USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. II > Part 45
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Politically, Mr. Kelley is a Democrat and he has held every district and township office. He has been assessor in Independence and Mound Prairie townships for a period of twenty years, serving ten years in each. In all his public offices he has won the universal approval of his constituents and dis- charged his duties in a manner that has reflected much credit upon himself and proved his loyalty to right principles. Fraternally, he belongs to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows at Baxter. Mrs. Kelley is a member of the United Presbyterian church. They are well informed people and their hospi- tality, kindness and allegiance to high ideals have won them a wide circle of warm friends.
WILLIAM ALEXANDER TRAMEL.
The early agriculturists of Jasper county will ever be held in the grateful memory of the present generation and of the active young farmers of today, and the husbandman who came here a half century ago and cleared, upturned and seeded the wild prairie sod and erected for himself and venturesome family a rude dwelling, and opened the country, then roadless, for the advance of a higher civilization, well deserves the respect which is accorded him after he has passed the allotted span of life. Of such as these is William Alexander Tramel, well known farmer of Clear Creek township, a man who has always labored along such well established lines as to wrench success from seeming discouraging situations and at the same time has been enabled to do much for his neighbors, believing in the old maxim, "live and let live," and as a result
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of such a life of usefulness and honor he is today held in high favor with all who have had an opportunity to know him intimately.
Mr. Tramel was born in St. Joseph county, Indiana, August 19, 1835, and there he grew to maturity, working on the home farm during his boyhood days, and when seventeen years of age, in 1852, he accompanied his parents to Iowa and settled in Clear Creek township, Jasper county, and here he has resided ever since, having lived to see the wonderful growth of the locality, for it was then wild and settlers were few. The farm on which he now lives and owns was paid for by his father with an 1812-14 war warrant. The father, W. A. B. Tramel, was born in North Carolina in 1802, and his death oc- curred on his home place in this township in April, 1897, at an advanced age, having reached his ninety-fifth milestone, and the century through which his useful life extended was the most remarkable in the world's history. He mar- ried Cynthia Alexander, who also was born in North Carolina, in 1804, and her death occurred in Clear Creek township, March 3, 1878. Their family consisted of the following children : Eliza Ann Jeffries, whose death occurred in 1903; Nancy Campbell is also deceased; Martha Price, born January 28, 1833, is living in Ira, this county; W. Alexander, of this review ; Joseph M. died in East Portland in 1906; Caroline Weston, born October 29, 1840, also lives at Ira ; J. J., born November 26, 1842, of Ira.
On April 24, 1861, W. A. Tramel, of this sketch, was married to Sarah J. Spencer, who was born in Licking county, Ohio, August 5, 1835. Her father, William Spencer, was born in Vermont and his death occurred near Newton, Iowa, in 1861. He married Mary Meade, also a native of Vermont, and she died in Clear Creek township in 1890. Their family consisted of two sons and two daughters : Charles, born in Vermont and died in Colfax, Iowa; Henry, born in Vermont, died near Newton, Iowa; Mary Craig died in Ohio in 1856; Sarah J., wife of Mr. Tramel, of this sketch, is the youngest and the only surviving member.
To Mr. and Mrs. Tramel have been born three children, the first born dying in infancy ; Mary C., whose birth occurred on March 8, 1871, has re- mained with her parents; C. W., born December 25, 1873, is living on the . home farm, which he works. They were born, reared and educated in Clear Creek township and have always lived here.
Mr. Tramel has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and he is the owner of eighty acres of good land in Clear Creek township, which he has kept well improved and tilled in a manner that has brought large returns. His son also owns eighty acres and his daughter fifty-four, all good land. The Tramel home is a pleasant one, modernly furnished.
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Politically, Mr. Tramel is a Republican, and he has been active in local affairs, always ready to assist in forwarding any public enterprise. He has been township trustee and a member of the school board, filling both offices most satisfactorily. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episco- pal church at Ira, and are faithful in their attendance upon its ordinances.
JACOB HERWEHE.
