USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. II > Part 31
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The Doctor is one of our honored veterans of the Civil war, having enlisted in Company B, Tenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he served nine months, mostly in hospital work: this gave him the idea of becoming a doctor, and after his term of enlistment expired he at once entered medical school, to train as a doctor and surgeon for the war, but the conflict was over before he had finished, and then he moved to Iowa.
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Doctor Quire was married on February 21, 1867, to Sarah Louisa Taylor, daughter of Samuel Taylor, and this union was blessed with the following children: Frank E., a physician who was graduated from Rush Medical College in 1898; Austin Flink was graduated from the schools of Keokuk, Iowa; Fred T. lives on the home form; Mabel teaches in the Lynnville primary school; Alveta F. is also a teacher. Of these children, Austin married Carrie Smith, of Mahaska county; Frank married Kittie Ratcliff, of Jasper county ; Fred married Mayme Donai.
The Doctor has practiced forty-six years in this one community and now his son, Austin F. Quire, is associated with him, they being the only doctors in Lynnville, a town of five hundred inhabitants, and they have a wide and ever growing practice, the elder doctor being regarded as one of the leading citizens of the town, whose interests he has ever had at heart and sought to promote.
SICCO JAMES JENSMA.
The Netherlands have sent many of their best and most enterprising citi- zents to our various states and they have, as a rule, proven of great assistance to us in our general work of development. One of this worthy number is Sicco James Jensma, of Kellogg township, Jasper county, whose influence as an honorable, upright citizen is productive of much good upon all with whom he comes into contact.
Mr. Jensma was born in the Netherlands, October 9, 1872, and he is the son of Joseph Sicco Jensma, his mother's maiden name having been Sarah J. Bierma, both born in the Netherlands. The father spent his life on a farmi and died October 2, 1889. His family consisted of five sons and two daugh- ters, namely : Sicco James, of this review : John J., Levi, Andrew D., Pete, Anna M. and Ann Sarah.
Sicco J. Jensma, of this review, spent his boyhood days at home, assist- ing his father with the various duties about the farm, and attending the com- mon schools from the time he was five until he was fourteen years of age, having been a pupil in both the day and night schools. He began life as a farmer when young in years. Having heard of the good opportunities to secure a large amount of rich land cheaply in America, he set sail for our shores when eighteen years of age, coming direct to Marion county, Iowa, where he farmed one year, then moved to Jasper county, locating near Mon- roe, in Fairview township, where he remained three years, then went to
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Prairie City, remaining there three years also, then he took up his abode near Newton where he continued to reside ten years, then located on his present farm of two hundred and forty acres in Kellogg township, but which con- sisted of only two hundred acres then, but he has since added forty acres, ten acres of which is timbered, a portion of which he has cut for his own use in various ways. He has added many substantial and valuable improvements on his farm which renders it one of the best in the township, and as a general farmer and stock raiser he ranks with the best. He has a good, comfortable home, barns and such outbuildings and improved farming implements as his needs require.
Mr. Jensma was married on September 27, 1910, to Christiana Jacoba VanDam, who was born in the Netherlands, November 9, 1892, the daughter of William and Rensje (Peereboom) VanDam, both natives of the Nether- lands, the father born in 1863 and the mother on March 18, 1862.
Politically, Mr. Jensma is a Republican and he belongs to the Baptist church.
PETER DEPENNING.
It has been said by scientists that human life is made up of two elements, power and form, and they add that the proportion must be carefully pre- served if we would enjoy a life worth the living. Each of these attributes would work a mischief if either were in excess, as harmful as would be its deficiency. But it is hard to keep the proper equilibrium, in view of the fact that everything seems to tend to excess. Every good quality is said to be noxious if unmixed, and to carry the danger to the edge of ruin nature causes each man's peculiarity to superabound. One speaking from the standpoint of a farmer would adduce the learned professions as examples of this treach-' ery. They are nature's victims of expression. If we study the lives of the artist, the orator, the poet, we find their lives no more excellent than that of mechanics or farmers. While the farmer stands at the head of art as found in nature, the others get but glimpses of the delights of nature in its various elements and moods. Peter DePenning, farmer, of the southern part of Jasper county, is not an artist or an exponent of the learned professions, but like many others who live close to the soil, sces beauty and gets inspiration from nature, thus taking a delight in existence, as a result of thus being in touch with the springs of life.
