USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. II > Part 48
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Mr. Hodges was born in North Carolina in 1854, the son of Welcome and Sarah (Bowles) Hodges, both deceased. Their family consisted of three sons and one daughter, namely : Mrs. Petrie, of Independence township; James, deceased; Jesse, deceased ; Pleasant, of this review. The family came to this county without funds, but being industrious and managing well they have succeeded. The children attended such schools as the early days afforded, but the factor of self-help has been most important with them.
Pleasant Hodges came to Iowa in 1868 and he has resided in Polk and Jasper counties ever since. He has made farming and stock raising his life work and he is now the owner of an excellent and well improved farm of one hundred and fifty-three acres, which he has placed under good improvements, and he has a cozy home.
Politically, Mr. Hodges is an independent voter, preferring to cast his ballot for the best man rather than the party. He is a member of the Church of the Brethren.
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Mr. Hodges was married on November 20, 1891, to Arminta Bowles, who was born in Nebraska, July 12, 1871. Her parents moved from that state to Marshall county, Iowa, where they lived fourteen years, and there her mother, Mrs. Lucinda (Shaffer) Bowles, still resides, her father, William Bowles, being deceased. There were five children in the Bowles family as follows: Martin, who lives in Jackson, Oregon; Arthur lives in Marshall county, Iowa; Mrs. Hodges, of this review; Joseph lives in Glendale, Oregon ; Charles lives in Marshalltown, Iowa.
Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hodges, named as follows : Leta died in infancy; Sadie, born in Marshall county, July 3, 1893; Lucy, born October 25, 1895; Martha, born July 31, 1898; David, born November 19, 1901. These children are receiving good educations and they give much promise for future success in life. The elder girls were graduated from the rural schools in June, 1911. The younger ones are attending the schools of the neighborhood. Their parents are willing to make every reasonable sacri- fice to educate their children and give them proper advantages.
JAMES TRUSSEL.
The people of Independence township, Jasper county, point to James Trussel as one of their most valued citizens, admiring him for his continued interest in the affairs of the locality and for his high moral character, for his life among them for nearly a half century may well be likened to an open book.
Mr. Trussel was born in Kosciusko county, Indiana, June 2, 1844. In March, 1853, he came with his parents to Iowa, located in Buchanan county and there followed farming. Purchasing additional land in Fayette county, the family moved from their log cabin which they had occupied when first beginning life in the new country to a more commodious frame dwelling located on the new purchase. Retaining the farm in Buchanan county, the elder Trussel thereby became a landlord in each of them. It was the forma- tion period of Iowa, and it can be truly said that this was one of the real pioneer families. Their neighbors were few and developed farms infrequently seen. Their trading points were Dubuque and Iowa City. In 1864 the fam- ily moved to Independence township, Jasper county, and have made this their home continuously to the present time, becoming active in the development of the same.
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Marshall Trussel, father of James of this review, was born in Vermont in 1805 and died in Independence township, Jasper county, Iowa, in 1865. Elizabeth (Belt) Trussel was born in Licking county, Ohio, and died in Missouri at the age of eighty-four years, having made her home with the sub- ject of this sketch for a period of twenty-five years, after the death of the father. There were six children in her family, as follows: Phineas, de- ceased; Aquilla lives in Kansas; Mary Pitkin is deceased; Elizabeth White lives in Independence, Missouri; Emma White is residing in Independence, Missouri.
James Trussel was married in Des Moines, Iowa, to Lydia Ellen Morton, who was born at Fredonia, Licking county, Ohio, December 9, 1843, and her death occurred on March II, 1880. This union resulted in the birth of three sons and two daughters, as follows: A. M., a well known and successful busi- ness man of Baxter, Jasper county, was born August 16, 1866, and has lived here practically ever since, having grown to manhood and attended the public schools here. In 1890 he left the farm and came to Baxter, working at the carpenter's trade with W. H. Bair, who was one of the successful contractors of this town. For four years they were associated in this work. In 1894 Mr. Trussel purchased the barber shop in Baxter and with the exception of one year, operated the same to April 1, 1912, when he sold out. In addition to the shop and equipment he owns the building adjoining and the undivided one- half of another good business house here; he also owns an interest in three hundred and twenty acres of choice land in Saskatchewan, Canada. He is a Socialist in political belief, but not in an offensive way. He has been a mem- ber of the town council. Fraternally, he belongs to Baxter Lodge No. 168, Knights of Pythias, of Baxter, to which his father, James Trussel, also be- longs. S. C. Trussel, the second child born to the subject of this sketch, now deceased, was born in Independence township, this county, May 29, 1868, and died November 15, 1891; Carrie Sherrard, born September 20, 1869, lives in Salt Lake City, Utah; Herman, born June 26, 1875, lives in Baxter; his wife was born in Independence township, May 29, 1868, and died October 5, 1908; Grace E. Bowen, born May 26, 1879, lives in Houston, Texas. All . these children were born in Jasper county except Herman, whose birth-place was in Adair county, Iowa. He is a member of Baxter Lodge No. 168, Knights of Pythias, Baxter, Iowa. By occupation he is a traveling salesman for the Sharples Cream Separator Co., of Chicago.
