NEWMARCH, Thomas

NEWMARCH, CLARK, TATE, ILEMAN, KELLEY, ANER

Posted By: Nettie Mae
Date: 1/19/2003 at 01:14:14

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

THOMAS NEWMARCH

After years of active labor, mostly devoted to agricultural pursuits, Thomas Newmarch has laid aside all business cares and is now living retired in Low Moor. He arrived in this country on the 12th of September, 1854, and for many years owned and operated a well-improved farm in Camanche township, near Low Moor. He was born in Lincolnshire, England, April 12, 1818,and reared in village of Croxton. During his boyhood he attended school and worked on a farm, but his education has been mainly acquired since reaching man’s estate. On the 16th of May, 1843 he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Clark, who was born in the same shire, November 20, 1819. They have one daughter, Rachel M., who was born in England and is now the wife of Thomas Tate, of Low Moor, by whom she has five children, namely: Laura, now the wife of Emory Ileman, of Henry county, Missouri; Nettie, wife of Herbert Kelley, of Elvira, Iowa; Nellie, wife of Professor Aner, of Lucas county, Iowa; and Fida and Lizzie, both at home with their parents.

After his marriage Mr. Newmarch spent nine years in Croxton, England, working on a farm. On the 8th of May, 1852, he and his little family boarded a sailing vessel in the harbor of Hull and crossed the briny deep, arriving in New York on the 12th of May, which at that time was considered a speedy voyage. After spending a short time with his mother in Otsego county, New York, he started west, and by way of Rochester, Buffalo and Cleveland went to Marietta, Ohio, where he worked in stone quarry. Later he was employed on railroad construction, being in that vicinity about two and one-half years.

In the fall of 1854 Mr. Newmarch came to Clinton county, Iowa, and found employment with John Pearsoll, an old settler of Camanche, in whose warehouse he worked during the most of the succeeding winter. During the following season he was engaged in quarrying rock for the old watermill known as Hart’s mill, at Camanche, and then turned his attention to farming, purchasing forty acres of wild land of Mr. Pearsoll, which he at once began to improve, first building a little house, which was subsequently carried away by a tornado. Fortunately his family was uninjured during that storm, for which he felt very thankful. Later Mr. Newmarch built a more substantial residence and good outbuildings. He set out fruit and shade trees and made many other improvements upon the place, which added to its value and beauty. He also bought an adjoining forty acres, which he successfully operated until 1878, when he purchased a home in Low Moor and has since lived retired.

Since becoming a naturalized citizen Mr. Newmarch has been identified with the Republican party, and has supported every presidential nominee of that party since casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. he and his wife hold membership in the Wesleyan Methodists in England. They receive and merit the high regard of the entire community in which they make their home.