Mr. DePenning was born in Marion county, Iowa, on July 11, 1852. He is the son of Lane and Nellie (Schut) DePenning, both natives of Hol-
MRS. JOSENA DePENNING
PETER DePENNING
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land, the father's birth having occurred on September 17, 1820, and they grew up and were married in their native land, and there the father conducted a saloon, which at that period in the old country's history was quite as re- spectable as any other business, especially in view of the fact that he ran the same in a strictly honorable manner and was known as a man of splendid principle. Having heard so much of our thriving western republic, Lane DePenning and family emigrated in an old-fashioned sailing vessel to our shores in 1851, and they located at Pella, Marion county, Iowa, living in the country near that city and engaged in agricultural work. In 1865 the father decided to try his fortune in the far West, favoring the idea of establishing a home in the new country of Oregon, at that time sparsely settled, so he took his family on a circuitous route thither, by way of New York City and the isthmus of Panama. After a long, weary trip they finally reached the new land on the Pacific, and there they found hard times, for there had been little development and money was scarce and hardships were constantly encoun- tered. Under this unusual strain the thread of life snapped for the mother in 1867 and she was buried there. The rest of the family returned to Marion county, Iowa, in 1868. Soon after his return here the father bought ninety acres near Otley, Marion county, and there he finally became very well established and made that his home until his death. Politically, he was a Democrat, and in religious matters was a member of the Holland Reform church. His family consisted of four sons and two daughters, who lived beyond infancy; they were named as follows: Jacob, who lives east of Galesburg, Iowa; Mrs. Gertie Burgraf; Walter is living south of Galesburg; Peter, of this sketch; Andrew lives south of the town of Galesburg; and Mrs. Kate Voss, who is a resident of the state of Minnesota.
Peter DePenning had little opportunity to obtain an education, but not- withstanding his lack of text-book training he is a man of keen perceptive faculty and good common sense, so that his sound judgment and close ob- servations have brought an average measure of success in his chosen life work. He has met and overcome many obstacles and won a larger material reward than many another who, although perchance highly educated, but lacking the nerve, courage and fortitude. has been thwarted and failed. He made the trip to Oregon when a lad with the rest of the family, and he tells many interesting reminiscences of that eventful, long journey, the vivid im- pression he then received remaining fresh in his memory; but the hardships endured, in the great West seem to have been lightly passed over by him, thus proving his grit. When he reached the age of twenty-one years he pur- chased forty acres of land in Elk Creek township, Jasper county, Iowa, and (67)
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later sold that and purchased eighty acres on the south boundary line of Jasper county, and there he resided ten years, becoming well established the meanwhile. Selling that farm, he later purchased two hundred and twenty acres in the northwest corner of Elk Creek township, this county. Here he prospered from the first and he has since added two hundred and twenty- seven acres, just west of the former purchase, the latter lying in Palo Alto township. He owns altogether seven hundred and eighty acres in this county. His dwelling is on the boundary line between Palo Alto and Elk Creek townships. He has as valuable land as the county can boast and it yields abundant harvests annually under his skillful management. He farms on an extensive scale and raised a large amount of live stock, generally feeding several carloads of cattle annually. He keeps his land well improved and employs modern implements and methods in his agricultural pursuits. He is also the owner of four hundred acres of valuable land in Mead county, South Dakota.
Mr. DePenning was married in 1878 to Josena McDunnink, who was born in Marion county, Iowa, on April 11, 1860, and there she grew to womanhood. She is the daughter of Ed McDunnink, who was born in Holland, where he spent his early days, emigrating to Marion county, Iowa, when that country was comparatively new. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. DePenning : Lane, Mrs. Maggie Cooper, Nellie, Ed, Ira, Fred and Harry.
WILLIAM FRANCIS SULLENS.
