Cagley, Jacob

KEASLING, CUFFEL, NEWTON, GALLAGHER, SMITH

Posted By: BCGS
Date: 1/12/2010 at 13:08:06

Jacob Cagley is a worthy representative of one of the most honored pioneer families in Bremer county and has been connected with agricultural interests of this locality since the beginning of his active career, owning and operating the farm upon which his father settled in early times. He was born in Johnston, near Indianapolis, Indiana, July 15, 1845, and is a son of Michael and Elizabeth (Keasling) Cagley, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Tennessee. The family is of German origin. The father, Michael Cagley, moved to Indiana with his parents in 1822, when he was six years of age, and was reared in that state amid pioneer conditions, assisting his father, John Cagley, with the work of clearing and improving the homestead. In 1853 the family moved to Iowa, making the journey with ox teams. Some of the sons stopped in Benton county, some settled in Chickasaw, and the grandfather and father of the subject of this review came to Bremer county. Michael Cagley bought a farm of seven hundred and fifty acres, now occupied by Jacob Cagley and almost a section of land in Chickasaw county, as well as acreage in various sections. The father and grandfather, however, made their home on the Chickasaw county land for many years, the grandfather dying at the age of seventy-six and the father afterward operating the farm until his death, at the age of sixty-six. Both made valuable contributions to the development and growth of Iowa and left to their children the priceless heritage of an honored and worthy name. The grandfather had nine sons and five daughters and the father had five children. The maternal branch of Jacob Cagley's family, the Keaslings, has also numerous representatives, over one thousand having been present at a recent reunion in Indiana. The family holdings now comprise about five hundred acres, Michael Cagley having sold some of his timber land when the Illinois Central Railroad was constructed.

Jacob Cagley spent his boyhood in Chickasaw county and remained until he was twenty-two years of age. He then moved to Lafayette township, in Bremer county, settling upon the original property purchased by his father in 1867. He has since resided upon this farm, where he raises corn, oats and other cereals and also engages in dairying and stock-raising, keeping a number of cattle, hogs and horses. He has met with gratifying success in his agricultural pursuits, being numbered today among the progressive and representative farmers.

In 1867 Mr. Cagley was united in marriage to Miss Martha Cuffel, of Indiana, a daughter of Albert and Rebecca (Newton) Cuffel, pioneers in that state and also in Chickasaw county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Cagley have become the parents of six children: John H., who makes his home in South Dakota; Viola, now Mrs. Fred Gallagher, of Plainfield, Bremer county; Fred E., operating a portion of the original homestead in Lafayette township; Roy, who owns a farm in Lafayette township but who makes his home in Minnesota; Mattie, who married Vernon Smith, of Bremer county; and Robert L., upon the home farm.

Mr. Cagley is a man of superior education and broad culture, keeping abreast of the trend of modern advancement through wide and well selected reading. His life has been honorable in all its relations and his record is a credit to a name that has been held in high esteem and respect since pioneer times.

History of Bremer County, Iowa Vol. II 1914