Mrs. Lydia Ellen (Morton) Trussel was born at Fredonia, Licking county, Ohio, December 9. 1843. Her father, Marcus A. Morton, was born in Middleborough, Massachusetts, April 3, 1800, died at Valparaiso, Indiana,
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December 18, 1855. Marcus A. Morton was married at Granville, Ohio, February 4, 1830, to Lydia Nicoll, where their eldest children were born: George M. Morton, November 7, 1830, residing at Le Moyne, Ohio; William W. Morton, born May 22, 1832, died at Newton, Iowa, May 20, 1901 ; Hiram N. Morton, born January 8, 1834, died at Winterset, Iowa; Sarah L. Morton, born December 18, 1836, of Horton, Kansas; the following children were born at Fredonia, Ohio: Elizabeth Morton, November 1, 1838, residing at Newton, Iowa; Silas W. Morton, born April 21, 1840, died at Council Bluffs, Iowa, December 19, 1907; Lysander Morton, born April 29, 1842, died at Fredonia, Ohio, October 22, 1842; Lydia Ellen, of this sketch, born Decem- ber 9, 1843, died at Newton, Iowa, March II, 1880; Julia E. Morton, born September 14, 1846, residing at Chicago, Illinois; Martha H. Morton, born April 22, 1848, died at Council Bluffs, Iowa, March 17, 1889. Mrs. Trussel's mother, Lydia (Nicoll) Morton, died at Newton, October 14, 1860. She and the children arrived at Newton October 10, 1856. She owned the farm five miles northeast of Newton. This farm remained in the family until 1901. Marcus Morton was of English descent, his wife was of Scotch descent.
James Trussel, the immediate subject of this sketch, was again married, his second wife being Hester A. Sego, who was born in Ohio and who is now living in Baxter, Iowa. There were three children born to this union, namely : Earl, born August 20, 1888; Ray, born November 24, 1890; Hazel, born Aug- ust 25, 1895.
Mr. Trussel followed farming until 1891, when he worked at the car- penter's trade, but the past fourteen years he has conducted a shoe-shop in Baxter. Politically, he is a Socialist. He filled the office of constable of his township for four years in a very creditable manner. He is the owner of the business block where he maintains his shop, the other half being owned by his son, A. M., mentioned above.
R. P. DAVIDSON.
Among the representative business men of Jasper county is R. P. David- son, of Baxter, now an extensive dealer in farming implements, but who has spent the major part of his life in connection with agricultural pursuits, own- ing a fertile and valuable landed estate in Independence township. He is carrying on his new line of business with that enterprise, discretion and fair- ness which are sure to find their sequel in definite success.
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Mr. Davidson was born in Independence township, this county, on Octo- ber 15, 1877, and here he has been content to spend his life. He is the son of William and Eliza (Butler) Davidson. The father, born in Scotland, in March, 1833, came to America when young and died in this township, October 25, 1899. The mother was born in Cambridgeshire, England, August 15, 1833, and is now making her home with the subject of this sketch, in Baxter. By a former marriage of the father two children were born, James D. David- son, of the state of Oregon, and a daughter, Jennie Aves, of State Center town- ship, Marshall county, Iowa. There were eleven children by a former mar- riage of Mrs. Davidson, as follows : William C. Butler died in California when twenty-two years of age; John D. died in Illinois when six years old; Alfred A. died July 17, 1874; Charlotte Ann Rand lives in Mitchell, South Dakota ; Emma Caroline died in infancy ; Matilda Belle Hennessy lives in Oklahoma ; Rosetta died when sixteen years old; George Charles Butler lives in Inde- pendence township, this county ; John J. died when nine years old; Catherine Jemima Aillaud, born in May, 1869, lives in Newton, Iowa; Carrie Caulfield, born September 13, 1871, lives in Baxter, Iowa. The subject of this sketch was the only child by the marriage with Mr. Davidson.