Notwithstanding opinions to the contrary, much depends upon being well born, and the old adage that "Blood will tell" is not only true, but profoundly philosophical. In a large measure we are what our ancestors were, their characteristics and attributes as a rule constituting a heritage which has had a powerful influence in moulding our lives for good or evil. "Like produces like," a recognized law of the physical world, also obtains in matters of mind and morals, as the experience of the human race abundantly attests. That parents have a wonderful influence upon the minds and hearts of their off- spring cannot for a moment be gainsaid, hence the necessity of measuring up to the high standard which both nature and God require of fatherhood and motherhood. In matter of birth William Francis Sullens, one of the leading agriculturists and stock men of Rock Creek township, Jasper county, has been fortunate, inheriting as he does the sterling characteristics of his ancestors,
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who were long noted for their strong mentality, intellectual acumen and moral worth.
Mr. Sullens was born in this township, August 4, 1868, and he is the son of Francis Marion and Barbara (Rice) Sullens, both natives of Wayne county, Kentucky, the father born October 12, 1842, and the mother Decem- ber 30, 1844. They grew to maturity in their native community, were edu- cated and married there. The older Sullens began life for himself as a black- smith and became a very skilled workman, following this trade until 1886, when he moved to the farm where he spent the balance of his life, in Rock Creek township, dying on February 5, 1899. He came direct to Rock Creek township, Jasper county, Iowa, in March, 1868. He became well established here, well known and was influential in building up the county. His family consisted of four children, two sons and two daughters, namely : Emma Alta, Nellie May, William Francis and Charles Edgar.
The father, Francis M. Sullens, was a soldier in the Civil war, having enlisted in the First Kentucky Cavalry, and he remained in the service through the entire war, conducting himself as a gallant soldier.
William F. Sullens grew to maturity in his native community and after passing through the public schools he attended a business college at Des Moines, Iowa, known as the Iowa Business College. Leaving school in 1888 he began working on the farm for his father, and in 1895 he and his brother, Charles Edgar, began farming in partnership on a large scale, operating one thousand and twenty-six acres, about five hundred of which is good level land and the balance slightly rolling. It is well improved, well tilled and well kept and under their skillful management yields abundant returns. In con- nection with general farming they raise a great deal of live stock, in fact, make this their principal business, and they are widely known as extensive and successful stock men, both being excellent judges of all kinds of domestic animals and they are well equipped for raising, feeding and caring for all kinds of live stock. They have a modern, commodious and elegantly fur- nished home, large, substantial barns and outbuildings.
Politically, the subject is a Democrat and he has been more or less active in public affairs! For ten years he served very ably as township clerk, and he was also township trustee for some time, filling these offices in a most satis- factory manner.
Charles Edgar Sullens, mentioned above, was born September 4, 1873. He grew to maturity here and was educated in the public schools, and after leaving school he worked for his father on the farm until forming the part- nership of Sullens Brothers, mentioned above, and he became part owner of
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the large landed estate just described, with his brother, William Francis, and has since devoted his exclusive attention to general farming and stock raising with a very large degree of success, being one of the leading farmers and stock men of the younger generation in this locality.
Charles E. Sullens was married on February 24, 1900, to Rosie May DeHart, who was born in Sullivan county, Indiana, June 9, 1881, the daugh- ter of James and Amelia (Starkey) DeHart, both natives of Fairbanks, Indiana, the father born July 1, 1848, and the mother on July 28, 1848. They became the parents of seven children, namely: William E., Bert, Theodore, Wiley, Alpha, Rosie May ( wife of Mr. Sullens) and Lorenz.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Sullens, namely : Trella Barbara, born January 13. 1901 ; Francis Marion, born April 13, 1903; William Edgar, born December 25, 1905; George Harlan, born October 18, 1906.
Politically, Mr. Sullens is a Democrat and Mrs. Sullens is a member of the Primitive Baptist church. He takes much more than a passing interest in the affairs of his county, and, like his brother, is a highly esteemed citizen.
JOHN ERVILL WHITTAKER.
One of the successful young farmers of Kellogg township, Jasper county, is John Ervill Whittaker, a man who is deserving of the success that has attended his efforts because he has striven for it along conservative and legiti- mate lines, never permitting obstacles, small or great, to thwart him in his pursuit of the goal, and while laboring for his own. advancement he has not neglected his larger duties to his fellow men and the public in general, having always stood ready to lend his support to all worthy movements having for their object the general good.
