USA > Iowa > Jasper County > Past and present of Jasper County, Iowa, Vol. II > Part 50
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Mr. Hutson was married in March, 1860, to Miss Southern, and seven children were born to them, named as follows: William is deceased; Edwin died in infancy ; D. L. lives in Mexico ; Frank lives in Butte, Montana ; John's residence is unknown; Alonzo lives at Mingo, Jasper county ; Maude is de- ceased. The two eldest children were born in Long Grove, Jasper county, the younger ones in Clear Creek township, and they were reared and educated in this county.
Politically, Mr. Hutson is a Republican, and while he has always been interested in public affairs, he has never been an office seeker. He and his wife are members of the Episcopal church. Mr. Hutson has retired from active life and is making his home with the family who tends his place. He is regarded as one of the best read men in his community, having been an avid
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reader of current literature, up to a few years ago, when his eyesight gave way. He is a man whom everybody speaks in the highest terms of, his life having been singularly exemplary.
GEORGE C. BUTLER.
Among those men of Jasper county, who by the mere force of their per- sonality have forged their way to the front ranks of that class of citizens who may properly be termed progressive, is George C. Butler, who has a fine farm in Independence township which he has taken a great interest in and which he has improved in a most systematic way until it is equal to any in the vicinity where it is so admirably located.
Mr. Butler was born at Downers Grove, DuPage county, Illinois, De- cember 4, 1866. When a mere child he came with his parents to Jasper county, Iowa, and has been a continuous resident here since, having devoted his life to farming, having accumulated, by hard work and good management, three hundred acres of choice land in Jasper county and one hundred and sixty acres in Marshall county, which he has kept well improved and highly cultivated, carrying on general farming and stock raising in a manner that stamps him as being fully abreast of the times. He has a modern and attrac- tive home and everything about his place denotes good taste, thrift and the exercise of good judgment.
George C. Butler is the son of Charles and Eliza (Davey) Butler, both natives of Cambridgeshire, England, the father born on March 31, 1828, and the mother on August 13, 1833, the former dying in Jasper county, Iowa, March 5, 1871, and the latter is living with her youngest son, R. P. Davidson, in Baxter. There were eleven children in this family, five of whom are still living, namely : William C. 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 is residing at Mitchell, South Dakota; Emma Caroline died in infancy ; Matilda Belle Marshall lives in Hennessey, Oklahoma; Ro- sella died when sixteen years old; George Charles, of this review; 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 ; and R. P. Davidson, of Baxter, whose sketch appears in this book.
George C. Butler, of this review, was married July 12, 1893, to Fannie Phipps, who was born in Kentucky, December 28, 1869, and when quite
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young she came with her parents to Iowa, the family locating in Jasper county. She is the daughter of James and Mary (Upchurch) Phipps, both born in Kentucky, the father on June 14, 1837; he is residing at Marceline, Missouri, the mother having died in Jasper county at the age of forty-two years. They were the parents of seven daughters and two sons, namely : Theodosia died in infancy; Felix is living in Kellogg, Jasper county (see his sketch in this work) ; Lizzie Amy is living in Colorado; Fannie, wife of the subject; Emma Perin lives in Independence township, this county; Anna Thompson lives in Baxter; John is deceased; Mary Jane died at the age of thirteen years ; Ellen Wolfe is living in Colorado.
To Mr. and Mrs. Butler eight children have been born, seven of whom are living, namely : Charles J., born May 7, 1894; Glen D., born October 5, 1895; Alfred Wayne, born March 29, 1899; Harry, born December 18, 1901 ; Mabel, born December 20, 1903; Louie, born July 21, 1905, died March 8, 1907; Aillen, born January 25, 1908; Fred, born January 30, 19II.
Politically, Mr. Butler is a Republican, and he takes a good citizen's interest in local affairs. He has served as school director.
ALBERT A. GIPSON.
The gentleman whose name heads this paragraph is regarded as one of the progressive young agriculturists of Independence township, where he has spent all his life. His well directed efforts in practical every-day affairs, his capable management of his business interests and his sound judgment have brought to him prosperity and his life demonstrates what may be accom- plished by any man of energy and ambition who is not afraid to work and has the perseverance to continue his labors in the face of any discouragements which may seem to arise. In all the relations of life he has commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he has been brought into contact.
