Asa C. Douglass (1847-1921)

DOUGLASS

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 8/16/2022 at 17:18:47

Asa C. Douglass
(October 18, 1847 - April 12, 1921)

There is much in the history of Asa C. Douglass that is worthy of emulation, for his has been an active and useful life and honorable principles have characterized his relations with his fellow men. He is numbered among the early settlers of Reading Township and has been an active factor in promoting the best interests of his section of the county. Mr. Douglass is a native of Wisconsin, his birth having occurred in Baratoo, October 18, 1847, his parents being Elisha D. and Mary J. (Kerr) Douglass. Both were natives of the Empire state and in 1847 they removed to Wisconsin and became early settlers of that locality. He purchased land from the government and at once began the development of the farm upon which he resided until about 1887, when he removed to Florida. At the time of the Civil war his brave and loyal spirit was manifested by active service, for during two years he was a member of Company I, of the Sixteenth Wisconsin Infantry. Throughout his business career he carried on agricultural pursuits and was a most industrious and energetic man. In politics he was a Republican and held a number of township offices. He died at the age of seventy-six years, and his wife passed away when but forty-five years of age. They were the parents of five sons and five daughters, and of this number seven are yet living: Philena L., Malvina, Charlotte, Emma, Alice, Asa C. and Frank D. Those who have passed away are George W., Elisha D. and John D., the first named having been killed in the battle of Antietam in the Civil war.
Asa C. Douglass spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the usual manner of farmer lads of that period. He enjoyed the pleasures of the play-grounds, pursued his education in the district schools and worked in the fields through the summer months. Remaining at home until twenty-one years of age; he then started out in life on his own account and began learning the carpenter's trade, while subsequently he engaged in farming. The first money he ever earned, however, was by working in the hop yards of Wisconsin. The first land which he ever owned was a tract of forty acres in Vernon County, Wisconsin, upon which he remained for seven years. In October, 1872. Mr. Douglass was united in marriage to Miss Myrtie Hall, who was born in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, August 26, 1850, and is the daughter of John M. and Susanna (Purdy) Hall, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Pennsylvania. Her father was a farmer by occupation and spent his days in Wisconsin, passing away in Vernon County at the age of seventy-three years, while his wife died at the age of sixty-nine. In his family were five children : Silas, Lucius, Eliza, Mrs. Douglass and Emma.
It was in 1880 that Asa C. Douglass came to Calhoun County, Iowa. He purchased a tract of raw land of eighty acres in Reading township, and as his financial resources increased he added to this until he owned four hundred acres, which he has now sold. For many years, however, he made his home upon that farm and successfully carried on stock-raising. He kept as high as one hundred head of stock and fed as high as four carloads each year. Mr. Douglass resided upon his farm until March, 1901, when he took up his abode in Farnhamville, where he is now living retired, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. He has, however, purchased land in Canyon County, in Payette Valley, Idaho, and also property in the village of Payette and expects soon to remove to that state, which may well be called the Gem of the Mountains.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Douglass have been born six children: Clara, Bertha, George, Howard, Florence and Leon. In his political views Mr. Douglass has always been a Republican, and although he has never sought office he has always been active in promoting every movement that he believed would result to the benefit of his party. His has been an active life, in which untiring diligence has enabled him to conquer all difficulties and obstacles in his path, and work his way to success. He had no special advantage along educational lines or in business, but with determined purpose he has made the most of his opportunities, and today stands among those whose enterprise and consecutive labor have brought to them prosperity. [Source – Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.317]