Mr. Whittaker was born in DesMoines, Iowa, January 22, '1879, and he is the son of Joseph Whittaker, who was born in England, October 7, 1850, but who was brought to America in 1852. He grew to manhood at Oil City, . Pennsylvania, where he attended school, and he came to Iowa in 1864, during the Civil war, and located in Jasper county when the country was new, and remained here until 1872, when he entered the service of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company as fireman, finally becoming engineer, serving twenty-three years in that capacity, being well-known in railroad cir- cles and regarded as one of the most capable and faithful of that road's em- ployes. He is now living retired in Newton, Iowa.
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John E. Whittaker attended school in DesMoines, after which he began railroading, serving as fireman and engineer until- 1910, in fact, he alternated work on the road and his father's farm, and his services on the Rock Island system were highly satisfactory at all times. Finally desiring to turn his atten- tion to farming exclusively, he located on his present farm in 1910. It con- sists of one hundred and twenty-five acres, about sixty acres of which is flat, the balance rolling. It is of excellent quality and produces abundant crops, being well adapted to general farming and stock raising.
Mr. Whittaker is a member of a family consisting of five children, three daughters and two sons, he being the eldest ; the others are, Frederick, Jenny, Mabel and Alice ..
The subject was married November 4, 1909, to Merle Call, who was born at Broughton, Kansas, January 30, 1887. She is the daughter of Dell P. and Amelia A. (Pierce) Call, the father born in Pennsylvania in 1854 and died September, 1887. in Benton, Kansas; he made farming and school teaching his life work. Mrs. Call was born at Middlefield, Ohio, June 22, 1862, and her death occurred on May 12, 1902, in Herington, Kansas. Their family consisted of two sons and two daughters, Mrs. Whittaker being the eldest: the others are Verne, Nellie, Ralph B. and Merril.
To Mr. and Mrs. Whittaker one child, Homer O., has been born, his birth occurring on April 2, 1910.
Politically, the subject is a Republican and, fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order, including the Knights Templar, and religiously he belongs to the Congregational church.
GEORGE BOWERS KELTON.
The proud American title of self-made man can be justly claimed by George Bowers Kelton, who, after a long and very active career, is now living retired in Kellogg, Jasper county. He started in life for himself with practi- cally no aid and with none too great educational advantages, but he had inher- ited many of the sterling qualities of an old family of the Empire state and he has forged ahead, never permitting cares and responsibilities to thwart him, and on many an occasion, such as when the great war of the Rebellion broke out, he has shown his mettle, and he is justly entitled to the universal respect in which he is held.
Mr. Kelton was born in Chemung county, New York, October 24, 1838, and he is the son of Galon and Abigail (Smith) Kelton, the father born at
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Taunton, Bristol county, Massachusetts, September 17, 1799, and the mother at Tonawanda, Pennsylvania, in 1809. The father attended school in his native state and later taught school two terms; later he devoted his attention to carpentering and the miller's trade. In September, 1855, he came to Illinois, where he remained ten years, moving to a farm in Kellogg township, Jasper county, Iowa, in September, 1865, where he remained until his death, October 3, 1875. Politically, he was a Republican, and he was a Free Mason. There were six children in his family, an equal number of sons and daughters, namely : George Bowers, of this review; Sarah Elizabeth, Henry C., Daniel Webster and two daughters who died in infancy.
George B. Kelton of this review attended school in New York until he was seventeen years of age, then came to Illinois with his father. In 1862 he enlisted in Company C. One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infan- try, in which he served in a very faithful manner until the cessation of hostili- ties, taking part in the battles of Richmond, Kentucky, Knoxville, Tennessee, in which he endured many hardships, having had nothing to eat for many days except small pieces of bread made from bran and water, with now and then parched corn. He was at Greensborough, North Carolina, when the Confederates surrendered, and he was mustered out at Chicago, June 20, 1865. In September, the same year, he came to Iowa, locating in Kellogg township, Jasper county, accompanying his father here, and settled one hundred and twenty acres of timber land, which they gradually improved and placed in cultivation, clearing seventy-five acres. They raised general crops, specializing in potatoes, and also raised large numbers of cattle and hogs. They planted a large orchard of excellent variety. Here the subject continued to reside until recently when he moved to a substantial, well furnished and cozy home in Kellogg, where, in the midst of plenty, he is spending his declining years in comfort. He was a member of the Independent Order of Good Templars, which has now been discontinued. Politically he is a Republican. Mr. Kelton has never married.