R. P. Davidson was married on June 20, 1900, to Mary Kracht, who was born in Independence township, this county, April 1, 1878. Conrad Kracht, her father, was born in Germany in 1850. Her mother. Emma Harre, was born in Wisconsin July 30, 1858; both these parents reside in Baxter. The father emigrated to the United States when young and he became well estab- lished in the new world through his industry and good management. His family consisted of two sons and six daughters, namely: Mary, wife of Mr. Davidson; William H., born November 21, 1881, is living on the home farm in Independence township: Pauline A. Clark, born August 21, 1883, lives in Marshalltown, Iowa: Amanda S. Conwell, born June 3, 1885, lives in Inde- pendence township: Helen L., born March 24, 1887, lives in Marshalltown; Lydia H. Miller, born December 18, 1889, lives in Independence township: Ella F., born May 6, 1893: Edwin C. is attending school at Baxter. Lydia H. was graduated from the high school at Baxter with the class of 1909 and Ella with the class of 191I.
Mr. and Mrs. Davidson have one daughter, Pearl, whose birth occurred on March 14. 1902 ; one son has also been born to them. Oscar, whose date of birth is recorded as September 24, 1905. They were both born on the farm on which their father first saw the light of day, in Independence township.
The Davidsons have been well known in this township from pioneer times, the parents of the subject having been among the early settlers here.
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The son, R. P., attended the local schools and worked on the home farm when a boy, in fact he has always been engaged in farming pursuits up to 1907, when he moved to Baxter, where he has a pleasant home, but he is still the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of Independence township's best land, which he has kept well improved and well tilled. In March, 1911, he pur- chased an implement business in Baxter and, under the firm name of Davidson & Earley, conducts a general agricultural machinery business which is rapidly growing and in which they are very successful, carrying a large, complete, modern and carefully selected stock and their patrons come from all parts of the county and from the southern part of Marshall county.
Politically, Mr. Davidson is a Republican, and is at present a member of the school board at Baxter. He is a member of Baxter Camp No. 5642, Mod- ern Woodmen of America, of Baxter. Mrs. Davidson is a member of the Congregational church at Baxter. They have made a host of warm personal friends since moving here.
CHARLES BURDICK.
The greatest results in life are often attained by simple means and the exercise of the ordinary qualities of common sense and perseverance; but practical industry, wisely and vigorously applied, never fails of success. The every-day life, with its multiform duties, affords every opportunity for the acquisition of experience of the best kind, and its most travel-worn ways pro- vide an earnest worker with ample scope for effort and improvement. This fact having been realized by Charles Burdick, the able and popular cashier of the State Savings Bank of Baxter, and one of the well known citizens of „Jasper county, he seized the small opportunities that he encountered on the labyrinthine road of life, permitting no obstacles to bar his advance toward the ultimate goal of success-never attained by the inert, craven and ambitionless plodder.
Mr. Burdick was born near Crescent City, Iroquois county, Illinois, September 24, 1876. He is the son of Giles E. and Mary (Grosvenor) Bur- dick, both born in Ohio, where they spent their childhood, moving to Iroquois county, Illinois, in an early day and there became well established. Their home is now at Watseka, that state. They became the parents of four sons, three of whom are living at this writing, namely: Charles of this review being the eldest ; Ernest died at the age of two years; Elbert, who was born in 1880, is assistant cashier of the Citizens State Bank at Watseka, Illinois; Arthur,
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born in 1887, lives near Watseka. These children were all born, reared and educated in Iroquois county, Illinois.
Charles Burdick was married on May II, 1910, to Gertrude Thelan, who was born at Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie county, Iowa, on June 29, 1880, and there she spent her girlhood and attended school. She is the daughter of John and Catherine (Leick) Thelan, both natives of Germany and both born in the year 1852, and there they grew up and were married, coming to America in early life and locating at Council Bluffs, Iowa. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John Thelan, eight of whom are living.
Charles Burdick has taken an active interest in the affairs of Baxter since coming here and is active in Republican politics. He is at present treasurer of the town of Baxter and also treasurer of the independent school district of Baxter. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Baxter. Mrs. Burdick is a member of the Catholic church at Rhodes. They own a cozy and modernly furnished home in Baxter.
Mr. Burdick is essentially a self-made man. His early education being limited, in fact he never attended school after he was twelve years of age, he has educated himself by actual contact with the business world and by miscel- laneous home reading. When but a boy he went to Chicago and in that great metropolis got his start in the business world, and from there he came to State Center, Iowa, October 20, 1897, and there he engaged in the barbering business. In January, 1902, he became cashier of the State Savings Bank of Baxter, which position he has continued to hold to the present, discharging his duties with a fidelity, honesty and precision that has won the hearty com- mendation of the officials, stockholders and patrons of that popular institution. He seems to be the possessor of all the qualifications necessary to a successful cashier.
