Frank Pepper

PEPPER

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/11/2010 at 14:06:51

Farming interests have claimed the attention of Frank Pepper since he started out in life for himself, and he today owns an excellent farm of 360 acres on section 34, Harrison township, and also 170 acres in Jackson township, all of which property he has acquired through is own unaided efforts. A native of Iowa, he was born in Marshall county, on October 16, 1857, and is a son of S M and Mary (Stalling) Pepper. His mother is now deceased, but his father is still living and resides on the old homestead in Jackson township> He is a native of Connecticut, but was reared in Pennsylvania and from that state came to Iowa in 1852, settling in Marshall county. He removed, however to Boone county when the railroad was fist built in this locality in 1865. Having learned the carpenter’s trade, he followed that occupation her for five yeas, but as times were hard and there was not much to do along that line, he turned his attention to farming in 1870 and is still engaged the cultivation of land in Jackson township. In his family are four children, namely: Frank of this review, William who is engaged in farming in Story county, Iowa, Arlie the wife of George Brooks a farmer of Clay county, and Edward who makes his home in Des Moines.
During his boyhood and youth Frank Pepper had the advantages of a common school education and under his father’s direction gained his knowledge of farming. For six yeas after his marriage he operated rented land, but in 1892 purchased 160 acres on section 34, Harrison township, for twenty-six dollars per acre. He subsequently bough t a 40 acre tract at the same price and later added 160 acres to his farm, paying for the last sixty-five dollars per acre. This is also in Harrison township, but at the present time he also owns 170 acres in Jackson township, for which he paid one hundred and fifty dollars per acre.
ON January 29, 1885, Mr Pepper was united in marriage to Miss Mary Diggins, a daughter of Patrick and Mary (Reagan) Diggins, who were farming people living near Ontario, Story county Iowa but are both now deceased. In the Diggins family were the following children: William who is still engaged in farming in Story county, Mary the wife of our subject, Julia the wife of Charles McKenna, a farmer of Jackson township, Boone county, James a farmer of Harrison township, and Kate the wife of William Keller, a farmer of Harrison township. Mr and Mrs Pepper have seven sons as follows: Fred who assists in the operation of his father’s farm in Jackson township, William and Raymond both at home, Frank who married Hazel York and with his brother Fred operates the farm in Jackson township, and James, Dewey, and Edward all at home. The mother and children attend the Catholic church, but Mr Pepper is not identified with any religious organization. Although he was reared a democrat, he has affiliated with the republican party since the McKinley administration and has taken quite an active interests in public affairs. He serves as school director for several terms and has always given his support to those enterprises which he deems calculated to promote the moral or material welfare of his community In his farming operations he ahs met with most excellent success, and this has all been due to his enterprise, progressive methods and untiring industry.

1914 Boone County History Book