USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. II > Part 46
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and took a business course. He emigrated to Iowa about 1864 and located in Washington township, Jasper county, and here he kept a stage station. When J. B. Grinnell was representing this district in Congress, the subject applied to him for a postoffice where Colfax now stands. Two names were submitted, Colfax and Sheridan, and the subject chose the former, hence naming the town, which is now well known over the country. For two years Mr. Stewart lived in Prairie City and bought grain. Then he bought one hundred and sixty acres in Mound Prairie, which he broke and placed under good improvements. By years of hard work and good manage- metn he prospered and added to his original purchase until he is now the owner of four hundred acres of valuable land. He has carried on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale.
In early life Mr. Stewart was a Greenbacker, but in later years he has supported the Democratic ticket. He was something of a leader in local affairs in former years and for eight years he was justice of the peace, dis- charging the duties of this office in a manner that has reflected credit upon himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned. He belongs to the Masonic order at Colfax, and in religious matters he and his wife belong to the Pres- byterian church. It was Mr. Stewart who was the first superintendent of Sunday school at Colfax, which school was held for a while in a box car and later in the depot.
Mr. Stewart was married in 1858 to Lizzie McGuire, a native of Ohio, and the daughter of Elisha and Hannah McGuire, who lived in Carlton, Ohio. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stewart, namely: Iva; James Mc- Guire, who first married Addie Heise and later Dora Blanford; Mamie, Frank and Anna. These children are all deceased but James. The first wife of Robert N. Stewart passed away about 1889 and he subsequently, in 1891, married Amelia Harvey, a native of the state of New York and the daughter of John Harvey, who now lives in Newton.
J. P. HARDING.
The Harding family has long been well and favorably known in the vicinity of which this history treats and they have done their full share in the work of advancing general conditions and are therefore eminently deserving of representation in a history of the nature of the one at hand. One of the
(76)
I202
JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
best known is' Claudius Harding, of Baxter, who was born in Marietta town- ship, Marshall county, Iowa, December 4, 1878, and with the exception of eleven years spent in South Dakota, he has lived in this vicinity. His father, J. P. Harding, was born in Lawrence county, near Newcastle, Pennsylvania, December 17, 1851, and is now residing in Eden township, Marshall county. His mother, known in her maidenhood as Delia A. Wright, was born in Van Buren county, Michigan, near Coldwater, October 12, 1860, and her death occurred at Wessington Springs, South Dakota, November II, 1896.
There were ten children in the Harding family, named as follows : Claudius is the eldest; Orville Raymond, born April 26, 1880, is living in Caspar, Wyoming ; Merrill J., born November 12, 1882, is a pharmacist in Des Moines, Iowa; Blanche E., born August 30, 1884, who is living in Omaha, is stenographer for the Cudahy Packing Company ; Clayton W., born June 18, 1886, is living in Eden township, Marshall county, with her father; Mrs. Delia A. Grant, born December 30, 1888, makes her home at Jireh, Wyoming; Vera, born February 4, 1890, is studying and will graduate in 1913 as nurse ; Jose- phine, born March 23, 1891, is a professional nurse; Laura J., born May 20, 1893, is living at the family homestead in Eden township; Edith M., born No- vember 1, 1896, lives with her aunt at Albion, Iowa. The wife and mother dy- ing when the youngest child was but ten days old, the responsibilities of rearing this family devolved upon the husband and father, and, being a man of extra- ordinary grit and foresight, he has performed his work admirably, being en- abled to give his children good educations in the common schools, at the same time providing well for their every necessity materially, for he fully realized that without proper schooling they would have little chance in this world of specialization. Merrill was graduated from Highland Park College, Des Moines, and four daughters were graduated from the high school and two have taught school in this community. The three eldest children were born in Marshall county, the younger ones in South Dakota.
Claudius Harding grew up on the home farm and he has always known the meaning of hard work and has succeeded in the affairs of life as a result of his close application. He was united in marriage on March 15, 1906, with Ida Adelle Perin, who was born in Independence township, Jasper county, March 15, 1881. She attended the common schools of the neighborhood and for one year was in the Baxter high school. Her father, Henry I. Perin, a complete sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume, was one of the early settlers in this part of Iowa and he was a soldier in the war between the states. Her mother, known in her maidenhood as Almira Porter, was born in Scott county. Iowa. Both these parents reside in Baxter, Jasper county.