Without making any invidious comparisons, it is safe to say that the United States can boast of no better or more law-abiding class of citizens than those sent to our shore by the German empire and whom this country is always ready to welcome. Many of them have come to our forty-eight states limited in financial resources, but imbued with a sturdy independence and a laudable ambition to succeed, and who have taken advantage of the wonderful resources afforded here. Gradually they have risen to places of prominence in various lines of activity. Of these none in Jasper county deserves more favorable at- tention than Jacob Herwehe, farmer and stock raiser of Fairview township. He was born in Baden, Germany, August 28, 1844, the son of Philip and Anna Mary (Warntz) Herwehe, natives of Germany, the father born on January 28, 1821, and the mother on July 24, 1823, both in Baden. There they grew up and were married, and there the father owned a small farm on which he raised tobacco and small grains. In 1854 he and his family emigrated to America and located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and there he worked at various things in order to get a foothold in the new country. In 1855 he brought his family to Jasper county, Iowa, where Philip Herwehe worked as a farm hand and later rented land until 1859, when he bought forty acres in Fairview township, which he later added to and here farmed until his death in 1879, owning at that time a good farm of over two hundred acres. He was in- dependent in politics and a member of the German Methodist church. His widow survived many years, dying in 1903. Their family consisted of three sons and five daughters, of whom Jacob, of this sketch, was the oldest.
The subject attended school in Germany and two winters in Iowa, but he had little opportunity to get an education. Being the oldest son, a great deal of hard work about the home place fell to him when he was a boy, and he did the work of a man when he was sixteen years old. He remained with his father until he was twenty-six years old. He moved on the farm where he now lives in the fall of 1870 and began renting of his father, later buying the place.
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He has brought it up to a high state of improvement and cultivation through his long years of close application. In connection with general farming he has raised considerable live stock. Politically, he is a Democrat and he belongs to the German Methodist church.
Mr. Herwehe was married on August 16, 1870, to Christine Liberum, who was born in Ashuay, Germany, March 2, 1842, and there she spent her childhood, emigrating to America in the fall of 1869 and took up her residence with her cousin in Des Moines. She was the daughter of Conrad Liberum, who was of French descent. One daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Herwehe, Anna Mary, who lives with her father, keeping house for him and is his mainstay. She is an industrious, genial and well informed lady who num- bers her friends by the scores.
Mrs. Jacob Herwehe, a woman of splendid attributes of head and heart, passed away on December 13, 1903, having been an invalid for several years.
When Mr. Herwehe came to this county he found a wild, unbroken prairie, and much of his time when a boy was spent upturning the virgin sod. He frequently walked to Newton, ten miles away on the trail, making the trip in three hours. He worked oxen and used primitive implements on the farm, and he underwent the usual hardships and privations incident to pioneer life ; but, being a man of courage and sterling mettle, he persevered in the face of all obstacles and in due course of time had a good home and a valuable farm. He talks interestingly of the early days, of the bands of Indians seen hereabout, of the wild game, the general picturesque life of the raw prairie. He is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished for himself and the community.
C. P. NORTON.
The qualities which have made C. P. Norton, of Prairie City, one of the prominent and successful citizens of Jasper county have also brought him the good will and esteem of his fellow citizens, for his career from the beginning has been one of well directed energy, strong determination and honorable methods. He has lived to see and take part in the wonderful development of this locality and his influence has been for good along material, moral and civic lines so that he is eminently deserving of the high esteem in which he is held by all classes.
Mr. Norton was born in Concord, Ohio, July 18, 1831. He is the son of Eden P. and Louisa (Wells) Norton, the father born in Vermont and the
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mother in Connecticut. They were married in Ohio. The elder Norton was a descendant of the famous "Mayflower" band. He was a shoemaker all his life. In 1845 he came west as far as the Mississippi river, having peddled shoes all the way, through the wild and practically unimproved country. Returning to Ohio, he spent the remainder of his life there; however, his death oc- curred at Monmouth, Illinois, while on a visit to his children, being then sixty- two years of age. His widow died at the home of their son, C. P., of this sketch, in Prairie City, Iowa, at the age of seventy-nine years. They were the parents of eight children, only two or whom are yet living, C. P. and H. M., the latter a physician of Kent, Iowa. Timothy died in infancy; Sidney G. died when ten years of age; W. W. died in Kent, Iowa, in 1911 ; L. D. died in Cincinnati, where he was for years superintendent of the Power Hall; he was a man of prominence, a fine mechanic ; he was one of the Ohio commissioners to the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia in 1876. Flavia A. Norton, who married Thomas Cannon, is deceased ; N. J. died in Louisville, Kentucky.
