOHN PEASE.
John Pease is engaged in general farming on sections 11 and 12, Lincoln town- ship, where he has a farm of two hundred and forty acres that pays tribute to the eare and labor which he bestows upon the fields. There have been no unusual chapters in his life reeord, but persisteney of purpose has brought him to the plaec which he now fills as a substantial, energetie farmer of his community. He was born in Knox county, Illinois, October 24, 1865, and is a son of J. L. and Bettie E. (Foster) Pease, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Ohio. In child- hood they went to Illinois and were there reared and married, after which they continued their residence in that state until 1876, when they crossed the border into Iowa and established their home in Adair county, where their remaining days were passed, both dying in the year 1893. In their family were eight ehildren, all of whom are yet living.
John Pease spent the first ten years of his life in his native county and was then brought by his parents to Iowa, where he has sinee lived. He continued at home until after the death of his parents and then he and his brother rented the old homestead farm. which they cultivated in partnership for five years. On the expiration of that period John Pease bought a farm, which he operated for two years
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MR. AND MRS. J. L. PEASE AND FAMILY ON THE OLD HOMESTEAD
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and then sold it. He later purchased another farm property a mile south of Stuart and lived thereon for two years. He then again sold and took up his abode in the town of Stuart, where the succeeding two years were passed, after which he pur- chased the farm upon which he now resides, becoming owner of three hundred and twenty acres on sections 11 and 12, Lincoln township. He has since disposed of eighty acres of this tract, but still owns two hundred and forty acres, which is rich and productive and brings to him excellent returns in the shape of large crops, for which he finds a ready sale on the market.
Mr. Pease exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and is well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He has never held political office, but has served as school director in his district. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows lodge at Stuart. His business course has been at all times commendable. He started upon an independent career without assistance and through intelligently applied effort has won the prosperity which is now his and which classes him with the representative and substantial farmers of Lincoln township.
W. W. SEELEY.
W. W. Seeley is proprietor of the "Larchwood Farm," comprising three hundred and forty acres of land on section 22, Lincoln township, which he has operated continuously during the past twenty-three years and which is generally conceded to be one of the finest farms in Adair county. He is, moreover, a stock breeder of national reputation and is said to have the largest herd of registered Polled Durham cattle in the state of Iowa. His birth occurred in Tazewell county, Illinois, on the 23d of March, 1865, his parents being Thomas W. and Mary Z. (Brown) Seeley, who were born, reared and married in Medina county, Ohio. Their wedding took place in Wadsworth, that county, on the 24th of October, 1861, and in the follow- ing November they established their home in Tazewell county, Illinois, where Thomas W. Seeley continued to reside until he passed away on the 11th of October, 1884. His widow remained on the home farm until 1892, when she came to Iowa with our subject, in whose home she has lived to the present time.
W. W. Seeley was reared under the parental roof and in the acquirement of an education attended the public schools and the Ohio Northern University at Ada, in which institution he pursued his studies for two years or until the death of his father. He then returned to the home farm and assumed its management. Even at this early period in his life stock breeding held a fascination for him and he began the raising of thoroughbred Chester White hogs. This was the beginning of his later successful career as a breeder. In 1892 he came to Iowa and bought his present place of three hundred and forty acres, comprising one of the most valuable farms in Adair county. Shortly after taking up his abode here he began the breeding of registered Polled Durham cattle, in which line of activity he has been signally successful during the past twenty years. He has been a regular exhibitor at the Iowa and the Nebraska state fairs for years past and has been awarded many first premium ribbons on both his cattle and hogs. In fact it is doubtful if any other exhibitor has captured half as many premiums on stock shown
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during the years Mr. Seeley has exhibited. His reputation has extended from coast to coast and he makes shipments of his stock to breeders from Virginia to the state of Washington. Not content to rest with the laurels won in the breeding of hogs and cattle, he eventually gained an enviable position among the Percheron horse breeders of the world. He bred the Percheron stallion, "French Premier 55995." which took three gold medals and one silver medal during the three years he was exhibited at the lowa state fair. He died in 1914, while being prepared for entry into the grand champion class, three weeks before the opening of the show. Mr. Seeley belongs to the Polled Durham Association and the Percheron Society of America and is one of the well known breeders of the United States.