I203
JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
To Mr. and Mrs. Harding have been born one daughter, Gertrude Almira, March 29, 1907, and one son, Austin, April 9, 1909, both in Independence township, this county.
Politically, Mr. Harding is a Republican and he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, while Mrs. Harding holds her membership with the Reor- ganized Church of the Latter-Day Saints. In their cozy home is always to be found that rarest of earthly boons, contentment.
JOHN N. JONES.
Success in agriculture is not, as a rule, achieved as early in life as in other lines. Independence is reached in this line after much hard toil and years of continuous effort and those who climb very high up the ladder are getting pretty well along in years. While John N. Jones, of Clear Creek township, Jasper county, does not yet rank among our wealthiest and most widely known agriculturists, it is not too much to predict that future years will find him so, judging from the record he has already made in this line and knowing his habits of close application and minute knowledge of the various phases of husbandry.
Mr. Jones was born in Fulton county, Illinois, October 30, 1882, and there he spent the first ten years of his life, having moved with his parents to Story county, Iowa, and the family has been following general farming in this locality ever since. He is the son of T. M. and Matinden (Drummond) Jones, the father a native of Illinois and the mother of Indiana, the latter having come to Illinois when six months old, and there they both grew up, were educated and married. They now live in Independence township, this county.
John N. Jones grew up on the farm and when but a boy made a regular hand in the fields during crop seasons, and in the winter time he attended school in his neighborhood. On June 14, 1904, he was united in marriage with Edith C. Perry, who was born near Rhodes, Marshall county, Iowa, August 4, 1883, being the daughter of Harrison W. Perry and wife, a com- plete sketch of whom is to be found elsewhere in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been born four children, namely: Lela, born October 27, " 1904; Minnie, born December 30, 1906; Blanche, born December 7, 1908; John, Jr., born June 23, 1911. The two eldest were born in Story county, the two younger children in Jasper county.
I204
JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
Politically, Mr. Jones is a Democrat and both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Yeoman lodge at Collins. They keep their home supplied with good literature, and have not made the accumulation of sordid dollars the only or the chief aim of life.
WILLIAM HAMILTON SUMPTER, JR.
In this brief review will be found the record of one who has outstripped the less active plodders on the highway of life and achieved a career surpassed by few of his contemporaries, a career of marked success in agricultural affairs and a name which all who know him delight to respect owing to his upright life and his industry and public spirit.
William Hamilton Sumpter, well known farmer of Independence town- ship, was born in Mound Prairie township, this county, December 5, 1858, and here he grew to manhood and was educated, in fact, has spent his life here, having always been identified with the agricultural interests of the county in a way that has resulted in success to himself and to the general good of the community, for he has been a man of progressive ideas. He is the son of William H. and Priscilla (Wilder) Sumpter, the father a native of Tennessee and the mother of Indiana. They came to Jasper county, Iowa, in an early day and here established a home in which they spent the balance of their lives, dying here, he in 1868 and she in 1865. They became the par- ents of eight children, two of whom are living, namely: Mrs. Angeline Mc- Kean, who resides in Logan, Iowa ; Mrs. Louisa Topper, deceased; John is also deceased; Mrs. Polly Koepel, deceased; Ruben and Mrs. Olive Penquite are also deceased; William, of this review ; Mrs. Cynthia Mendenhall, deceased.
.
William H. Sumpter, Jr., was married in 1878 to Mary Miller, who was born in Clear Creek township, this county, January 22, 1859. She is the daughter of Robert and Rebecca (Kintz) Miller, the latter a native of Summit county, Ohio, the daughter of Joseph Kintz, the first settler of Clear Creek township. He was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, on January II, 1813, and he emigrated to Jasper county, Iowa, before it was surveyed, locat- ing some eighteen miles from his nearest neighbor when the country was a wild prairie and Indians were numerous. He entered one thousand acres of land near the present town of Clyde and resided there until his death, being a prominent man in the early affairs of the county. He married Mary Walker- burger, who was born in Pennsylvania May 2, 1812, and who died in this county. They were the parents of five children, namely: John W., of Col-
.
JASPER COUNTY, IOWA. I205
fax, this county; Commodore P., of this county; Sarah Signs, deceased ; Rebecca Buttinger, of Clear Creek township; Susan Anderson lives at Colfax.
