F E Cutler

CUTLER

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/10/2009 at 21:26:51

F E Cutler, ranks among the most prominent and successful business men of Boone, and his efforts have ever been of such a character that they have led not alone to his success but have also contributed tot eh general prosperity. A man of great natural ability, Mr Cutler’s success in business from the beginning of his residence in Boone has been uniform and rapid. He possesses untiring energy, is quick of perception, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution, his close application to business and his excellent management have brought to him a high degree of prosperity. Today he is one of the leading representatives of the insurance interests of this portion of the country, being secretary of the Farmers’ Mutual Insurance Company.
Mr Cutler was born in Waterford, Vermont, October 30, 1849, his parents being Thomas A and Caroline (Chandler) Cutler. His paternal grandfather, Ezekiel Cutler, was a native of Massachusetts, born in 1793, and on leaving the Bay state took up his abode at Waterford, Vermont. He died in Lansing, Iowa, in 1869, at the age of seventy-six years. He was a prominent and practical farmer and prided himself upon the excellent condition of his farm and was engaged in the raising of fine stock. He held membership in the congregational church, was on of its leading and active representatives and took a deep interest in the promotion of the moral development of his community. He married a Miss Atkins, who died in middle life and they became the parents of six children: Ebenezer, Thomas A, Martha, Almira, Ezekiel and Betsey Eliza. The last named died at the age of twenty years.
The Rev Ebenezer Cutler, who was an uncle of our subject, was the pastor of the Union Congregational church in Worcester, Massachusetts. He was a graduate of both the University of Vermont and the Andover Seminary. In 1865 he was elected to the presidency of the former institution, but declined to serve in that capacity. He afterward wrote a history of the church in which his pastorate coved a quarter of a century. He had formerly served as pastor of the Congregational church in St Albans, Vermont for seven years. Ezekiel Cutler, another member of the same family, was, was a prominent attorney of Anamosa, Iowa, and represented his district in the Iowa senate. He served as major of the Thirty-first Iowa Infantry during the Civil war, and afterward removed to Decorah, where he practiced law and also held the office of county judge. He likewise served as county auditor and was a very active and influential member of the Congregational church.
Thomas A Cutler is now the only surviving member of that family. His birth occurred in Waterford, Vermont. In early life he attended the schools of the Green Mountain state. Subsequently he became connected with educational interests and has served as superintendent of schools in his native state. He also served as a member of the Vermont legislature. A man of scholarly attainments and strong literary tastes, he has always read extensively and had a library of more that twelve hundred volumes. He can also speak seven languages and is particularly proficient as a French and German student. In the spring of 1866 he came to Iowa, first settling at Waukon, where he purchased what was then known as Allamakee College, which he conducted as a seminary for some three years. He then sold the building to the Independent school district and it was then used as a public school building. Professor Cutler afterward took charge of a private school at Lansing, Iowa, which he conducted for three years, at the expiration of which period he came to Boone county and purchased a farm, conducting the same throughout the remainder of his active business life. At the present time he is living retired at the age of seventy-seven years. He has held the position of county superintendent of the schools of Boone county and his influence has been a potent factor in promoting intellectual progress in this portion of the state. He belongs to the Congregational church and is a man of strong character and refined nature, whose influence has ever been for good. Although a most highly educated man, he has largely acquired knowledge through his own unaided efforts. He is an excellent musician, and his broad knowledge, capability and uprightness have rendered him a favorite with young and old, rich and poor. He laid out extensive grounds of twelve acres in a most beautiful way, following the plan of the landscape gardener having charge of the Copeland place in Boston, and his is one of the most beautiful and attractive homes of Boone county. He planted four hundred evergreen trees, many shrubs of hardy varieties, and beautiful plants of all descriptions. Mr Cutler married miss Caroline Chandler who was born in North Conway, New Hampshire, and died in Vermont, January 11, 1861, at the age of thirty-five years. She left five children of whom our subject is the eldest. The others were: Edna, the wife of Dr M d Warren, of Cabot, Vermont, Mary Elizabeth, the wife of D E Foristall, of Republic City, Kansa, Carrie, the wife of Harry Sawyer of Osceola, Nebraska, and Charles L of this county.
F E Cutler, whose name introduces this review, pursued a common school education in his native town and later became a student in Newberry Seminary of Vermont. In 1866 he came tot eh west with his parents, and acted as assistant teacher in the school conducted by his father, Later he taught in public schools of Boone county until the winter of 1874 when he married. The lady of his choice was Rosella Astleford, a daughter of William and Hannah (Temple) Astleford, who were native of Ireland and Massachusetts, respectively. For the past half century the Temple family has been represented in St Lawrence county , New York. Unto Mr and Mrs Cutler have been three children, two of whom Walter and Elmer, are yet living. The lost one son, Leonard, who died in infancy.
After his marriage Mr Cutler turned his attention to farming, which he carried on continuously until 1889. He was then elected county auditor and served for five years. He was afterward cashier of the Security Savings Bank for three and one-half years, and he left that institution in 1898, when he was chosen secretary of the Farmers’ Mutual Insurance company in which capacity he is now serving. Both he and his wife are identified with the Presbyterian church, holding membership theerin, and Mr cutler belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity. In every work of life which he has undertaken he has met with success, for in him are embraced the characteristics of an unbending integrity, un abated energy and industry.

1902 Boone County History Book