USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. II > Part 32
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Wilford Williams had only a limited schooling in the primitive schools of Indiana and Iowa, and during the crop seasons, when a boy, he assisted , with the general work on the home farm. later working by the month; then he rented a few years, and in 1867 he bought eighty acres, which he still owns. By close application and good management he prospered and added to his original holdings until he now owns seven hundred and nine acres of very choice and productive land, after giving each of his children eighty acres. He has kept his land under first-class improvements and a high state of cultiva- tion, carrying on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. He has been one of the largest cattle feeders of the county, having fed large
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numbers of both cattle and hogs for fifty years and no small part of his large competency has been derived from this source. He has been very robust throughout his very busy life, having a capacity for work in excess of the average man. He has a pleasant home and neat surroundings.
Mr. Williams is a Republican and he has served his township as trustee. He is a member of the Friends church.
In November, 1866, Mr. Williams was united in marriage with Anna Graham, who was born in England, and this union resulted in the birth of the following children: Charlie is living west of Lynnville; Eddie is living north of Lynnville; Mrs. Lillie Ratcliffe was next in order of birth; Harry and 'Earl are both living north of Lynnville.
WILLARD HENRY BENSON.
Although a young man, Willard Henry Benson, of Kellogg township, has gained a good foothold in the agricultural world, and has shown what one can accomplish in a short time if he is willing to labor persistently along legiti- mate courses and not permit himself to be subdued by seemingly untoward circumstances, for if one is easily discouraged at the outset there is little chance that much that is worth while will be accomplished in the later stages of the game which we call life.
Mr. Benson was born in Kellogg, Iowa, November 5. 1887, and he is the son of Charles Horace Benson, who was born at Madison, Wisconsin, March 17, 1846, and he married Caroline Dunton, who was born in New Philadel- phia, Ohio, in 1881. The father has devoted his life to farming. He came here in 1867 and here he has continued to reside to the present time, being well-known and highly respected in his community, having worked hard and laid by a competency, so he is now living retired in a very neat and cozy home in the town of Kellogg.
Willard H. Benson, of this review, received a good education, having attended the Glendale school in Kellogg township, working on the home place during crop seasons, thus receiving good training in his chosen line of endeavor, and he has devoted himself to farming ever since, now owning a very productive and neat little farm of eighty acres in section 13, Kellogg township, and here he is making a very comfortable living and has a pleasant home.
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Mr. Benson was married on February 27, 1907, to Goldie May Ellis, who was born in Jasper county, Iowa, May 9, 1890, the daughter of John Calvin Ellis, and her mother's maiden name was Mary Showalter, whose birth oc- curred in Iowa. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Benson, Myrtle Irene and Florence May.
Politically, Mr. Benson is a Democrat, but he does not take any special interest in political matters, merely striving to advance himself and live the life of an honest and desirable citizen.
JOSEPH SMITH TREASE.
The commercial world has long since come to recognize the importance of the farmer who furnishes the food for the world, and has surrounded him with almost innumerable contrivances not thought of a century ago. The inventor has given him the self-binder, the riding-plow, the steam-thresher, and many other labor-saving devices; and the farmer has not been slow to take advantage of the improvements thus invented and offered. Among the hardworking farmers of Rock Center township, Jasper county, is the subject of this brief sketch, Joseph Smith Trease, who was born July 13, 1855, in this county. Thus he has lived to see the great transformation of the same from wild and sparsely settled stretches of prairie to one of the garden spots of the great Haweye commonwealth, and has not only been an interested spectator of the same, but a lively participant. He is the son of Joshua Madison Trease, who was born in North Carolina, April 2, 1810, and who married Nancy Maise, who was born in Claiborne county, Tennessee, January 7, 1813. They spent their early life in their native country, emigrating overland to Jasper county, Iowa, in 1848, locating among the pioneers and starting a new home in an undeveloped region where yet roamed Indians and wild beasts, and here, by dint of hard labor and economy, they built a good home, Mr. Trease entering eighty acres of land where the city of Newton now stands. The death of the elder Trease occurred in 1874. In his family were six sons and four daughters, named as follows: Willey M. is deceased; Louis Jefferson ; Emily Jane; William M. died in infancy; Lucy A .; George L .; Marinda M .; Mary E. died September 25, 1850: Wesley S. is deceased; Joseph S., of this review.