To Mr. and Mrs. Sumpter have been born five children, one of whom is deceased, namely : Scott, born September 7, 1878, died May 4, 1907; Charlie, born February 12, 1880, is residing in Clear Creek township; Milo S. Sumpter, born October 1, 1881; Mrs. Cynthia Berry, born August 18, 1884, lives in Clear Creek township; Perry, born May 19, 1886. The wife of Scott, the oldest son, is also deceased, and their daughter, Mildred Sumpter, who was born May 19, 1903, makes her home with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Sumpter of this review.
Politically, Mr. Sumpter is a Democrat and he is at present trustee of Independence township and he has been a member of the school board in his district.
Mr. Sumpter has been very successful as a farmer and he is now the owner of one of the best farms in Independence township, consisting of two hundred acres, well improved in every respect and kept under a high state of cultivation. He has a pleasant and well furnished home and good outbuild- ings. He always keeps a good grade of live stock and he has made a success in his life work and has the esteem of his neighbors and acquaintances.
WILLIAM MANUEL KLINE.
Though a native of the Sucker state, William Manuel Kline, farmer of Independence township, Jasper county, has spent practically all his life in Iowa, where he has met with encouraging success all along the line, but he would have succeeded, no doubt, just as well had he continued to live in his native state, for he has the natural elements of success, industry, persistence and patience, without which little is done no matter how favorable the environ- ments are in which one finds himself.
Mr. Kline was born in Ogle county, Illinois, May 25, 1854, and when six weeks old his parents brought him to Clear Creek township, Jasper county, Iowa, where he grew up and has been a continuous resident to the present time. He is the son of Henry and Catherine (Weishaar) Kline, the father born in Pennsylvania and the mother in Ohio. They came to this locality in the early days of its history and here became fairly well established, clearing and developing a good farm and here they spent the rest of their lives, both dying in Clear Creek township, the father in 1864 and the mother in October,
,
I206
JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
I889. Their family consisted of three children, of whom, William M., of this sketch, was the eldest; the next in order of birth was Mrs. Rachael Corn- inger, who was born February 28, 1856, is living in Boone, Iowa; Mrs. Mary Axey C. Downing, born August 16, 1858, died April 9, 1883; the two latter were born in Clear Creek township, this county, and all were reared here, at- tending the old log school houses. Their parents endured all the privations of pioneer life.
William M. Kline knew what hard work was when but a boy, for he grew up in a new country where the wild native soil had to be developed, but he has made a success as a general farmer and is now the owner of a well improved farm of sixty acres in Independence township, on which is to be seen a new dwelling and all up-to-date improvements.
Mr. Kline was married on August 22, 1898, to Elva Jones, who was born in Ohio, November 29, 1872, being the daughter of James and Mary Ann (Conrad) Jones, both born in Ohio. The mother is now deceased, having passed away in 1910, and the father is a resident of Oklahoma. Ten children, an equal number of sons and daughters, were born to Mr. and Mrs. James Jones, namely : Maggie, Alpha, Elva (wife of Mr. Kline), Elnora, Maude, Charlie, William, Elmer, John and Howard.
To Mr. and Mrs. Kline have been born five children, namely: Bryan Peter, born August 5, 1899; Donald Towne, born February 3, 1901; Axey Elnora, born February 12, 1902; Mary Ann, born September 8, 1905; Minnie, born November 19, 1907. They were all born in Clear Creek township.
Politically, Mr. Kline is a Democrat, and he takes much interest in the welfare of the community in general ; he is especially interested in educational affairs, and he moved to Independence township on March 1, 1911, in order to secure better educational facilities for his children.
THOMAS CAULFIELD.
A member of one of the worthy old pioneer families of northern Jasper county and for many years a leading agriculturist of Independence township is Thomas Caulfield, a man who has had the sagacity to foresee the great future of this signally favored section of the Hawkeye state and he has been content to spend his life on his native soil and his efforts as a loyal citizen have profited alike himself and the community at large.
