Frank S. Puffer (1856-1924)

PUFFER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 4/5/2022 at 23:53:57

Frank Summer Puffer
(February 1, 1856 - 1924

Frank S. Puffer, who is engaged in general fanning on section 9, Elm Grove Township, there owns and operates three hundred and twenty acres of rich land and has a splendidly improved farm. He dates his residence in Calhoun County from June, 1885, and has since been one of its representative agriculturists. A native of Illinois, his birth occurred in DuPage county on the 1st of February, 1856. His father, Reuben Puffer, was born and reared in Worcester County, Massachusetts, and on emigrating westward, took up his abode in DuPage County, Illinois, where his father, Henry Puffer, had entered a half section of land and opened up the place, which is located about seven miles from Wheaton. The father of our subject succeeded to the ownership of the claim, which is still in possession of the Puffer family. Reuben Puffer was united in marriage to Rosella Kenyon, who was born in Broome County, New York, and is a daughter of Esquire Kenyon. Her parents both died in the Empire state during her girlhood. Reuben Puffer was a prominent farmer of DuPage County and after coming to the west spent his remaining years there, his death occurring in 1896. In his family were seven sons and two daughters who reached mature years.
Frank S. Puffer was reared upon the old homestead farm in Illinois and there obtained his preliminary education while later he pursued a collegiate course in Naperville, Illinois. Subsequently he engaged in teaching for several years in his home district and in other schools of DuPage County and for four years he followed that profession in Calhoun County. He made his home with his parents until after he had attained adult age. Coming to Iowa he was married in Hardin County, this state, in 1882, to Miss Cora Wood, a native of llinois, born in Henry County but reared and educated in DuPage county. She, too, became a successful teacher and was connected with educational work in Hardin County, Iowa. Her father, W. N. Wood, is now a resident of Lake City, Calhoun County. A native of the Empire state he was born and reared near Saratoga and on removing to Illinois took up his abode in Henry County where he resided for a number of years. He afterward removed to DuPage county and at the present time is living in honorable retirement from labor in Lake City at the advanced age of seventy-seven years.
Mr. and Mrs. Puffer began their domestic life on the farm where they still reside. He erected a good residence and began to break the land, placing the fields under a high state of cultivation. He planted both fruit and forest trees, built a good barn and all necessary buildings for the shelter of grain and stock and now has a splendidly improved and valuable country home. He is one of the most successful and enterprising farmers and stock-raisers of the community and his worth is widely acknowledged. Mr. and Mrs. Puffer are the parents of six children: Florence S., Henry, Grace, John, Margery and Harold. All are still on the farm with their parents and the members of the household have many friends in the community. In his political views Mr. Puffer has been a life long Republican, supporting the party since he cast his first presidential vote for James G. Blaine in 1884. He has never sought or desired office yet has served as township trustee. The cause of education finds him a warm friend. He believes in securing good teachers, in introducing advanced methods and while serving as a member of the school board and as president of his district, he has done effective work in behalf of education. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the Presbyterian church and he is one of its elders. For seventeen years he has resided in Calhoun County and has witnessed many changes as the work of progress and improvement has been carried on. He is well known in Lake City and the western part of the county and is a man of integrity and honor who enjoys in high degree the esteem of his fellow citizens. [Source – Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.298]