The gentleman whose name forms the introduction to this sketch grew to maturity on the home farm, where he worked during the summer months and attended the neighboring schools in the wintertime, later working for several
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years by the month as a farm hand, in order to get a start, and in 1882 he went to farming for himself in the northwest corner of Rock Creek township, where he remained for seventeen years, and where he owned a place of forty acres, remaining on this place seven years, then purchased his present place of thirty acres in that township, where he has a neat little home, and is making a comfortable living.
Mr. Trease was married on September 28, 1882, to Carrie Edna Rice, who was born in Illinois, April 21, 1866, the daughter of James Austin Rice, who was born in Wooster, Massachusetts. He married Clarissa Clark, who was born in the same city. They were the parents of nine children, five sons and four daughters, namely : Ellen, John, Edward, Emma, Frank Comfort, George Washington, Charles Elsworth, Lucy Ann, and Carrie Edna, wife of Mr. Trease. They are all living.
Twelve children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Trease, named as follows: Henry C., born January 3, 1884; Nancy Clarissa, born March 9, 1886, is deceased; James Beck, born August 31, 1888, died June 19, 1895; Charles David, born December 7, 1890; Jacob Jefferson, born December IO, 1892 ; Phoebe H., born November 28, 1894, died September 24, 1895; Estella Verbenia, born September 1, 1896; Lucy Emeline, born March 15, 1894; Harold Christopher, born January 29, 1896; Joshua Austin, born December 16, 1902; Elbert Theodore, born July 29, 1905 ; Carl Nelson, born August 25, 1907 : Clyde Laurena, born August 29, 1909.
Mr. Trease is a member of the Baptist church, and politically he is a Republican.
CHARLES EDGAR HILL.
The representative farmer and enterprising citizen of whom the biog- rapher now writes in this connection belongs to one of the old and well-known families of Jasper county, and it is a compliment honorably earned to ascribe to him a prominent place among the most up-to-date farmers of the commun- ity where he has spent his life and is now successfully engaged in his chosen vocation, for he saw from the outset, it seems, the necessity of performing every task that presented itself quickly and as nearly accurate in every detail as possible and thus he has been guided in all his undertakings.
Charles Edgar Hill was born four miles southwest of Kellogg, February 20, 1877, and he is the son of Joshua B. and Elizabeth (Stanley) Hill, who
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were born in Indiana. There they grew to maturity, were educated and mar- ried, later coming to Iowa, and here becaine well fixed, owning a good farm.
Charles E. Hill grew up on the home farm in this county and there he worked during the crop seasons. He received a good education at Pleasant View school, in this county, after which he turned his attention to farming, which he has continued to the present time, having located on the farm which he now owns in 1902. He has a well located and productive farm of one hun- dred and ten acres in sections 23 and 24. He keeps a good grade of live stock and has excellent buildings on his place.
Mr. Hill was married December 25, 1892, to Buella Gibbs, whose birth occurred in Kellogg, Iowa, December 13, 1878.
Politically, Mr. Hill is a Republican and, fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen, and Mrs. Hill is a member of the Christian church. They are highly respected by all who know them.
CLAUDE ARTHUR BRALEY.
Longfellow said, "The talent of success is nothing more than doing what you can do well and doing well whatever you do, without any thought of fame." Illustrative of this sentiment has been the life of Claude Arthur Braley, one of the young generation of farmers living in Kellogg township. Jasper county. In looking over his well kept place the stranger readily observes that he has done well whatever he has turned his attention to and therefore success has attended his efforts.
Mr. Braley was born in this vicinity, June 7, 1882, the son of Joseph and Marion (Whitcomb) Braley, the father born in Vermont, and the mother in Indiana. The elder Braley was a capitalist and became well-known, having come to Jasper county some years ago, and here his death occurred on Decem- ber 22, 1906.
The son, Claude A. Braley, of this review, grew to maturity in his home . community and was educated in the public schools here. He began life for. himself by working at the elevator in Kellogg for six years, then he turned his attention to farming, which he has continued to the present time, first locating on forty acres of land near his present farm, and in 1910 he moved to his present farm of eighty acres in section 25, Kellogg township, which he is rapidly improving and on which he is making a good living. He has a very neat home and he keeps some good live stock.