Mr. Gipson was born in Independence township, Jasper county, Novem- ber 22, 1876. He is the son of George and Emma (Davey) Gipson, the father born in Lincolnshire, England, May 2, 1831, and the mother in Cambridge- shire, England, July 21, 1839.
Albert A. Gipson, of this sketch, grew up on the home farm, where he assisted with the general work when a boy, and during the winter months he attended the neighboring schools. On April 30, 1901, he was united in mar- riage with Ella Vansice, who was born in Independence township, on the
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farm where she now resides, June 18, 1877. She is the daughter of John M. and Malinda (Richmond) Vansice, the father born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, May 12, 1855, and the mother in Jasper county, Iowa, on Jan- uary II, 1860. The father was thirteen years old when he left his native state and emigrated to Jasper county with his parents in 1868 and here he grew to manhood, received his education and has resided here ever since. A full sketch of him appears elsewhere.
To Mr. and Mrs. Gipson have been born five children, namely : Marvin Hewitt, born April 9, 1893; Merrill Alfred, born April 7, 1905 ; a daughter, born April 17, 1908, died three days later, unnamed; Hazel Wanda, born June 3, 1910; Helen Myrtle, born March 4, 1912.
Mr. and Mrs. Gipson own the old Vansice homestead in Independence township, which consists of one hundred and sixty acres of excellent land, which is well improved and well cultivated, and here they carry on success- fully general farming and stock raising, keeping good grades of stock.
Politically, Mr. Gipson is a Republican and he has been road supervisor of Malaka township. He is a member of Baxter Lodge No. 168, Knights of Pythias, of Baxter.
SQUIRE W. STEVENS.
One of the well known young men of the vicinity of Collins, Jasper county, is Squire W. Stevens, who, while the days of vigorous manhood were still with him, has improved them by close application to duty instead of wasting them in idleness or "riotous living," as was said of the prodigal, one or the other of which so many of our young men of today are guilty of, and thus, after several years of good management and hard work, Mr. Stevens finds himself well on the road to prosperity, the future promising much for him.
On July 3, 1883, Mr. Stevens was born in Polk county, Iowa, grew to maturity on the home farm, and has always followed farming. He obtained his education in the common schools. He is the son of Bedford and Anneta (Hanks) Stevens. The father, a native of this state, was long known as one of the leading farmers and stock men of his locality, raising large numbers of excellent live stock of various grades. The subject has six half brothers and half sisters by a former marriage of the father. There are ten full brothers and sisters of the Stevens family, named as follows: Bradford; Squire W.,
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of this sketch; Quincy, Edith, Jennie, William, Ethel, Iva, Winford, Velma and Thelma.
Squire W. Stevens was married on March 29, 1905, to Ardella C. Kline, who was born in Clear Creek township, this county, May 8, 1881. She was reared on the farm where she now resides, and, like Mr. Stevens, was edu- cated in the common schools of her neighborhood. She is the daughter of Peter and Lydia Ann (Deeter) Stevens, the father being one of the earliest settlers in Jasper county, having moved with his family to Clear Creek town- ship in 1856. The mother was born in Ohio and her death occurred in Clear Creek township, this county, May 31, 1893, when fifty-four years, eight months and eight days old. There was but one child in the Kline family besides Mrs. Stevens, Commodore, who was born in Clear Creek township, July 2, 1864, and died February 28, 1899.
Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stevens, namely: Virgil, born June 25, 1907, and Harold Lee, born September 16, 1909.
Mr. and Mrs. Stevens are the owners of two hundred acres of Clear Creek township's choice land, which is well improved and under a fine state of cultivation, their valuable and attractive place being known as "Shadeland." In connection with general farming, Mr. Stevens keeps a large herd of Chester White hogs, one of the finest in the state, and owing to the superior quality of his stock they find a very ready market and are much admired by all who see them.
Politically, Mr. Stevens is a Democrat and he and his wife are members of the Christian church at Collins. He is also a member of the Yeomen and Mystic Workers at Collins, and he takes a leading part in all matters pertain- ing to the general good of the community.
ALFRED D. GIPSON.