MARTIN ADKINS.
One of the most prominent farmers and pioneer citizens of Jasper county was Martin Adkins, whose life work has now been closed by the common fate that awaits all mankind, but his innumerable good deeds will continue to live in the lives of his many friends and descendants. He identified himself with every movement that seemed likely to contribute to the advantage of the com -- munity and was a leader in all worthy enterprises. He took great interest in
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the affairs of the county and state and was foremost in his contributions to benevolent projects. Of him it can be said that the world is better for his having lived. He did not a little to make his township one of the best in the county, and after a life of unusual purity and honor he went to his reward.
Martin Adkins was born in Wayne county, Kentucky, January 26, 1821, the son of James and Nancy ( Pemberton) Adkins, the father a native of one of the Carolinas; the mother was born in Wayne county, Kentucky, and her death occurred in 1879.
Martin Adkins grew up in his native state and went to school there. He made the overland trip to Jasper county, Iowa, in 1845 and in March of that year settled in Kellogg township, two miles west of the town of Kellogg, and there he farmed all his life, being actively engaged in his affairs until his death, on August 7, 1878. He was one of the earliest pioneers of the county and although he had to undergo the usual hardships and privations which all who choose to invade a new country must bear, he let nothing discourage him and became well-to-do for those days. At the time of his advent here the city of Newton had not been laid out and there was an unbroken prairie where the town of Kellogg now stands. There was not a house between his farm and Lynnville, a distance of sixteen miles, and there was not a railroad in the state and only stage lines between important places.
Mr. Adkins married Mary Ann Edwards on October 24, 1845. She was born in Henry county, Iowa, May 12, 1826, the daughter of Aaron and Mary E. (Slatton) Edwards, the father born in Kentucky. .
Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Martin Adkins, six sons and four daughters, all living but one son and one daughter, three of the sons and all the daughters being married. They are, Nancy Jane, born November 3, 1846; Henderson, born August 6, 1848: Alvin, born September 18, 1850; Eliza Ann, born October 22, 1852; Emory, born May 16, 1856; Archie, born February 12, 1860; Sarah A., April 30, 1862; George and William, twins, born May 19, 1866; Margaret E., born October 14, 1868
The mother of these children is still living, being now eighty-six years of age, owning a large, substantial and comfortable home in the town of Kellogg, where she is spending her declining years in the midst of plenty. her sons William and George making their home with her. She is a woman of beautiful Christian character and is beloved by all who know her. Her two sons who live with her are unmarried.
The father, Martin Adkins, belonged to the Grangers, one of the promi- nent lodges in his day. He was a Democrat and a member of the Baptist church.
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WILFORD WILLIAMS
Biographies should not be published unless there is something in the life and character of the individual worthy of emulation or imitation by others under like circumstances-certainly not for self-aggrandizement; but suffi- cient has been drawn from the life-history of Wilford Williams, one of the large landowners of Linn Grove township and one of Jasper county's most progressive agriculturists, to show that there is something in the inner life of this man worthy of more than incidental mention. He began life practically at the bottom of the ladder, which he has climbed to the top with no help but a brave heart, industrious hands and an intelligent brain, and is a living example of what may be accomplished in this nature-favored country of ours by thrift and perseverance, even under circumstances that are frequently discouraging.
Mr. Williams was born in Orange county, Indiana, August 18, 1845, and he is the son of John and Anna (Landman) Williams, both natives of the same locality in which their son was born, and there they grew to maturity, received what education they could in the early schools of the country and there were married, and there began life on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres which they owned. By hard work they got a good start in life, but they left Indiana in 1855. driving a team through to Jasper county, Iowa, bringing all their household effects, using wagons, two teams of horses and a team of oxen. They settled in Linn Grove township, where Mr. Williams bought one hundred and sixty acres, which he later sold and, moving to Earlham, this state, bought one hundred and sixty acres near there, and he remained on that place until his death in 1903. He was a member of the Friends church. His family consisted of the following children: Mrs. Malinda Stanley, Isaac. Isaiah, Wilford, of this review; Stanford, deceased; Richmond is living at Cedar Falls, Iowa: Albert is a resident of Oskaloosa, this state; John; Elmina and Rachael are deceased : Thomas L. ; Robert died in infancy.
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