On the 14th of February, 1889, Mr. Seeley was united in marriage to Miss Junie Belle Latham, of Tazewell county, Illinois, and to them was born a daughter, Jessie May, who gave her hand in marriage to Frank Eversull, a farmer of Lincoln township. The wife and mother passed away in January, 1890, shortly after the birth of her daughter. In his political views Mr. Seeley is a republican, loyally supporting the men and measures of that party, and he is a man always to be relied upon to give his influence and help toward the advancement of any meritorious cause affecting the interests of the people in his state and county.
J. H. JONES.
J. H. Jones. a lifelong resident of Adair county and one of the successful and substantial farmers of Grove township, residing on section 2, makes a specialty of breeding and feeding thoroughbred Poland China hogs. His birth occurred in Harrison township, this county, on the 25th of February. 1873, his parents being Elijah and Elizabeth (Lenoeker) Jones, the former a native of Holmes county, Ohio, and the latter of Stark county, that state. They were married in Holmes county. In 1869 they came to Adair county, Iowa, locating on a farm of one hundred and sixty aeres which the father purchased on section 5. Harrison town- ship. Subsequently he bought and sold a number of farms but retained three hun- dred and twenty acres in his home place. He passed away in December. 1905, at the age of seventy-four years, and his demise was the occasion of deep and wide- spread regret. for he had lived in this county for more than a third of a century and had won an extensive cirele of warm friends. His widow, who makes her home in Stuart. is also widely and favorably known throughout the community. She still owns the home farm of three hundred and twenty aeres as well as eighty acres of our subject's place and about sixty acres of timber land.
J. H. Jones acquired his early education in the district schools and later attended the city schools of Stuart. In 1895, when twenty-two years of age, he started out as an agriculturist on his own account, renting the home farm, which he operated for fifteen years. On the expiration of that period, in 1910. he acquired eighty aeres on section 2, Grove township, buying the property from his mother, who owned one hundred and sixty acres of land there, all of which he has since eulti- vated. During his entire career as an independent agriculturist, covering twenty years, he has disposed of only one hundred bushels of corn, making this sale in the second year. He not only uses all his grain but also buys a great deal of corn,
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making a specialty of breeding and feeding pure bred Poland China hogs, in which line of activity he has been unusually successful.
In 1902 Mr. Jones was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Kliss, a daughter of Henry and Emily (Busch) Kliss. The father, long one of the prominent agricul- turists of Harrison township, is deceased, but the mother survives and makes her home in Stuart. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have two children, Marie A. and Dorothy H.
Politically Mr. Jones is a democrat, while fraternally he is identified with the Yeomen. His wife is a devoted and consistent member of the Christian church. He has many friends and acquaintances, all of whom regard him as a man of exemplary character and high standards. His methods are progressive and his thorough knowledge of agriculture together with his business ability have been responsible for the attainment of the success which he now enjoys.
L. E. SACKETT.
General agricultural pursuits have always claimed the time and energies of L. E. Sackett, who is one of the substantial farmers of Grand River township, owning one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land on section 5. His birth occurred in MeLean county, Illinois, on the 21st of August, 1862, his parents being Hiram and Mary (Brown) Sackett, both of whom were natives of Ohio. They were taken to Illinois in childhood by their respective parents and were married in McLean county, that state. Hiram Sackett there purchased a sixty-aere farm and continued its cultivation until 1874, when he came to Adair county, Iowa, purchasing and locating on a tract of eighty acres in Grove township. At the end of about five years he disposed of the property and bought a quarter section of land. He made subsequent removals and passed away on his farm in Grand River township on the 10th of June, 1907, the community thus losing one of its prosperous and respected citizens. His widow, who survives and resides with her son Dudley in Greenfield, enjoys an extensive and favorable acquaintance here.
