R. E. JEFFRYES

JEFFRYES, COOPER, AFFLOCK

Posted By: Norma Nielson (email)
Date: 5/16/2004 at 21:24:13

"R. E. Jeffryes is engaged in general farming on section 22, Summerset townshiip, where he is leading a busy and useful life. He was born in Jackson township, Adair county, on the 13th of January, 1880, his parents being Frederick and Ellen (Cooper) Jeffryes. The father was a native of England and when a youth of fourteen years left that country to come to the United States. He made his way to Illinois and there in early manhood he was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Cooper, who was born and reared in that state. They became the parents of four children during the period of their residence there. Afterward they removed with their family to Iowa, settling in Jackson township, Adair county, where the father engaged in farming up to the time of his death. He was diligent and persistent in business, carefully managing his farming interests. He died in June, 1908, at the venerable age of eighty-three years, while his wife is still living and makes her home with her son, R. E. Jeffryes.

It was in the district schools that R. E. Jeffryes pursued his education, while in farm work he received liberal training, beginning work in the fields at an early age. On attaining his majority he began farming on his own account, taking up his abode upon rented land when he continued to cultivate for three years. He then rented the home place. During the first year of his independent farming venture he purchased eighty acres of land in Harrison township but never lived upon that property, which two years later he traded for one hundred and sixty acres in Cass county, residing thereon for a year. He next exchanged that land for a Clark county farm and removed to Fontanelle, where he was engaged in the real-estate business for about two years. In another trade he exchanged his town property for eighty acres in Jackson township, whereon he lived for several years and in 1910 he sold that place and bought his present home farm, comprising one hundred and sixty acres on section 22, Summerset township. His farm is an excellent property, carefully managed and improved with modern equipments. He works diligently to make his fields productive and the practical methods which he follows are manifest in the golden harvests which he annually gathers.

In 1903 Mr. Jeffryes was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Afflock, of Washington township, and to them have been born two children, Harold O. and Thelma C. The family is widely known and many friends entertain for them warm regard. Mrs. Jeffryes is a member of the Christian church. In his political views Mr. Jeffryes is a democrat but not an aspirant for office. He is serving on the school board and is interested in the educational progress of the community. Those who know him best esteem him most, a fact which is indicativve of his sterling personal worth."

Source: The "History of Adair County Iowa and its People," Volume II. (Chicago, The Pioneer Publishing Company) 1915.