MANUEL S. LEWELLEN

LEWELLEN

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/20/2020 at 13:40:12

MANUEL S. LEWELLEN, a farmer of section 16, Jasper township, was born in Wapello county, Iowa, in 1850, the son of Pleasant Lewellen, a native of Kentucky and a playmate of Abraham Lincoln in their boyhood. He went to Harrison county, Indiana, when a young man, where he married the widow of John Van Fossen: her maiden name was Nancy Schoonover, and she was a native of Harrison county, Indiana. Some time after their marriage she and her husband moved to Wapello county, Iowa, as pioneers there. She died in 1856. In 1861 he enlisted in the army and served two and a half years, as a member of the Fifteenth Iowa Infantry. Then returning to Iowa he joined the “Graybeard” regiment, and was on the western frontier two years, freezing his feet on one occasion and losing: some of his toes.

When but five years old his mother died, and young Manuel started out in the world for himself at the early age of ten years. In 1888 he left Wapello county and came to Jasper township, Adams county, locating on section 21, where he improved a farm of eighty acres of wild prairie land. This he sold in 1888 and for two years rented his present farm, known then as the J. S. McCanley farm; and then he purchased it. There are 160 acres, all good land and well improved. On it there is a good frame house, barn, orchard, etc. The orchard is a specially fine one, containing as it does 300 bearing trees. Besides, there are plats of all kinds of small fruit. Mr. Lewellen is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He is a member of Instruction Lodge, No. 275, F. & A. M., at Corning, Iowa; was made a Mason in Martinsburg Lodge at
Martinsburg, Keokuk county, Iowa, in 1876. He is also a zealous member of Emblem Chapter, No. 64, O. E. S., at Corning, Iowa, as is Mrs. Lewellen. In his politics he is a Republican.

In February, 1875, he was married to Miss Clara E. Clapp, an intelligent lady who was born in Franklin county, Ohio, near Columbus. She was a child when her father, Arnold Clapp, moved with his family to Wapello county, this State. Her mother’s name before marriage was Adeline Leonard. Her father died in 1855, and her mother in 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Lewellen have three children: Merton E., Frank N. and Lovisa E. They lost one child by death,—Carrie, in 1882.