L. E. Sackett, who was a youth of twelve years when he came to this county with his parents, was reared at home and in the acquirement of an education attended the district schools and the old Greenfield Normal School. In 1885 he started out as an agriculturist on his own account and for six years cultivated rented land adjoining his father's farm. In 1891 he purchased a quarter section of raw land in Grove township for fifteen dollars an acre but never lived on the place and a year later sold it at a profit of one thousand dollars. Subsequently he bought an improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Grove township. and operated the same for about five years, on the expiration of which period he dis- posed of the property and purchased a traet of eighty aeres in the same township on which he resided for three years. At the end of that time he sold the place and bought one hundred and thirty-four aeres of land in Grove township at twenty-five dollars an aere, disposing of this property about eight years later for fifty dollars an aere. He then purchased his present home farm of one hundred and sixty aeres in Grand River township, where he has resided continuously during the past nine years, conducting his agricultural interests in a practical, resultant manner that
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insures his growing success. He is a stockholder in the Greenfield Creamery Com- pany and the Adair County Fair Association.
On the 26th of September, 1886, Mr. Saekett was united in marriage to Miss Ettie Hodges, of Grove township, this county, her father being Frank Hodges, who came from Illinois to Adair county, Iowa, in a very early day and took up his abode among the pioneer settlers of Grove township. Our subject and his wife have three children. namely: Laura, Bert and Lottie. all still at home.
In his political views Mr. Saekett is a stalwart republican and he has always been a stanch champion of the cause of education, ably serving as school director for several years. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. belonging to Greenfield Lodge. No. 375, while his religious faith is indi- cated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, with which his wife and children are also affiliated. A man of high standards and principles, he enjoys the respeet and esteem of the people of the community in which he has now resided for more than four decades.
WILBERT E. WAKEFIELD.
Wilbert E. Wakefield makes his home on section 32, Harrison township, and a well improved farm speaks eloquently of the manner in which he passes his time. He is a native son of Iowa. his birth having occurred in Warren county on the 13th of February. 1871, his parents being Henry T. and Sarah M. (Owen) Wakefield. The father was born in Jefferson county, Pennsylvania, and the mother's birth occurred in Indiana. In the year 1857 Henry T. Wakefield arrived in Warren county. Iowa. where he purchased a farm, upon which he lived for thirty years and then removed to Adair county, where he has since made his home. In 1914 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away on the 8th of March, of that year. In their family were ten children, five of whom are yet living. Mr. Wakefield is a veteran of the Civil war, having enlisted in 1862 as a member of Company M. First Wisconsin Volunteer Cavalry. He served for over three years, participating in more than thirty battles, and was mustered out in 1865 at Nash- ville, Tennessee. He then returned to Iowa. where he has since lived.
Wilbert E. Wakefield remained at home until 1905, when he was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude Harmon, who was born in Union county, Iowa, a daughter of J. W. and Nancy J. Harmon, who are now residents of Creston. this state. Fol- lowing his marriage Mr. Wakefield purchased the old homestead of one hundred and nineteen aeres on seetion 32, Harrison township, and has since resided thercon. There was at one time an old stage tavern on this place which was known as the Billy Thomas estate. In addition to cultivating the erops best adapted to soil and climatie conditions, Mr. Wakefield makes a specialty of raising hogs and finds for them a good sale, so that he thus materially increases his annual income.
To Mr. and Mrs. Wakefield were born three children: Homer T., Wayne E. and Vernon D. The wife and mother passed away' April 21. 1911, and was laid to rest in the Cromwell cemetery. In 1914 Mr. Wakefield was again married, his second union being with Miss Mabel Neer. a native of Cass county, Iowa, and a daughter of E. T. and Flora Neer, who are still living.
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Mr. and Mrs. Wakefield are members of the Congregational church and in poli- tics he is a republican, active in support of the party in his district. For eight years he filled the office of trustee, making a most creditable record in that position. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America and lives up to the teachings of those organizations, his life being in harmony with their principles of fraternity and helpfulness.
WALTER CLYDE MARTIN.
Walter Clyde Martin, a representative young agriculturist and worthy native son of Adair county, was born on the 30th of July, 1883, his parents being W. J. and Malinda J. (Orr) Martin, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of New York. W. J. Martin emigrated to the United States about 1867, first locating in Illinois and subsequently coming to Iowa. In this state he was married and in 1880 took up his abode in Adair county, settling on a farm in Harrison township, where both he and his wife are still living. The period of his residence in this county now covers more than a third of a century and he has long been numbered among its substantial agriculturists and respected citizens. To him and his wife have been born seven children, five of whom yet survive.