Tireless energy and honesty of purpose seem to be the chief characteris- tics of A. D. Gipson, one of the leading farmers of Independence township, Jasper county, where he has been content to spend his entire life. He is a member of one of the oldest and most highly honored pioneer families of this locality, he and other members of which have played well their parts in the general development of the northern part of this county from the early pio- neer days to the present.
Mr. Gipson's birth occurred here on November 22, 1876. He is the son
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of George and Emma (Davey) Gipson, the father born in Lincolnshire, England, May 2, 1831, and died July 17, 1903 ; the mother was born in Cam- bridgeshire. England, on July 21, 1839, and is still living, making her home with her son, the subject. These parents grew to maturity, were educated in the common schools of England and their marriage took place in New York state on May 25, 1856. There they lived one year and a half, then came west, locating near Joliet, Illinois, then to Missouri and back to Illinois and later moving to Jasper county, Iowa, being pioneers here and they purchased eighty acres of land here, for which they paid six dollars per acre. They later added to their holdings and became well established and influential in this community. They became the parents of eleven children, all living but one, namely : Elizabeth Ann, born June 14, 1857, was thrice married, first, to Thomas Alexander Jones on December 24, 1878; his death occurred on December 16, 1879, and she married Samuel A. Shellady on October 12, 1881; his death occurred August 16, 1901, and she married J. B. Hampton in IgII; she lives at Lincoln, Nebraska. Emogene Izora Gipson was born April 26, 1859, married B. F. Johnson on May 2, 1883, and her home is at Boone, Iowa; Adeline Louise, born December 2, 1861, married Richard Thomas on August 12, 1884, and her death occurred on May 17, 1887; Mary Jennett, born April 25, 1864, married C. A. McCreary on November 12, 1884, and they live in Toledo, Iowa ; Susan Amelia, born June 10, 1866, lives in Los Angeles, California; Lillian Samantha, born February II, 1869, mar- ried Frank W. Hampton on January 20, 1897, and they live in Lincoln, Ne- braska; George Henry, born January 15, 1871, lives in Independence, Iowa ; Dora Musetta, born September 9, 1874, married John Scott on October 28, 1896, and they live in Monroe, Iowa; Albert Adalbert and Alfred Delford, twins, the latter the subject of this sketch, were born, as before stated, on November 22, 1876; the former married Ella Vansice on April 30, 1901 ; both these sons live in Independence township, Jasper county, Iowa ; Myrtle Edna, born January 27, 1882, married Archibald Donaldson on December 24, 1891. All these children were born in Independence township, this county, with the exception of the three oldest, who were born in Illinois.
Alfred D. Gipson, the immediate subject of this sketch, was reared on the home farm and educated in the common schools. When but a boy he assisted with the general work about the home place which he helped develop and on which he still lives, successfully operating the same, cultivating two hundred and seventy-five acres in a manner that stamps him as fully abreast of the times as a general farmer and stock raiser, having kept the place well im- proved in every respect and rotated his crops so as to retain the original fertil-
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ity of the soil, and there is today no more desirable place in Independence township.
Mr. Gipson is a public-spirited man and has always supported all worthy measures. He has been constable of Independence township for four years and has given eminent satisfaction in this office. Politically, he is a Republican. He belongs to Unity Lodge No. 520, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Baxter, also Baxter Lodge No. 168, Knights of Pythias, and Baxter Camp No. 5642, Modern Woodmen of America, at Baxter.
Personally, Mr. Gipson is a man of fine sentiments, good-natured and whole-souled and it is safe to say that all who know him are his friend.
GEORGE H. GIPSON.
In the collection of material for the biographic department of this pub- lication there has been a constant aim to use a wise discrimination in regard to the selection of subjects and to exclude none worthy of representation in its pages, and now that the biographer has come to the name of George H. Gipson, one of the worthy citizens of Independence township, he takes pleasure in giving the reader something of his life history and that of his honored family on both sides of the house, for they have been well known in this locality since the days of the early settler.