When seventeen years of age C. P. Norton went to Buffalo, New York, to learn the mechanic's trade, and after remaining there two years he went back to Ohio, where, with two brothers, he engaged in the manufacture of forks, etc. Two years later he went to North Norfolk, Connecticut, and mar- ried Aurelia R. Norton, of that place. They were not related. The young couple at once started west, having but fifty dollars capital, going by rail and water to New Boston, Iowa. The first work he did was carpentering in Tools- boro. He and his wife started to housekeeping in a blacksmith shop in 1854. He made all his own furniture except one chair, which he found in a pile of driftwood in the river. For three years he remained there and did all kinds of building, his wife teaching school the meanwhile. He then moved to War- ren county, Illinois, and ran a saw-mill for five years. He then went to Rose- ville, that state, and began the repair of wagons and later the manufacture of "shanghai corn plows." Later he secured a patent on a double corn plow, which he manufactured two years. It was forty-six years ago that he came to Prairie City, Iowa. He sold McCormick harvesters for three years, then sold the various machines manufactured by the Fairbanks-Morse company for two years, after which he began the hardware business by himself, later taking Julius Bisbee as a partner, the firm being known as Norton & Bisbee, and they continued with much success for a period of twenty years, enjoying an exten- sive trade with the surrounding country. At the end of that time the firm was forced to take over a clothing store on a debt, and this they operated for two years, then sold out. Since then Mr. Norton has led a retired life, having laid by a competency. For twenty-four winters he has gone to Florida and other
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southern points, and he made one trip to Cuba and there narrowly escaped being quarantined on account of yellow fever.
Mr. Norton proved his patriotism by enlisting in the Union army, in the fall of 1863, being a member of the noted "Mechanics Corps," and was sent to the front, and assigned to such work as road and bridge building, and he saw much hard and laborious service. He had attempted to enlist in 1861 as a regular soldier, but was refused on account of a defective eye and the loss of a finger. After receiving an honorable discharge he returned to Mon- mouth, Illinois.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Norton, three of whom died in infancy, and the other, Abbie, died when six years old. Mrs. Norton's death occurred in January, 1910, in Florida and she was buried there. Had she lived until March 4, 1910, less than two months longer, they would have been married fifty-four years. They raised Hannah Adams, who married Fred Heaton, who has been with the hardware firm of Little & Gill nineteen years. They also reared a boy, Thomas Stevens, who goes by the name of Norton.
Mr. Norton is a worthy member of the Methodist church. He is a strong Republican and is deeply interested in temperance work.
WILLIAM KLYN.
Among the prosperous and substantial farmers of Jasper county is William Klyn, who lives in section 14, Buena Vista township, where he has one of the best kept farms in the community. He was born February 25, 1876, and is the son of Ira and Hattie (Breuklander) Klyn, both natives of the Netherlands. The father came to America when a lad twelve years of age, accompanied by his parents, the family emigrating to Iowa, settling on a farm near Pella, Marion county. The subject's mother was four years of age when her parents brought her to America. They also settled near Pella. Iowa. For many years Ira Klyn farmed in Marion county, laying by a com- petency, and at the present time he and his wife are living retired in Sully, he being sixty-five and she fifty-five years of age. They are highly respected by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. Their family consisted of eight children, six boys and two girls, William, of this review, being the second in order of birth. They are, Ira, who lives on a farm in Marion county, as do also John, Martin, Garrett and Henry, the last named and Martin being un-
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married; Maggie married Cornelius VanGilst, a brother of the subject's wife, and they live in Sully; Nellie, the youngest child, lives with her parents in Sully.