Walter C. Martin attended the common schools in the acquirement of an edu- cation and remained under the parental roof until twenty-eight years of age, assist- ing in the work of the home farm and thus gaining comprehensive knowledge of the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for crops. In 1911 he purchased a quarter section of land on section 5, Grand River township, on which he has since made his home, and also owns eighty acres on section 30, Harrison township. He cultivates the cercals best adapted to soil and climate and also devotes considerable attention to the raising of hogs and cattle, finding this branch of his business satis- factorily remunerative.
On the 12th of March, 1914, Mr. Martin was joined in wedlock to Miss Marion W. Beaman, a native of Adair county and a daughter of M. L. and Ida V. (Stowell) Beaman, who were born in Indiana and New York respectively. Mrs. Martin com- pleted a course in music and taught the art for three years prior to her marriage. Mr. Martin is a stanch republican in politics but has never sought nor desired the honors and emoluments of office as a reward for his party fealty. Both have spent their entire lives in this county and are well known and highly esteemed within its borders.
TROY F. COMLY.
The attractiveness of Adair county as a place of residence is indicated in the fact that many of her native sons have remained within her borders since attaining adult age, thoroughly content with the opportunities here offered and the business conditions which afford ample chance for the attainment of success. Such a one is Troy F. Comly, a representative young farmer of Walnut township, where he
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was born December 7. 1882. Mention of his parents, Jesse R. and Alice (Buck) Comly. is made elsewhere in this vohne in connection with the sketch of their son 1. B. Comly. No event of unusual importanec occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Troy F. Comly in his boyhood and youth. He remained upon the old home- stead, assisting his mother. following his father's death, and when the estate was divided in 1908 he received one hundred and eighty aeres as his inheritance. He had previously been employed at farm labor in the neighborhood for four years and his entire life has been an active one in which success has been the reward of earnest. persistent labor. His farm is situated on section 29, Walnut township, and is a splendidly improved property, lacking in none of the accessories and con- veniences of the model farm of the twentieth century. He annually harvests good crops, for which he finds a ready sale on the market. and his business methods are at all times such as will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers Lumber Company at Casey.
On the 6th of March, 1907. Mr. Comly was joined in wedlock to Miss Elizabeth Petit. a daughter of William and May (Trego) Petit, natives of Illinois. who at an early day took up their abode in Cass county, Iowa. Still later they were residents of Audubon county, Iowa, where the father engaged in farming for about twelve years. He then retired from active business and he and his wife are now living in Anita. Mr. and Mrs. Comly have become parents of two children. William and Harold, aged respectively six and four years. The religious faith of the family is that of the Society of Friends and the political belief of Mr. Comly is that of the republican party. Both he and his wife are widely known for their many good traits of heart and mind, their fidelity to their convictions and their loyalty in friendship. Theirs is a hospitable home and its good cheer is greatly enjoyed by those who know them.
J. M. CLAYTON.
J. M. Clayton is a worthy native son of Adair county and widely recognized as one of the progressive and successful agriculturists of Harrison township, own- ing and operating a well improved farm of one hundred and sixty aeres on section 23. His birth occurred in Eureka township, this county, on the 10th of May, 1876. his parents being Robert and Mary (Yerkes) Clayton, who were natives of Ohio and Indiana respectively. Their marriage was celebrated in Iowa, the mother having come here with her parents, while the father, who lost his parents when still but a boy. arrived in this state in young manhood. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Clayton began their domestic life in Adair county and subsequently acquired a farm in Eureka township, on which the former passed away in 1901 and the latter in 1908, the community thus losing two of its well known and respected residents.
