William Lemaster

LEMASTER

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/27/2010 at 16:53:55

William Lemaster, who was born in Marion county, Indiana November 25, 1853, is one of the well known agriculturists of Cass township, Boone county, where he owns a valuable farm. He has attained to prosperity entirely thought his own efforts and much credit is due him for what he has achieved in life., for he began his career in comparatively humble circumstances. He is a son of Abram and Ann (Smock) Lemaster, the former born in Kentucky October 13, 1818, and the latter of Mercer county, that state, may 8, 1822. The family settled on a farm in Cass township, Boone county, Iowa May 3, 1857, having left Indiana on March 31 of that year. Here the father followed farming and stock raising beginning under the most trying conditions which were then yet existing. Settlements were few at that time, there nearest neighbors being located in Elk Rapids, and numerous bands of Indians were yet seen. They traded in that city ad Des Moines, and many were the dangers which confronted them on their trips to market. Mr and Mrs Lemaster were the parents of eight children: Newton deceased, Mrs Martha Ellen Haney of Perry, Iowa, William of this review, Simon a resident of Woodward, George of Dallas county, Iowa, Mrs Emma Cole of Woodward, Frank who resides in Peoples township, Mrs Addie Dickinson of Woodward. The five oldest children were born in Indiana and the others in Cass township, this county. The father died in Woodward, March 12, 1906, and the mother in the same city, July 30, 1900.
William Lemaster was but three years of age when he removed with his parents to Cass township. There he attended the common schools and subsequently devoted his attention to farming and stock raising, always following modern and up to date methods. He today owns a farm of 113 and a ¼ acres on section 18, all of the land being under high cultivation and yielding him rich annual returns. This buildings are kept in repair and the general appearance of the property gives evidence of the prosperity of its owner.
On December 13, 1877, in Marcy township, Boone county, Mr Lemaster married Miss Mary Ann Tembey, who was born in Wisconsin, March 12, 1859. Her parents, William and Emily Tembey, both natives of England, were pioneers in Wisconsin. They subsequently removed to Boone county, where the father followed farming. He was born January 1, 1832, and now resides in Ames, Iowa, but his wife passed away in that city in 1908. In their family were nine children, of whom six are living, as follows: Henry, of North Dakota, Hattie of Ames, Iowa, Mrs Mary Ann Lemaster, Mrs Eliza Mellor of Ames, William of Perry, and Richard of Ames. Mr and Mrs Lemaster have six children, all of whom were born in Cass township excepting the oldest, who was born in Peoples township, and they attended the common schools. They are: Mrs Luella Belle Halley, of Dallas county, W Floyd of Cass township, Edith residing with her parents, R J of Cass township, and Mrs Emily Lincoln also of that township, and John Harold.
Mr Lemaster is a republican and has served as trustee of Cass township, as road supervisor and as a member of the district school board. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which she is deeply interests. Both have many friends and are highly respected and esteemed by all who know them as worthy and substantial people who have assisted in the carrying forward the development of Cass township and Boone county.

1914 Boone County History Book