After receiving a good education in the home schools, William Klyn, when twenty-one years of age, started out for himself and for a period of five years worked out as a hand on the farm. In February, 1902, he was married to Minnie VanGilst, the daughter of Garrett VanGilst, a prosperous farmer whose home at that time was where the subject now lives, but who has since retired and is now making his home in Killduff, this county. There were eight children in this family, namely: Agnes married Frank Brand and lives near Killduff; Jennie married John Nyhouse* and lives at Alexandria, South Dakota; Minnie, wife of the subject, was born on July 23, 1877; Peter lives in Chicago; Cornelius lives in Sully ; Regina married Leroy Dennis and lives near Killduff; John is a carpenter and lives at home in Killduff ; Marie also lives at home. Mrs. William Klyn was six years of age when she came to America. Garrett VanGilst, father of Mrs. William Klyn, was born in September, 1845, and he is the son of Peter and Regina VanGilst. The wife of Garrett VanGilst was born June 3, 1849.
After his marriage William Klyn rented a farm in Mahaska county for two years, then bought his present place and has lived here ever since, carry- ing on general farming in a manner that has brought him a large, measure of success, being regarded as one of the most efficient farmers in his community.
To Mr. and Mrs. Klyn four children have been born: Hattie Marie, born June 8, 1903 ; Jennette Agnes, born October 28, 1905; Wilma Margaret, born January 5, 1909; Freda Irene, born August 1, 1910, and died June 21, 19II. Mrs. Klyn is affiliated with the Christian church in Killduff.
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DAVID S. FLECK.
The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch is prom- inent in the business, social and political affairs of Jasper county, and is a native of Iowa, having been born in Mahaska county, Iowa, in 1859, on the 2Ist day of November. His father, William Fleck, was a native of Illinois and his mother, Cassie (Brown) Fleck, was a native of Ohio. The family came from Illinois to Iowa in 1856 and located first in Henry county, but a short time afterward removed to Mahaska county, where William Fleck entered two hundred and forty acres of land from the government. He has
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long since gone to his eternal home, having passed away in 1885, at the early age of fifty-three. After twelve years of farming, Mr. Fleck engaged in the grain business in Leighton, and this business he continued to the time of his death, besides superintending and overseeing the work of his farm. He was a very prominent man in his community, public spirited and broadminded. He was a member of the Baptist church, to which denomination his wife, mother of the subject, also belongs. She is seventy-five years old at this time and lives at the old home place, near Leighton.
David S. Fleck was one of eight children. At the age of twenty-one he began work for himself, following agricultural pursuits for a while, after which he engaged in the grain and lumber business at Leighton, carrying on both enterprises for about ten years, at the expiration of which time he re- moved to Nebraska and engaged in the elevator business in the town of Min- don. From there he returned to Iowa and operated an elevator at Templeton, Carroll county, and engaged in the grain business there for a couple of years, at the expiration of which time he, together with Macy Brothers, purchased the lumber and grain business at Killduff. Mr. Fleck owns and operates a stock and grain farm near Killduff where at all times can be found some of Jasper county's choicest hogs, cattle and horses.
On February 28, 1889, Mr. Fleck was united in marriage to Alta Coryell. the daughter of R. V. and Julia Coryell, the father being a native of Ohio and the mother of Missouri. The family came to Oskaloosa about the year 1850. Mr. Coryell was a prominent farmer in Mahaska county, and it was here that the daughter, Alta, was born in October, 1866. She is one of three living children. The father and mother are both living in Mahaska county, Iowa, aged seventy-five and sixty-eight, respectively.
To Mr. and Mrs. Fleck have been born three children, namely: Ray- mond, born March 25, 1890, in Mahaska county; Harold, born November II, 1896, in Jasper county ; Wilma, born April 7, 1900, in Jasper county.
Mr. Fleck is a member of the board of county supervisors, having been elected on the Democratic ticket in 1906 and again in 1909, and his picture, together with those of the other two county supervisors, was placed in the cor- . ner stone of the new county court house when built. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Newton. Fraternally, he is identified with the Masonic lodge No. 59, at Newton, and is also a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Newton. Mrs. Fleck is a member of the Rebekah lodge and Eastern Star chapter at the same place. Mr. Fleck owns property and lives in the city of Newton.
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J. EMERY SIGNS.
