Edwin M. Newcomb

NEWCOMB, WESTERVELT, FENNER, WILCOX

Posted By: Oregon Rain
Date: 1/19/2007 at 23:25:19

For the past twenty-eight years Edwin M. Newcomb has devoted his energies to dairying and stock-raising on a well improved farm of eighty acres, located on section 11, Delaware township. He was born in Pennsylvania on the 5th of September, 1861, a son of Enos and Susan (Westervelt) Newcomb, the former born in Connecticut and the latter in New York. The mother died in the Keystone state in 1863, and the father afterward married again and in 1865 came west to Iowa, locating on a farm in Delaware township, Delaware county. Here he followed farming until the time of his death. By his first union seven children were born, but only three of the number are living: Edgar E., who is a practicing physician of Portland, Oregon; Rachel, the wife of Theodore Fenner, of Coffeyville, Kansas; and Edwin M., of this review. By the father's second marriage there was one son, but he is deceased.

Edwin M. Newcomb was a little lad of only four years at the time of his father's removal from Pennsylvania to Iowa, so that practically his entire life has been spent in this state. He was reared under the parental roof and was educated in the common schools in his home locality. He remained with his father until he was twenty-two years of age and then started out upon his own account. As the years have passed he has met with success and is now the owner of eighty acres of finely improved land on section 11, Delaware township, which he has owned for the past twenty-eight years. With the exception of seven years spent on a farm near Greeley, this county, he has lived here continuously since it came into his possession. He is engaged in dairying and stock-raising and both branches of his business return to him a gratifying income.

It was in 1886 that Mr. Newcomb was united in marriage to Miss Edith C. Fenner, who was born on the farm which is now her home, on the 11th of March, 1865. Her parents were Calvin and Elizabeth (Wilcox) Fenner, the former born in New York and the latter in Pennsylvania. They might well be termed pioneers of Iowa, for they made their way to this state from the east in 1854, first locating in Clayton county, where they spent two years prior to their removal to Delaware county, the time of their arrival here being in the spring of 1857. Here the father purchased land which he cultivated throughout a long period, or until the time of his death, which occurred November 3, 1891. The mother survived for a number of years, and passed away December 14, 1905. They were the parents of five children: Rosanna and Almon, deceased; Bradford C., who makes his home in Nebraska; Almer W., a resident of Cedar Falls, Iowa; and Edith C., now Mrs. Newcomb, who engaged in teaching prior to her marriage.

Mr. Newcomb supports the candidates of the republican party but has never been active in public life, the only office he has ever filled being that of a member of the school board, of which he is now president. He is identified with the Christian church, and his fraternal relations connect him with the Modern Woodmen of America. Both he and his wife are well known in the section in which they have long made their home and all who know them speak of them in words of praise and high commendation.

~ source: History of Delaware County, Iowa and its People, Illustrated, Volume II. The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1914, Chicago. Page 383-384. Call Number 977.7385 H2m; LDS microfilm #934937.