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Mr. Braley was married on October 3, 1906, to Jessie May Thompson, who was born in Greenwood, Wisconsin, the daughter of George and Ida Thompson, both natives of Wisconsin. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Braley, a son named Joseph Gayland, whose birth occurred on January 3, 1908.
Politically, Mr. Braley is a Democrat, and in fraternal matters he belongs to the Masonic order and the Woodmen of the World, standing high in each, for he endeavors to carry their teachings into his every day dealings with his fellow men.
CARL LENZ.
Among the thrifty German citizens who have taken up their abode in Jasper county and have thereby benefited alike themselves and the community is Carl Lenz, farmer of Kellogg township, who was born at Kroganke, West Prussia, Germany, October 13, 1864, the son of Ferdinand and Caroline Lenz, both born in Germany, the father on February 4, 1837, and the mother on January II, 1842. Not being satisfied in the fatherland and most of his children being in the United States, Ferdinand Lenz came to our shores in 1894, he and his wife coming to live with their oldest son, Carl, of this review, who was farming the old Shuman place, three miles south of Laurel. After living on the farm six years they moved to Kellogg. The father's death oc- curred on February 5, 1904, and the mother is living with her two youngest sons, Gustav and Arthur, keeping house for them.
Carl Lenz grew to maturity in his native land and went through all the branches of the public schools there, attending school from the time he was seven until he was fourteen years of age. After leaving school he began learn- ing the mason's trade, and in 1879 he emigrated to America with relatives. Locating in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he worked for some time in Plankington's packing house, later worked in some of the famous Milwaukee breweries, but the work being too hard he was compelled to give it up. Money was then scarce and jobs few and hundreds of idle men were besieging the employment bureaus about the court house, looking for work, Mr. Lenz being one of the number. That was the latter part of December, 1882. The subject decided to leave there and, taking the tracks of the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, he followed them south to Freeport, Illinois, being compelled to ask for food several times on the way, and at night slept in straw-stacks. He found em- ployment on a farm near Freeport and worked there six years, most of the
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time in the neighborhood of Eleroy. He saved his money in order to get a start, and in 1887 moved to Iowa and rented a farm three miles south of Laurel, Jasper county, for five years. Here he found hard work and often trying conditions to meet, but he persevered, refusing to be downed by ob- stacles. He moved to the E. P. Shuman farm, which he operated for eleven years, then purchased the place and is still living three miles north of Kellogg, having a good farm and a very comfortable, home. He is carrying on general farming and stock raising successfully, keeping his place well tilled and well improved.
Mr. Lenz has been twice married, first on May 10, 1889, to Minnie Bloom, daughter of Gottlieb and Christina Bloom, of Laurel, Marshall county, Iowa. To this union one son and two daughters were born, who are living and one son, the oldest, died when six months old; John, Emma and Marie being the others. The mother of these children died on March 25. 1895, and on May 29, 1900, Mr. Lenz was married to Lena Exter, daughter of Anton and Friederike (Saak) Luff, of Stemmen, Lippe-Detmold, Germany. The fol- lowing children were born of the second union: Adolf, Clara, Ernst, Louis and Eleanora.
Politically, Mr. Lenz is a Republican and he has always been interested in the development of his community along all lines and has proven to be a good citizen.
FELIX LITTLETON PHIPPS.
The qualities which have made Felix Littleton Phipps one of the promi- nent and successful men of Kellogg, Jasper county, have also brought him the esteem of his fellow townsmen, for his career has been one of well-directed energy, strong determination and honorable methods, and his career should serve as an incentive and inspiration for others. By his uniform courtesy, amiable disposition and genuine worth he has gained for himself a warm place in the hearts of the people of the vicinity of which this book treats.