Mr. Caulfield was born in Independence township, this county, June 7,
-
I207
JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
1860. He grew to manhood here and was educated in the local schools. Turning his attention to farming when a boy, he followed that vocation up to a few years ago. His father, Thomas Caulfield, was born in Ireland and died in Jasper county, Iowa, having come to America in an early day. He married Jane Glass, who was born in Scotland and who is now residing with her son Thomas, of this review, her husband having died in 1890. They were married in Independence township, this county, where Mr. Caulfield settled in 1855 when a young man, soon after his arrival in the new world. There were two sons in this family: George, the eldest, was born August 2, 1858, and died October 8, 1910; and Thomas of this review. This family started life in a primitive way here when the country was new and in time had a good home.
Thomas Caulfield was married on November 26, 1890, to Carrie Butler, who was born in Independence township, this county, on September 13, 1871. She is the daughter of Charles and Eliza (Davey) Butler, the former born in Cambridgeshire, England, March 13, 1828, and died in Independence town- ship, this county, March 5, 1871. The mother was also born in Cambridge- shire, England, the date of her birth being August 15, 1833. She is residing with her son, R. P. Davidson, of Baxter, Iowa.
Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Butler, namely: William C. died in California at the age of twenty-two years ; John D. died in Illinois when six years old; Alfred A. died July 17, 1874; Carlotte Ann lives in Mitchell, South Dakota; Emma Caroline died in infancy ; Matilda Belle Marshall lives in Hennessey, Oklahoma; Rosella died when sixteen years of age; George Charles lives in Independence township, this county; John J. died when nine years old; Catharine Jemima Aillaud lives in Newton, Iowa; Carrie, wife of Mr. Caulfield of this review; R. P. Davidson, a son by a second marriage, is given a separate sketch in this volume.
To Mr. and Mrs. Caulfield three daughters have been born, namely : Vera, born October 23, 1894, will graduate from the high school at Baxter with the class of 1912; Irene, born July 8, 1901, is attending school at home; Margery, born April 25, 1903. These children were born and have been reared in this community.
Politically, Mr. Caulfield is a Republican and he is a member of the board of education at Baxter and, fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Baxter.
Mr. Caulfield is the owner of a substantial and pleasant home in Baxter, also owns one hundred and twenty acres of choice land in Independence town- ship, well improved and under a fine state of cultivation. Upon leaving the
I208
JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
farm he purchased a half interest in the meat market at Baxter, in which he was engaged until three years ago, when he sold out, since which time he has been conducting a poultry and egg business. He has met with a very satis- factory degree of success in whatever he has turned his attention to.
Mrs. Caulfield's parents came to America in 1853, were married in New York, later moving to near Chicago where they made their home for eleven years. In 1868 they purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Jasper county, Iowa, which place is now owned by R. P. Davidson, mentioned above.
L. E. FOWLER.
Owing to his extensive connection with the business and civic affairs of the northern part of Jasper county for many years, the name of L. E. Fowler needs no formal introduction to the readers of this history. In a straight- forward, conservative manner he has sought to perform the duties of a pro- gressive citizen while advancing his own interests and his support could always be depended upon in the furtherance of any laudable movement having for its object the welfare of the general public.
Mr. Fowler is a Hoosier by birth, having been born in Laporte, Laporte county, Indiana, on September 23, 1861, the scion of a sterling old pioneer family, his parents being T. L. and Letitia J. (Braden) Fowler, the father having been born in Marcellus, New York, on September 22, 1834, and the mother's birth occurred in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on March 3, 1843. They came to Story county, Iowa, in an early day and engaged in the hotel business at Collins, conducting one of the best and most popular hostelries in central Iowa, meeting with a large measure of success. Their hotel was destroyed by fire in the latter part of 1910, after which they purchased a pleasant and substantial home in Baxter, Jasper county, where they are now residing, re- tired from active life, their son, L. E., of this review, looking to their every need and comfort in their declining years. Their other son, Charles W., who was also born in Laporte, Indiana, his birth occurring on December 16, 1862, lives in South Bend, that state.
Mr. Fowler of this review grew to maturity in Laporte, Indiana, and re- ceived a good common school education, which has later in life been added to by systematic home study and miscellaneous reading and actual contact with the world. His parents being poor, he began life's struggles for himself at
1209
JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
the tender age of fourteen years. For a number of years he engaged in teach- ing, his last years in this line of endeavor being at Slater, Iowa. Having become a registered pharmacist in the meantime, he entered the drug business at Linnville, Iowa, remaining there eight years, during which he enjoyed a liberal trade with the town and surrounding country. Disposing of this busi- ness, he moved to Baxter, Jasper county, and engaged in hardware and under- taking, securing an embalmer's certificate for the state of Iowa in 1902. In 1903 he turned his attention to banking and is now cashier of the People's State Savings Bank and a director in the same. Much of the success and popularity of this safe and conservative institution, universally recognized as one of the soundest in this section of the state, has been due to his efforts, and although it is a new bank it has enjoyed a rapid growth, doing a general bank- ing business.