Not alone are those worthy of biographic honors who have moved along the loftier planes of action, but to an equal extent are those deserving who are of the rank and file of the world's workers, for they are not less the con- servators of public prosperity and material advancement. Through all the gradations of life recognition should be had of the true values, and then should full appreciation be manifested, for there can be no impropriety in scanning the acts of any man as they affect his public, social and business rela- tions. Viewed from whatever standpoint, the career of J. Emery Signs, one of Clear Creek township's prosperous farmers, is worthy of consideration in this connection. He is one of the worthy native sons of Jasper county, his birth having occurred on March I, 1850, in Clear Creek township, and here he grew to manhood and he has always been identified with the agricultural interests of this locality. He is the son of James and Sarah (Kintz) Signs, the father born in Indiana is living in this township, and the mother, who was born in Summit county, Ohio, died in this township. Their family consisted of four sons and one daughter, namely : J. Emery, of this review, is the eldest ; Mrs. John W. Long lives in Eden township, Marshall county ; Charles O. lives in Olathe, Kansas; John is a resident of Collins, Iowa; Lee lives on the old home farm in Clear Creek township, this county.
Mr. Signs, of this review, was married on November 7, 1880, to Ida May Hampton, who was born in Clear Creek township, November 5, 1861, the daughter of William R. and Sarah Ann (Deeter) Hampton, the father born in Kentucky and the mother in Pennsylvania. They came west, spent their last years at Gering, Nebraska, the father dying on December 5, 1904, and the mother passing away on December 4, 1903. Their family consisted of twelve children, ten of whom grew to maturity, one son and one daughter dying in infancy ; they were named as follows: Theodore is living in Juniata, Nebraska; Cornelia Kimberly is living at Gering, Nebraska; Caroline Hidy is a resident of Mapleton, Kansas ; Dora Adeline died about fifteen years ago; Ida May, wife of Mr. Hampton of this sketch; Hulda Porter, of Towanda, Kansas; Jennie Hughes, of Mapleton, Kansas; Commodore lives at Gering, Nebraska; William also lives there; Russell R. lives in Independence town- ship, this county; Albert lives at Gering, Nebraska. These children were born in Clear Creek township, this county, of which their parents were early settlers, having lived here many years before moving to Nebraska.
To Mr. and Mrs. Signs have been born two sons and four daughters,
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namely : Earl, born September 27, 1882, died April II, 1888; Sarah Pearl Jones, born November 14, 1887, lives in Sherman township, this county; Jessie Belle Shuey, born August 14, 1890, is living north of Collins; Alta, born February 8, 1893, is living at home; Ora, born November 5, 1896, is also a member of the family circle; Orville Edwin, born January 18, 1899. They were all born in Clear Creek township. One grandchild, Gwendolyn Fern Shuey, was born on May 10, 19II.
Mr. Signs has been very successful in a business way, and he is the owner of one hundred and nineteen acres in Clear Creek township, which comprises one of the best improved and most productive farms of this locality, on which stands a modern, well furnished home, and he has laid away a competency for his old age.
Politically, Mr. Signs is a Democrat, and he has been township trustee and a member of the local school board. Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America at Mingo.
ROBERT N. STEWART.
Every human being either submits to the controlling influence of others or wields an influence which touches, controls, guides or misdirects others. If he be honest and successful in his chosen field of endeavor, investigation will brighten his fame and point the way along which others may follow with like success. Consequently a critical study of Robert N. Stewart, a venerable and substantial citizen of Mound Prairie township, Jasper county, may be beneficial to the reader, for it has been one of usefulness and honor. He has lived to see and take part in the wonderful development of this locality, having come here in early pioneer days.
Mr. Stewart was born in West Virginia, January 18, 1831. He is the son of James and Katherine ( Phibbs) Stewart, both natives of Pennsylvania, from which state they moved to West Virginia and there married and reared their family on their farm of about two hundred acres, and there they spent their last years. They had a large family, twelve children, only two of whom are now living, Robert N., of this sketch, and Mrs. Hattie Cooper. George Stewart, the subject's paternal grandfather, was a colonel in the Revolutionary war.
Robert N. Stewart grew up on the home farm and received his educa- tion in the public schools and at Fairview Academy in Virginia, then went to
ROBERT N. STEWART
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