De NEUT, Richard H.

DE NEUT, BUSHMAN, HUTFMAN, KAMBOLDT, PAYNE, TUCKER, WARREN

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/3/2014 at 11:51:52

HISTORY of CERRO GORDO COUNTY, IOWA
WHEELER, J.H. Vol. II. Pp. 784-85. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago. 1910

BIOGRAPHY ~ RICHARD H. DE NEUT

Richard H. De Neut, general contractor and builder, residing at 308 South Jefferson street, Mason City, Iowa, has been identified with this place since June, 1892. The first ten years of his residence here he worked as carpenter for M. E. Bushman, and the next seven for M. F. Hutfman, and since then, for the past three years, he has been doing general contract work. In 1909, he built ten houses and three barns, including two houses for himself, one of which he rents, and the present year, 1910, his business has increased to such an extent that at times he has in his employ as many as twenty-five men.

Richard H. De Neut is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was born August 18, 1868, son of Jonathan Henry and Maria (Kamboldt) De Neut, the latter an adopted daughter of the late Judge Withy of Grand Rapids. Jonathan H. De Neut was born in Canada, of French-Canadian parents. He was by trade a cabinet maker, at which he worked up to the time of his death. He was accidentally killed, in the spring of 1873, at Grand Rapids. His widow survived him until February 21, 1892, at the age of fifty years, one month and twenty-one days.

Until he was twelve years old, Richard H. attended day school in Grand Rapids. Then he went to work, and practically from that time forward has made his own way in the world, supplementing his meager schooling by night study and reading. He learned his trade in Michigan. In 1882, he went to South Dakota, where he spent several years, in the threshing machine business, for a time being employed as engineer and later owning and operating a machine. In this he was successful. From South Dakota he came to Iowa, and settled at Mason City, where he has since resided.

In 1892, at Mason City, Mr. De Neut married Miss Lottie Payne, of Cerro Gordo county. She was born at Burr Oak, Iowa, daughter of one of the pioneer residents of that part of the state. Mrs. De Neut died at Mason City, in 1898, leaving one child, Clair Whittier, born January 13, 1895. On November 9, 1899, Mr. De Neut married Miss Esther B. Tucker, a native of Bassett, Chickasaw county, Iowa, born in 1871, daughter of Joseph K. and Betsy (Warren) Tucker, early settlers of that place. Her father, born in 1845, in Green county, Mississippi, of English parents, has been a farmer all his life. He is a veteran of the Civil war; her mother, born in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, May 26, 1844, died November 12, 1882. They had removed to Chickasaw county, Iowa, in the latter '60s. William Tucker, Mrs. De Neut's paternal grandfather, now well advanced in age, was for some twenty years in the United States Treasury Department, in the second auditor's office. He has one brother in South Africa, one in Australia and one in England, all of whom have celebrated their golden wedding anniversaries. At her grandfather's request, Mrs. De Neut corresponds regularly with these great-uncles. By his present wife Mr. De Neut has three children: Charlotte Ethel Lynne, born February 5, 1901; Joseph Tucker, [born] August 4, 1903; and Richard Henry, [born] May 27, 1907.

Politically, Mr. De Neut is a Republican. He is identified, fraternally, with the I. 0. 0. F., M. B. A. and M. W. A., and his religious faith is that of the Christian church, of which he is a member, and which the family attends.

NOTE: Charlotte E. De Neut died on August 20, 1921, and was interred at Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City IA. Richard H. De Neut II died on February 13, 1959, and was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale CA.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014