GEORGE H. PEASE.
In placing the name of George H. Pease, well known jeweler, in the front rank of Baxter's business men simple justice is done to a biographical fact, recognized throughout Jasper county. A man of judgment, sound discretion and business ability of a high order, he has managed with tactful success important enterprises and so impressed his individuality upon the community as to gain recognition among its leading citizens and public-spirited men of affairs. He is the representative of one of our worthy pioneer families that
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assisted in paving the way for the present-day advanced civilization and to whom we of the aftermath owe such a debt of gratitude.
Mr. Pease was born in Poweshiek township, Jasper county, on February 22, 1875, and here he grew to manhood and received his education in the public schools, and here he has continued to reside. He is the son of Hugh Ander- son and Sarah Ellen (Meyers) Pease, the father born in Mansfield, Ohio, January 12, 1842. They were married on February 27, 1866, and they are at present living in Colfax, Iowa. Andrew Pease, Jr., grandfather of the subject, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, October I, 1804, and he was married on January 7, 1830, to Joanna M. Cook, near Mansfield, Ohio, and from there they moved to Jasper county, Iowa, in 1856 among the early settlers and here established a good home and became well known. Grand- father Pease was a patriotic man and he was a member of the famous "Gray Beard" regiment during the Civil war, having been mustered into service at Newton on December 15, 1862, and he was a private in Company I, Thirty- seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry; the hardships of soldier life were too much for his advanced years and he died while in the service at Alton, Illinois, while guarding Confederate prisoners. He had the distinction of being a soldier in the Mexican war also. His son, Hugh A. Pease, father of the sub- ject, was also a soldier in the Union army, enlisting in the Fortieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, proving a faithful soldier and at the expiration of his term of enlistment he received an honorable discharge. There were also other members of this family in the Civil war. The paternal grandparents of the subject moved to Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1773. It was then a wild, unbroken wilderness, and in addition to hardships incident to the life of such pioneers, they were in the region laid waste by the ravages of a nine years' war. The subject of this sketch is in possession of a genealogical record of the family extending over three hundred and fifty years. All branches of the family were early settlers of America and in all walks of life they have been more or less prominent in each generations wherever they have dispersed.
Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hugh A. Pease, all of whom are living, namely : Frank G., born December 10, -, lives in Colfax; George H., of this sketch; John M., born October 18, 1876, lives at Sacred Heart, Minnesota ; Maude Mary, born May 5, 1882 ; Nellie, born May 30, 1886; the last two named are at home in Colfax. They were all born, reared and edu- cated in Jasper county.
George H. Pease followed farming until 1900, when he engaged in the jewelry business at Charter Oak, Iowa, also conducted the same business at Farmer and Malcom prior to coming to his present location at Baxter, Iowa.
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He has been very successful in this line of endeavor and has built up a large and growing trade with the town and county, carrying a full line of jewelry, silverware, cut-glass, china and notions. Always carefully selecting an up-to- date and attractive stock, and owing to the courteous, considerate and hon- est treatment accorded all customers, the prestige and popularity of this store has ever advanced until a very large business is now the result. Besides his store, Mr. Pease owns a modern and well-furnished home.
Mr. Pease was married on November 17, 1910, to Myrtle M. Webb, who was born in Independence township, this county, on December 5, 1883. She was graduated from the Baxter high school with the class of 1902, and she has spent her life in her home community.
Politically, Mr. Pease is a Republican and, fraternally, he belongs to Baxter Lodge No. 168, Knights of Pythias, and Mrs. Pease is a member of Baxter Temple No. 202, Pythian Sisters. They are pleasant young people, genial, neighborly and are prominent in the social life of the community.
FRANK W. TRAMEL.
A man who boldly faces the responsibilities of life and by determined and untiring energy carves out for himself an honorable success exerts a strong influence upon the lives of all who follow him. Such men constitute the foundation of our republican institutions and are the pride of our civilization. Such a man is Frank W. Tramel, one of the best known and most enterprising of the young farmers and stock men of Clear Creek township. There is peculiar interest attached to a resume of his career in view of the fact that he has here spent his life and also because he is a most creditable representa- tive of one of our best pioneer families, the name Tramel having been well known in Jasper county through all its stages of development.