J. M. Clayton was reared under the parental roof and attended the district schools in the acquirement of an education. He was married in his twenty-fifth year and began the cultivation of rented land in Eureka township but at the end of about three years, in 1901, purchased an eighty-acre tract on section 19, Har- rison township. This he operated for five years and in 1909 traded it in on the purchase price of his present home farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Har-
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rison township, which he has cultivated continuously and successfully sinee. He is rapidly making his mark in agricultural circles and by reason of his energy, activity and careful methods of farming has gained a gratifying degree of prosperity and the regard and esteem of his fellow citizens.
On the 13th of February, 1901. Mr. Clayton was united in marriage to Miss Christina Frank, her father being Jacob Frank, one of the well known residents of Fontanelle. To them have been born eight children, six of whom survive, namely : Floyd F., Gladys M., Faith C., Hazel E., Gilbert L. and Maylon D. Mr. Clayton gives his political allegianee to the republican party, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church, to which his wife also belongs. He is a man of commendable methods and high principles and is accorded the esteem and respect of the people of the community in which his entire life has been spent.
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WILLIAM F. KADING.
Farming and stock-raising elaim the attention of William F. Kading, whose home is pleasantly and conveniently situated on section 19, Walnut township, not far from Adair. He was born in Jefferson county, Wisconsin, on the 22d of August, 1875, and is of German deseent, both of his parents, Ferdinand and Henrietta (Kempe) Kading, having been natives of the fatherland. The father was born October 15, 1846, while the natal day of the mother was February 15, 1847. They came to the United States in early life, Ferdinand Kading settling in Wiscon- sin, where he took up the occupation of farming, being employed by others until he felt justified in making an independent start as a farmer. He then rented land and in 1877 he left Wiseonsin for Iowa. For a year he lived in Madison county and in 1878 beeame a resident of Walnut township, Adair county, where he purchased eighty aeres, upon which his son William now resides. The father took up his abode upon that traet and there remained until 1902, when he removed to a farm just east of the old home place. The succeeding four years were there passed but in 1906 he retired from active life and became a resident of Casey, where for eight years he lived quietly in the enjoyment of a rest which he had truly earned and richly deserved. He died in Casey June 6, 1914, but his widow still resides there.
William F. Kading was but two years of age when his parents came to Iowa, so that practically his entire life has been spent in Adair county. The usual experi- ences of the farm lad were his. When not busy with his textbooks in the school- room he worked in the fields and he learned many lessons from Mother Nature as well as from those teachers who were employed to direct the intellectual develop- ment of the youths of the neighborhood. In early manhood he married and took up his abode upon a farm of one hundred and sixty acres which was willed to him by his father, and upon that place he has continued to live, his attention being given to general farming and to stock-raising. He both breeds and raises good grades of cattle, hogs and horses and he has studied the best methods of caring for his stock so as to keep them in good condition and thus seeure high market prices. His work is at all times earefully systematized and his business affairs wisely
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managed, and the results which are achieved place him among the substantial resi- dents of Walnut township.
On the 18th of December, 1901, Mr. Kading was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Wegner, a daughter of Edward and Minnie ( Lemke) Wegner, both of whom were natives of Germany, the former born May 2, 1846, and the latter December 2.1, 1844. In the year 1868 Mr. Wegner came to the new world and established his home in Wisconsin, where he afterward met and married Miss Lemke. In 1877 they reached Adair county, Iowa, settling in Walnut township, where he carried on general farming. There were few residents in the district at that period and nearly all of the land was raw prairie, but with characteristic energy he began the develop- ment of his place and good results acerued. , Mrs. Wegner died on the old home place February 8, 1905. After living upon that farm for twenty-eight years Mr. Wegner removed to Casey in 1907 and retired from active busines life, but indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature and he could not be content without some occupation, so he is now clerking in the W. C. Betts store in Casey. Mr. and Mrs. Kading were married in the Wegner home in Walnut township by the Rev. Kroitz, who at that time was pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran church at Casey. Their home has been blessed with seven children: Harold, who was born October 24, 1902; Leroy, born May 24, 1904; Lawrence and Laura, twins, born January 3, 1906; Gertrude, who was born March 31, 1909; Gladys, who was a twin sister of Gertrude and died in infancy; and Elmer, who was born July 18, 1911. The chil- dren who are of school age are attending school in distriet No. 4 in Walnut township.
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