Mr. Gipson was born in the township where he still resides, on January 15, 1871, and here he grew to manhood and has always been identified with the agricultural life of this community. He is the son of George and Emma (Davey) Gipson, both born in England, the father in Lincolnshire in 1831 and the mother in Cambridgeshire. The elder Gipson came to America in 1853 and settled near Joliet, Illinois, and later came to Jasper county, Iowa, where his death occurred on July 17. 1903; the mother is still living, making her- home with her son, A. D., of Independence township. Their family con- sisted of eleven children, ten of whom are living, namely: Lizzie Hampton, of Lincoln, Nebraska; Emma Johnson, of Boone, Iowa; Addie Thomas died at Iowa City ; Mrs. C. A. McCreary lives at Toledo, Iowa; Susan lives at Los Angeles, California ; Mrs. F. W. Hampton lives in Lincoln, Nebraska ; George H., of this review; Mrs. J. A. Scott, of Monroe, Iowa; Albert and Alfred, twins, both live in Independence township; Mrs. Myrtle Donaldson also lives in Independence township.
George H. Gipson, of this review, grew up on the home farm and was
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educated in the local schools, and on February 23, 1911, he was united in marriage with Mattie Perry, who was born near Laurel, Marshall county, Iowa, January 21, 1877, the daughter of Harrison W. and Minerva (Barbee) Perry, the father born in Belmont county, Ohio, February 27, 1849, from which state he came with his parents to Marshall county, Iowa, in an early day and there the family became well established and have been well known there to the present day. He and Minerva Barbee were married in 1874. She was born in Jasper county, this state, on December 25, 1853, her parents being among the earliest settlers in this county, having settled near Newton, and here the father, John Barbee, died when about seventy-four years of age, and the mother, whose maiden name was Olive Newton, also died in this county when seventy years of age. Their family consisted of eleven children, six of whom are living.
Mrs. Gipson is one of a family of seven children, named as follows : Mary died when five years of age; Marshall, born in Laurel, Iowa, in May, 1878, is living at home; Edith Jones, born August 4, 1883, is living in Clear Creek township; Oscar, born in May, 1886, is living in Independence township, this county ; Odessa, born May 14, 1894, is living at home.
George H. Gipson has been very successful in his life work, being a hard- working, conscientious, straightforward farmer. He is the owner of a valuable and well improved farm of one hundred and fifty-five acres of land in Inde- pendence township, on which stand a substantial dwelling and convenient outbuildings. Fraternally, he belongs to the Baxter Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America.
GEORGE E. MASON.
One of the progressive young farmers of Hickory Grove township, Jasper county, is George E. Mason. Reared to agricultural pursuits, he early became familiar with the details of farm labor, and in the public schools, which he attended at intervals during his minority, he received an education which has enabled him to transact successfully the duties of an active and useful life, and, judging from the excellent start which he has made so early, the future must needs be replete with large success in his chosen field of endeavor, for he has never allowed obstacles to stand between him and the goal sought and he believes in doing well whatever is worth doing at all.
Mr. Mason was born in Keopah, Nebraska, October 21, 1885, and he is the son of Thomas S. and Laura Gertrude (Gasseburg) Mason, the father
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born in Davenport, Iowa, and the mother in Richland township, Jasper county, Iowa. The father has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, and he came to Jasper county when a lad and bought a place in Hickory Grove township, one hundred and sixty acres. He soon had it under proper improvements and cultivation and here established a very comfortable home and there he re- mained until 1908, when he bought a farm, one hundred and sixty acres more, a mile northwest of Grinnell, Iowa. He is a member of the Methodist church. His family consists of three children, George E., of this review, who is the oldest ; Muriel H., and Winnifred Margaret.
Besides the common school education mentioned above, which the sub- ject obtained in Hickory Grove township, he later went to the high school at Newton and for one year studied at the University of Iowa at Ames. After finishing his schooling he returned home and took up farming in 1908 and has since managed the homestead for his father in a manner that reflects much credit upon his ability and his industry, for he is always employed, finding little time for other things than the affairs on the farm, and that is the reason that the place has such a clean, up-to-date appearance and produces such abundant harvests from year to year.
Mr. Mason was married on May 6, 1908, to Martha McGee, who was born in Newton township, the daughter of Robert and Dorcas McGee, early settlers of Jasper county and a highly respected and well known family here. One child has been born to this union, Marjorie. Mr. Mason is a member of the Congregational church.
KRUEGER BROTHERS.