Mr. Phipps was born of an excellent old family in the land of the "dark and bloody ground," he being a native of Clinton county, Kentucky, July 13, 1867. He is the son of James Washington Phipps, who was born near Parmleysville, Wayne county, Kentucky, June 21, 1837. He married Myrtle Jane Upchurch, who was born in Wayne county, Kentucky, in 1847. The father of the subject attended school in his native state, and after finishing his education he began life for himself by working on the farm, and he also
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worked in the coal mines in that state when a boy, in fact continued until January 25, 1864, when he joined the Union army, becoming second lieuten- ant of Company I, Thirty-first Kentucky Volunteer Infantry, in which he served very faithfully until the close of the war, after which he went back to farming in his native state and there he remained until May, 1880, when he came to Jasper county, Iowa, and settled in Rock Creek township, where he maintained his home until 1884, then moved to Independence township, locat- ing near Baxter, which was his home until January 9, 1899, when he moved to Sheridan county, Missouri, where he now resides. He was married in Albany, Kentucky, and his family consists of nine children, two sons and seven daughters, namely: Theodosia, Felix, Elizabeth, Martha Frances, Emorine, Anna, Mary Jane, John Jay, Ellen Ester.
The subject attended the country schools of Jasper county until 1889, when he entered the Western Normal College at Shenandoah, Iowa, leaving that institution in 1890, having thus received a good education. He then worked as clerk in a bank at Baxter, Iowa, and kept books for the John B. Dresser Lumber Company in the same town. During the summer and fall of 1892 he worked for the Reeder-Bowen Grain Company. He also taught school in the country for thirteen terms, during which time he became popular as an educator with both pupils and patrons and his services were in great demand. He was well qualified for this line of work both by nature and train- ing. He was postmaster at Baxter, Iowa, from 1893 to 1897, giving the people and the postoffice department the utmost satisfaction.
Mr. Phipps was married on November 3. 1897, to Rebecca Young, in Rock Creek township, who was born July 7, 1860, in Wayne county, Ken- tucky, the daughter of Edward and Jane (Parmley) Young. The father was born in Wayne county, Kentucky, March 22, 1822, and, reaching a ripe old age, he passed away on April 15, 1908; the mother was born in Wayne county, Kentucky, February 9, 1820, and she, too, reached an advanced age, dying on April 14, 1909.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Phipps, Frederick, whose birth occurred May 30, 1898, and Ester Viola, born July 15, 1901, both in Rock Creek township, this county.
Fraternally, Mr. Phipps is a member of the Modern Woodmen and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Politically, he is a Democrat and has taken considerable interest in the affairs of his party. He was appointed mayor of Kellogg in August, 1910, and is now serving in that capacity in a manner that reflects credit upon himself and to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. He is doing much for the permanent good of the town.
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WILLIAM C. DEBRUYN.
One of the leading citizens and representative farmers and stock men of Elk Creek township, Jasper county, is William C. DeBruyn. His has been an active and useful life, but the limited space at the disposal of the biographier forbids more than a casual mention of the leading events of his career, which will suffice to show what earnest endeavor and honesty of purpose rightly applied and persistently followed will lead to-ultimate success. He is looked upon as a man thoroughly in sympathy with any movement looking to the betterment or advancement in any way of the community in which he resides, never shrinking his duty when questions involving the general good are at stake, for he believes it the duty of every citizen, while laboring for his own advancement, to look to the progress of his locality and the happiness of his neighbors as well. He has always been regarded as a man of sterling honesty and worthy of the utmost confidence and respect which his fellow citizens have been free to accord owing to his genial disposition, his public spirit and his uniformly upright and industrious life.
Mr. DeBruyn was born in Marion county, Iowa, on August 25, 1868. He is the son of Kryn and Mattie (VanVark) DeBruyn, both natives of Holland, the father born on November 7, 1838, and the mother on April 29, 1849. The father spent his early boyhood in his native country, emigrating to the United States when fifteen years of age, in 1853, and was thrown on his own resources when but a boy, having lost his father when five months old and.his mother when twelve years of age. He was given a home by his brother-in- law, Von Steinburg, and he occompanied them to Marion county, Iowa, and they settled in Lake Prairie township. The mother of the subject was brought to Marion county, Iowa, just a few days after she was born, her parents, William and Mary VanVark, establishing their home there. In Marion county the parents of the subject of this sketch grew to maturity and received their education in the common schools and there they married. The father worked on the farm until the breaking out of the war between the states when he enlisted in Company G, Thirty-third Iowa Volunteer Infantry, in which he served faithfully for a period of three years, during which time he spent ten ยท months in the Confederate prison at Tyler, Texas, having contracted the scurvy there, the scars from which he still carries. He returned to Iowa after the war and resumed farming in Marion county. He came to Jasper county some time afterwards and farmed here on rented land until his death, on January 9, 1904. His family consisted of five sons and eight daughters, twelve of whom survive, William C., of this review, being the second in order of birth. .
