John Q. Jefferies

JEFFERIES, LEMON, BRUNT, SEEBER, GROTE, MAYNARD, SANBORN

Posted By: Michael Kearney (email)
Date: 1/12/2002 at 19:06:56

The Biographical Record: Prominent among the business men of Clinton is numbered John Q. Jefferies, who is successfully engaged in the real estate and insurance business under the firm name of J.Q. Jefferies & Company. No one of the community is better known, for here his entire life has been passed, and all the interests from boyhood have been closely associated with those of this city. In his special field of business he has met with good success, and by the energy and zeal which he has manifested he has won the confidence and esteem of the public.
A native of Clinton county, Mr. Jefferies was born in Lyons, August 15, 1861, and is a son of John J. Jefferies, now a retired mason of Clinton. His parental grandparents were John and Isabella (Lemon) Jefferies, who spent their entire lives in Somersetshire, England, where the former died at the advance age of ninety three years, and the latter when over seventy years of age.
John J. Jefferies, the father of our subject, was born in Somersetshire, England on the 8th of December, 1824, and there learned the mason's trade. Emigrating to the new world at the age of twenty-four years, he settled in Cicero, New York where he worked as a journeyman for some time. In 1857 he came to Lyons, Iowa which was then a small but promising town. He first engaged on the old Pickering saw mill, and also assisted in the erection of the central school building, which is still standing. In later years he was employed on the Masonic Temple, an imposing structure at that time, and shortly afterward he began contracting on his own count. In 1877 he removed to Clinton exchanging his home in Lyons for a residence at 540 Fourth avenue, where he resided until 1895, in which year he went to make his home with our subject. He has built and sold several houses here and still owns two residences in the city of Clinton. Many of the dwelling and business blocks of the city stand as monuments to his mechanical skill and ablility, and the substantial quality of his work is a convincing testimony of his own personal worth. He continued to work at his trade to a limited extent until 1900, but is now living retired, enjoying a well-earned rest. He as one of the members of Lyons Lodge, No. 61 I.O.O.F., and is still a member in good standing and was one of the organizers of Lincoln Lodge, No. 139, of Clinton.
He was united in marriage with Diana, daughter of John Brunt, of Somersetshire, England, and they became the parents of seven children: James, who died in infancy while crossing the Atlantic; Elizabeth, wife of C.M. Suber; Quincy, who died young; Isabella, wife of J.F. Grote; James B., who was drowned in the Mississippi River at Lyons, when nine years of age; Frances, who died at the age of sixteen months; and John Quincy, the subject of this sketch.
John Q. Jefferies was reared and educated in Lyons, and at an early age commence learning the mason's trade with his father. At the age of twenty he became a partner in the business, and for nine years was engaged in contracting and building. In 1889 he was elected county superintendent of schools of Clinton county, which position he efficiently filled for over two years, and in October 1893, embarked in the insurance and real estate business, which he has since carried on with excellent success, building up the largest business of the kind in the city. In 1899 he was appointed special agent for the Specific Fire Insurance Company of New York, his territory being Iowa, Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Although this takes him away from home much of the time, he still continues his business in Clinton.
Mr. Jefferies has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Florence Maynard, of Tipton, Iowa. She died August 7, 1897, at the age of thirty-two years, leaving four children; Fred J., who was drowned September 7, 1900, at the age of sixteen years; Lyle M. ; Carl E.; and Diana R., who died eighteen months after her mother's death. In December 1897, Mr. Jefferies was united in marriage with Miss Clara F. Sanborn, a native of Bailey's Harbor, Wisconsin, and a daughter of David and Frances Sanborn. By this union were born two children; Ruth W., deceased; and Frances Mabel. Prior to her marriage Mrs. Jefferies was a trained nurse, and was very successful in following that profession.
Socially Mr. Jefferies is quite popular, and is a prominent member of Emulation Lodge No. 225, A.F. & A.M.; the De-Molay Consistory, No. 1, of Clinton; Lincoln Lodge, No. 139, I.O.O.F.; Herman Lodge, No. 44, K.P.; Robin Hood Camp, No. 98, M.W. of W. He has served as noble grand in the Odd Fellows lodge, and as district deputy grand mater. In all his undertakings thus far Mr. Jefferies has prospered, his excellent success being but the logical result of his careful and correct business methods.