M. D. L. Niece

NIECE, MASON, GARFIELD, HENRY, WHITE, LEWIS

Posted By: Diane Wilson (email)
Date: 7/29/2002 at 21:04:57

County Superintendent of Schools was created, and D. W. Mason was elected to fill it in the spring of 1858. Mr. Mason was a lawyer, and is noted more fully in connection with the history of the bar of Butler county. He only served a few months, when he resigned, and M. D. L. Niece was appointed to fill the position so made vacant, and filled out the unexpired term. Mr. Niece was one of the early settlers of Butler county, coming here and locating in the township of Pittsford in November, 1856.
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He was born in Ohio, was brought up to the occupation of farming, and in early manhood engaged in teaching during the winter season. Several men, who have since become noted, attended, in their boyhood, these winter schools. James A. Garfield was a pupil of his during the winter of 1846-7, at Orange, Ohio. Charles E. Henry, ex-Marshall of the District of Columbia, and Emerson E. White, President of Lafayette College, Indiana, were also his pupils.
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As before stated Mr. Niece came to Butler county in 1856. He has been engaged much of the time in teaching; was county superintendent of schools of Butler county at one time, and has the office of county surveyor.
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His brother, Nathaniel Niece, came to Iowa from Ohio in 1839, and settled in Linn county. He came to Butler county, and settled in Pittsford township in 1855. He had entered a farm there the previous year. His wife was Ziprah H. Lewis. They have a family of nine children, five of whom are living. Nathaniel Niece died March 21,1882; his wife died the day previous, and they were buried in one grave at the same time.
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Mr. Niece’s term of office expired with 1859, and at the election in the latter part of that year, I. R. Dean was chosen superintendent of schools. Dean had settled at New Hartford at an early day, where he followed preaching the gospel, being of the Baptist faith; but at the time of his election was residing at Shell Rock. His term expired in 1861, and he died a few years later.
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Source: History of Butler and Bremer Counties, Iowa
Union Publishing Co., Springfield, IL, 1883
Page 369