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MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM C. DeBRUYN
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William C. DeBruyn grew up on the farm and he attended the public schools in Pleasant Grove district, Marion county. When twenty-one years of age he began life for himself, having assisted his father with the general work on the land he had under cultivattion until then. He worked one year by the month and then buying a team and harness and plow the following fall, he rented ground, forty acres of corn land, of Pat Moran. The following spring he was married, and after renting one year he purchased eighty acres in Elk Creek township, which he later sold and bought two hundred and forty acres, having met with encouraging success in this favored locality, for he was always a hard worker and managed his affairs in a masterly manner. This land was in DesMoines township, southwestern part of Jasper county, but that being a bad year and fortune going against him he gave up this land and rented for another year. In the fall of 1897 he bought one hundred and eighty-five acres immediately east of the town of Galesburg and moved thereto the following spring. Here he met with encouraging success and had added sixty acres in two more years, and he is now the owner of one of the choice farms of the township, which consists of three hundred and five and a half acres, including town property on which he is successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising. He has placed this land under a high state of improvement and cultivation and he is regarded as one of the best farmers of his community. In 1901 he purchased thirteen acres in the town of Galesburg . and also bought a fine house and barn there and this was his place of abode for a period of nine years. Turning his attention to merchandising, he conducted a general store in 1909 and 1910 in Galesburg. This he later disposed of and, being lured by the freedom of outdoor life, returned to the farm on February I, 19II, and he is at this writing living at his beautiful home just east of Galesburg where he is well fixed to enjoy life and make a good living. In connection with general agricultural pursuits, he handles some excellent live stock of which he is fond and a splendid judge, making a specialty of Perch- eron horses, which, owing to their superior quality, are much admired by all fanciers.
Politically, Mr. DeBruyn is a Republican and he takes a good citizen's interest in the affairs of his community, which he has served most acceptably as justice of the peace, his decisions having always been characterized by fairness and they have seldom met with a reversal at the hands of -a higher tribunal. Religiously, he is a member and liberal supporter of the Christian church of Galesburg.
On March 3, 1892, occurred the ceremony which united the lives of William C. DeBruyn and Anna DePenning. The latter was born in Summit
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township, Marion county, Iowa, on February 2, 1873. She there grew to womanhood and received her education in the common schools. She is the daughter of Jacob and Mary (Akerman) DePenning, the father having been a pioneer of Marion county, locating there in 1851. The mother was born in Mehaska county, Iowa.
To Mr. and Mrs. DeBruyn eight children have been born, named in order of birth as follows: Frank, born November 27, 1892; Mary Gladys, born April 23, 1895; Jennie, born September 13, 1897, died October 7th, of the same year ; Jacob W., born January 8, 1899, died September 6, 1910; Maudie Beatrice, born August 30, 1901; Bernice Leona, born March 22, 1904; Clara Wilma, born March 13, 1906; Luella Fern, born August 17, 1908.
Mr. DeBruyn is a good business man and does not hesitate to back his better judgment by taking a chance. He has been very successful during the latter part of his life and has laid by a competency for his old age. He is well preserved physically, a man of splendid physique, and very pleasant in disposi- tion, a.kind father and husband and a good neighbor and citizen, a plain unassuming man whom it is a delight to meet.
JAMES BOYLE.
America is greatly indebted to the little Emerald isle for having sent such a myriad host of her best citizens to help us develop the Union. They have been coming to our shores since the colonial days and have settled in almost every county in our half hundred states and territories, devoting them- selves to all lines of endeavor, and succeeding, too, at whatever they under- took. They have been loyal to our institutions and been. ready upon all occa- sions to defend our flag in times of national peril; in short, we have no better foreign-born citizens than the Irish.
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