Cyrenus Pelham

PELHAM, STRATTON, GRAY, EVERT, SALE, METCALF, AMES, DEAN, DRAPER, YERBY

Posted By: Phyllis Peterson (email)
Date: 2/10/2002 at 16:09:50

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Clinton County, Iowa. Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1886.

Cyrenus Pelham has been a resident of the Hawkeye State for over thirty years. He has noted its progress with interest, and has aided its advancement, in common with all good citizens who identify themselves with the interests of their State and community. His comfortable homestead is located on section 19, Eden Township, and he is here surrounded by the well-earned comforts of life. His possessions are mainly the result of his own industry and an intelligent application of the powers which nature in the beginning generously bestowed upon him.

Cyrenus Pelham is a native of the Empire State, being born in Greene County, N.Y., May 17, 1806. His parents were Henry and Margaret (Gray) Pelham, both natives of New York State. The father died in 1813, when his son, our subject, was a little lad of seven years. The mother subsequently married again, her second husband being Nehemiah Evert, by whom she became the mother of three children - one son and two daughters. She lived to a venerable age, being eighty years old at the time of her death, which occurred in 1862. Mr. Pelham received his early education in the district schools of his native State, and after he grew to the years of manhood he learned the trade of a millwright, in which business he was employed for thirty years. He was skillful in his calling and became one of the largest contractors in Central New York and Pennsylvania in his line of business. He superintended the erection of some of the most important mills in that section of country.

Cyrenus Pelham and Miss Eunice Malinda Stratton were united in marriage Dec. 31, 1829. Mrs. Pelham was a daughter of Walter Stratton, who, with his family, was a resident of Delaware County, N.Y. Of the union of Mr. And Mrs. Pelham were born eight children, the record of whom is follows: Marietta became the wife of Edward Sales (sic - should be Sale), and died in the year 1855; Esther married Orlando Metcalf, and they reside in Oakland, Cal.; Margaret is the wife of George Ames, of Union county, Ore.; Henry resides near the old homestead; Walter lives in Kansas; Electa is the wife of Horace Bean (sic - should be Dean), and they reside at Westside, Iowa; Adeline is the wife of Alverdo Draper, and is living in Union County, Ore.; Cyrenus, Jr. is married and cultivates a part of the homestead.

After their marriage Mr. Pelham and his wife resided for several years in Binghampton (sic), N.Y., and in his business as a contractor he met with great success. He finally became possessed of a desire to go beyond the Mississippi, and accordingly, with his family, emigrated to Iowa. He first located in Iowa City, and afterward removed to Lyons. He superintended the erection of the first sawmill and the first flourmill in the place. This latter, in the early days, was known as the Buell Mill. They remained in Lyons about a year and a half, and thence removed to Clinton. Here, also, Mr. Pelham was engaged in building mills. He remained about a year, and in 1857 purchased the land which now forms part of the homestead, and to which he subsequently added until he was the possession of 600 acres. He then practically abandoned his former occupation and turned his attention to the pursuit of agriculture and stock raising. In these ventures he was successful from the start, and accumulated a comfortable competency.

The wife and mother, an active member of the Baptist church, to which she was greatly attached, departed this life Sept. 20, 1875, aged sixty-five years, five months and five days. After the death of his wife, Mr. Pelham divided his land among his three sons, reserving to himself 150 acres of the old homestead, where he now lives. The C. & N.W. R.R. runs across the northern part of his farm.

The second marriage of Mr. Pelham, with Mrs. Mary (Yerby) Shields, occurred Jan. 24, 1879. The lady is a native of England, and is several years younger than her husband. They are both members in good standing of the Baptist Church.

Politically Mr. Pelham was in early life a Democrat, but on the organization of the Republican party his views met with a change, and he was constrained to identify himself with the latter organization, whose principles he honestly and conscientiously supports. He was a staunch Union man during the war, and one son and a son-in-law were soldiers, serving in the cause of the Union, and were under command of Gen. Sherman in the memorable march from Atlanta to the sea.

Mr. Pelham is one of the few hoary-headed veterans who still linger among us as reminders of the early days. As will be observed, he lived in the old pack-horse and stagecoach period, and through good health and a vigorous constitution, his life has been prolonged, and he has been enabled to witness the wonderful revolutions of science and mechanical skill wrought out by the ingenuity of man during the last fifty years. The old stagecoach and log cabin have gone forever, and in their place we have the magnificent railway carriage of the present and the comfortable and palatial homes.

Mr. Pelham may truly be classed as a pioneer, and he is viewed with veneration and respect by the rising generation. He has been an honest man and a good citizen, and he enjoys his reward in the esteem of the community of which he has so long been a worthy and valued member. The portraits of the old settlers are viewed with great interest and the publishers of this Album are gratified in being able to place that of Mr. Pelham upon the honored list.