Fay, F.J.

JONES, BASSETT, WATENPAUGH

Posted By: BCGS
Date: 1/2/2010 at 14:37:21

F.J. Fay, a native son of LeRoy township and now the owner of Maplewood, an excellent property of two hundred and ninety-seven acres on sections 1 and 11, was born upon his father's farm August 1, 1869, a son of Ezekiel Edson Fay, a native of New York, born May 15, 1827. The father was educated in the common schools of his native state and at the age of fourteen began teaching, afterward studying nights in order to complete his education. He taught in New York and afterward in McHenry county, Illinois, and later in Bremer County, Iowa. He came to this part of the state in the early '50s and entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land. After his marriage he settled upon this farm, which was located in LeRoy township, and there he resided until his death, which occurred April 7, 1906. In Illinois, on the 24th of February, 1859, he married Miss Rachel Ann Jones, who was born in New York, October 22, 1838. She passed away March 30, 1895. They had four children: Charles E., living in LeRoy township; LaJune, the wife of H. Bassett of North Dakota; Louis Alfred, of Waterloo; and F.J. of this review. The father was well known in local republican circles, serving for twenty-five years as justice of the peace. He was a man of excellent education and broad culture and was looked to for advice and counsel by his entire neighborhood.

F.J. Fay was reared upon his father's farm and at an early age became familiar with the best agricultural methods. At twenty-two he began his independent career as a landowner and he has added to his original purchase until he now owns two hundred and ninety-seven acres on sections 1 and 11, LeRoy township. This farm is known as Maplewood and under Mr. Fay's excellent management has become a very valuable property, equipped with an excellent set of buildings and with modern machinery.

On the 20th of January, 1892, Mr. Fay was united in marriage to Miss Zoa Watenpaugh, who was born in LeRoy township, a daughter of Ephraim Watenpaugh, of whom a record appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Fay have two children, Leslie E. and Albert G. Both attended the Fredericksburg graded schools and Leslie took a course in business college at Waterloo, while Albert attended business college at New Hampton. Mr. Fay is well and favorably known in LeRoy township, where he has spent his entire life and where his business ability and excellent personal characteristics have gained him the esteem and confidence of all who come in contact with him.

History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol. II 1914