All callings, whether humble or exalted, may be productive of some measure of success, if enterprise and industry, coupled with a well directed purpose, form the motive force of the person directing the same, and in no case is this fact more apparent than in agricultural pursuits. It is a well authenticated fact that success comes as the result of legitimate and well ap- . plied energy, unflagging determination and perseverance as well as the above enumerated qualities. When a course of action is once decided upon these attributes are essential. Success is never known to smile upon the idler or dreamer and she never courts the loafer and only those who have diligently sought her favor are crowned with her blessings. In tracing the history of the prosperous and influential agriculturists whose names form the caption of this biographical review, the Krueger brothers, we find that the above
MR. AND MRS. HENRY KRUEGER
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named elements have entered very largely into their makeup and therefore we are not surprised at the large and ever-growing success which they have attained.
William Krueger was born in Allamakee county, Iowa, on November 16, 1859, and Theodore Krueger was born at the same place on October 12, 1863. They have spent practically all their lives in Jasper county, having come here with their parents forty-four years ago and have had their home here con- tinuously to the present time, during which they have played well their parts in the development of the locality, doing much for the general good while advancing their own interests and they are thus deserving of the high esteem in which they are held by all who have known them, either in a business or social way.
They are the sons of Henry and Dora (Sanderman) Krueger, both natives of Germany, and it is no doubt true that their thrifty German ances- tors have had a great deal to do with the shaping of the characters of the subjects. These parents grew up in the fatherland, and were educated there. Emigrating to the United States when young, they were married here and spent the balance of their lives, after establishing a good home, in the new world and giving their children every advantage, the father's death occurring on May 3, 1907, at the advanced age of eighty-six years and one month, and the mother lived to be six months older, dying on October 1, 1906. They were a grand old couple, honest, hospitable and neighborly, and were greatly esteemed by all who knew them.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Krueger, of whom three are living in Independence township, Jasper county, namely: Charles died in this township in 1879; Henry, born December 20, 1856, lives in this vicinity, and William and Theodore, the two latter being the youngest of the family.
The subjects grew to maturity on the home farm and assisted with the general work about the place when but mere boys and the excellent training they received from their able father in agricultural and stock raising affairs has stood them well in hand in subsequent life. They obtained their educa- tion in the local common schools and have later in life supplemented the same by home reading in a general way and by actual contact with the business world, until today we find them well versed on all current topics.
By thrift and industry, good management and economy these gentlemen have accumulated valuable land aggregating eleven hundred and twenty acres of choice ground in Marshall and Jasper counties, with six sets of first class (79)
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improvements, their buildings being kept in good repair and their land well fenced, tilled, fertilized and up-to-date in every respect, so that the maximum amount of products are secured with the minimum labor. Much modern farming machinery is to be found in their fertile fields and many varieties of excellent live stock; in fact, no small part of their annual income is secured through the judicious raising, feeding and marketing of stock. They live on one of their farms east of Baxter and it is a model in every respect. They have every convenience about their farms and their home is well fur- nished. Neither of these brothers has ever assumed the responsibilities of the married state. Politically, they are Democrats, but have never sought to be public leaders or the emoluments of office, preferring to lead quiet lives and devote their attention exclusively to their large farming interests. Reli- giously, they are members of the German Reformed church in Independence township.
It is interesting to note that the Krueger family emigrated to this county in pioneer days in old-fashioned wagons, possessing little of this world's goods and without funds, and through industry and perseverance they have amassed a fortune. They are not of the niggardly sort, but liberal and genial in their relations with the world, very democratic in their ways, plain, straight- forward and honorable, always inspiring confidence-the type of men that make model twentieth-century communities.
WILLIAM G. KLING.
Among the substantial men whose labor and influence has given impetus to the general material improvements of Jasper county in years gone by and who today occupies no insignificant place in the esteem of the community in which he resides is the worthy gentleman whose name forms the introduction to this sketch. He has been content to spend his life right in his home local- ity, wisely deciding that this favored section of the great Hawkeye state was, as well if not better suited for the pursuit of agriculture than any other. Then, too, he has the home atmosphere always about him and the advantages of the prestige established by his honored progenitors whose lives redounded in a general way to the production of much good to the people embraced in the scope of this biographical compendium.
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