Frank W. Tramel was born in Clear Creek township, this county, on the old homestead where he now lives. January 27. 1871, and here he grew up and was educated and has always followed agricultural pursuits in this community. His father, J. J. Tramel, was born in Kosciusko county, Indiana, November 26, 1842, and is deceased. When ten years of age he came to Clear Creek township, this county, with his father, they being, as stated above, among the earliest settlers here. The date of their arrival was October 10, 1852. The paternal grandfather, W. A. B. Tramel, was born in North Carolina, in Febru- ary, 1802, and he died on the old homestead in Clear Creek township, Jasper
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county, Iowa, in April, 1897. His wife, who was known in her maidenhood as Cynthia Alexander, was born in Indiana in 1804, and her death occurred on March 3, 1878. J. J. Tramel, mentioned above, married Hannah Crawford, who was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, August 30, 1849, and she emi- grated to Poweshiek township, Jasper county, Iowa, with her father in an early day and here spent the rest of her life, dying in 1891. Frank W., of this review, was the only child of this union. The father enlisted in the Union army from Clear Creek township, August 22, 1862, in Company D, Fortieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served very faithfully for three years, during which he fought at Port Gibson and in the siege of Vicksburg. He was honorably discharged and was mustered out at Davenport, Iowa.
On March II, 1896, Frank W. Tramel was united in marriage with Grace B. Jeffries, who was born in Independence township, Jasper county, Iowa, July 26, 1872, the daughter of A. E. and Emily H. (Keyes) Jeffries, the father born in Kosciusko county, Indiana, January 13, 1846, and is still living in Jasper county, at the town of Ira; the mother was born in Benton county, Iowa, August 9, 1850, and died in Independence township, this county, April 22, 1904. They were early settlers in Jasper county and became well known and highly respected. Their family consisted of four children, namely : Grace, wife of Mr. Tramel, of this review, is the eldest; Vesta Pease, born May 22, 1874, of Poweshiek township, Jasper county; Heziah, born February II, 1876, lives at Des Moines; Xanthe, born December 21, 1877, lives at Burwell, Nebraska; she was born in Crawford county, Iowa, but the others were all born in Jasper county.
To Mr. and Mrs. Tramel two children have been born, a daughter and a son, namely : Mildred Grace, whose birth occurred on May 31, 1898; Howard James, born January 18, 1902, the former in Independence township and the latter on the old Tramel homestead.
Mr. Tramel has been very successful in his life work and he is the owner of one hundred and seventy acres in Independence township, on which are two sets of good buildings, and he also has eighty acres in the home farm, which consists of one hundred and ninety acres, and his improvements on all his land are modern and first class, his home being commodious, pleas- ant and well furnished. He carries on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale and in a manner that stamps him as being fully abreast of the times.
Politically, Mr. Tramel is a Republican, and he has always manifested a lively interest in local affairs. He is at present a member of the township board of trustees, and he has been a member of the school board. He belongs
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to Camp No. 5660, Modern Woodmen of America, of Ira, also the Yeomen lodge of that place, and he and his wife are members of the Disciples of Christ of Ira. They are pleasant people to meet, broad-minded, liberal and can claim a wide circle of acquaintances and friends.
LEO P. BALE.
To attain a worthy citizenship by a life that is always honored and re- spected even from childhood deserves more than mere mention. It is no easy task to resist the many temptations which assail and beset the pathway of youth and early manhood and plant a character in the minds and hearts of associates that will remain untarnished for all time to come. One may take his place in public life through some vigorous stroke of public policy, and even remain in the hearts of friends and neighbors, but to take the same position by dint of the practice of an upright life and without a craving for exaltation and popularity, is worthy of the highest commendation. One of the highly respected and industrious young men of Baxter, Jasper county, is Leo P. Bale, who was born in Newton township, this county, on May 3, 1886, and here he grew to manhood and received his education in the common schools. He has always resided in this locality, of which his parents were early settlers, his mother being eleven years old and his father twenty-one when they came here. He is the son of John and Mary (Donnely) Bale, the father born in Rockford county, Illinois, on July 10, 1853, while the mother's birth oc- curred in Louisiana on July 6, 1855. She came North when a child and grew to womanhood in Jasper county, Iowa, was educated in the old-time schools and here she and Mr. Bale were married and he spent the rest of her life here, dying in Newton on April 28, 1907. The father of the subject grew to manhood in Illinois and about 1864 came to Jasper county, Iowa, and mar- ried and here devoted his life to farming. He is now living in Baxter, making his home with his daughter, Mrs. Lizzie K. Bailey, she being the eldest of a family of seven children, her birth occurring in Newton, Iowa, on January 17, 1881; the others are: William, born September 23, 1883, lives in this county ; Leo P., of this sketch ; Mrs. Henry Bunse, born April 28, 1889, lives near Newton; John, born February 21, 1892, lives in Baxter; Vernon, born August 23, 1895, lives in Newton; Maurice, born August 13, 1898, lives in Newton. All these children were born, reared and educated in Jasper county.
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