Mr. Fowler was married on September 19, 1893, to Etta Heath, a lady of culture and refinement and the representative of an excellent family. She was born in McCordsville, Hamilton county, Indiana, on October 2, 1863, and she came with her parents, Robert and Rachael (Shenkle) Heath, to Story county, Iowa, in an early day and there grew to maturity and obtained her education and for several years was one of Story county's best school teachers. These parents were both natives of Indiana, the father born on April 10, 1835, and the mother on March 27, 1837. They still reside on the old home farm in Story county, having long since become leading agriculturists of that locality. Mrs. Fowler is the eldest living of a family of five children, the others being, Belle Heath, Halleck Heath, Clarah (oldest), McNeu Heath (dead), and John Heath, of Meridian, Oklahoma.
One child, a bright lad, now attending school in Baxter, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Fowler on March 18, 1900, bearing the name Lowell Heath Fowler.
Mr. Fowler has an attractive and modern home in Baxter, tastily fur- nished and well supplied with the world's best literature. Politically, he is independent, subscribing to no man-made creed, but supporting those he deems worthy of trust. He has been honored by the people of this community with the secretaryship of the school board for the past six years, his long experience in the school room making him a valuable acquisition. He has also been a member of the town council of Baxter. Fraternally, Mr. Fowler belongs to Unity Lodge No. 520, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Baxter, and he has been secretary of the same. His church membership has always been with the Methodist Episcopals, but in the absence of that denomination in Baxter he affiliates with the Congregational church.
1210
JASPER COUNTY, IOWA.
THOMAS STINSON.
To a great extent the prosperity of the agricultural sections of our coun- try is due to the honest industry, the sturdy persistence, the unswerving per- severance and the wise economy which so prominently characterize the farm- ing element of the Hawkeye state. Among this class may be mentioned Thomas Stinson, who, by reason of years of indefatigable labor, the exercise of sound judgment and honest efforts, has not only acquired a well merited material prosperity, but has also richly earned the highest esteem of all with whom he is associated.
Thomas Stinson, one of the leading agriculturists and stock raisers of northern Jasper county and one of the leading and most public spirited citizens of Independence township, was born in Indiana, May 5, 1847, but the major part of his useful and industrious life has been spent in this township whither he came when a boy with his parents and where the rest of the family were born and reared. He is the son of Jeremiah and Delila (Wyatt) Stinson, the father born March 1, 1813; the mother was born on September 5, 1821, and both now deceased. These parents were married on May 6, 1840, and nine children were born to them, namely: Hannah M., born February 26, 1843, is . deceased ; Nancy A. born September 5, 1845, is deceased; Thomas, of this re- view ; William, born April 13, 1849; Isabell Dawson, born December 10, 1854, now deceased; George Luther, born November 22, 1852, is deceased; Annie, born June 26, 1856, lives at Clarinda, Iowa; David W., born April 14, 1858, lives in Independence township, this county; John Mitchell, born March 12, 1863, lives in Independence township.
Thomas Stinson grew up on the home place and received his education in the local schools. On April 12, 1874, he was united in marriage with Emily F. Sego, who was born in this township, on January 19, 1857, the daughter of Greenberry and Sarah D. (Goodman) Sego, who were among the earliest settlers of Jasper county, where they spent the latter part of their lives, both being now deceased. Here Mrs. Stinson grew to womanhood and was educated, being one of a family of eleven children, named as follows, five. being deceased : Solomon, who was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war, is deceased; John W. lives near Ira, this county; Thomas is de- ceased ; Nancy Ann Smith is living in Nebraska ; Martha Jane Lauderman lives in Perry, Iowa; James is deceased; Emily F., wife of Mr. Stinson of this review ; Mary Rose lives in Independence township; Samuel died in infancy, as did the two youngest children. This family was reared in Independence township.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.