Stemple, Samuel

STEMPLE, SMITH, BONTRAGER, FANSIN, MEYER, CAMPBELL, KEITH, AULT

Posted By: Volunteer Subscribers
Date: 4/15/2003 at 18:13:06

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

SAMUEL STEMPLE.

For over a third of a century this gentleman was one of the honored and highly esteemed citizens of Orange township. He was born in Preston county, Virginia, on the 16th of September, 1826, and was a son of Daniel and Susan (Smith) Stemple, the former also a native of the Old Dominion, and the latter of Ohio. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, died at his old home in Virginia, and his widow, who survived him some years, passed away in Ohio.

Our subject spent his early life in his native state, and in 1857 came to Iowa locating near Davenport. There he was married June 7, 1860, to Miss Mary M. Bontrager, who still survives him, and to them were born the following children: (1) John is now a farmer of Osage, Minnesota. (2) Louis is married and lives in Oklahoma. He has one son, William Edward. (3) William owns and operates a farm in Calhoun county, Iowa. (4) Harry, who operates the old home farm, married Annie Fansin, a daughter of Ferdinand and Henrietta (Meyer) Fansin. Her mother died about five years ago, but her father is still living. He was an old settler and prominent farmer of Scott county, but for the past twelve years has made his home in Orange township, Clinton county, where he continues to engage in farming. Harry Stemple and wife have two children, Myrtle and Etta. He is a member of the Knights of the Maccabees and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Grand Mound. (5) Margaret is the wife of A. L. Campbell, of Berlin township, and they have six children,--Mary, William, Samuel, Earle, Susan and Dewey. (6) Effie is the wife of William Keith, who owns and operates a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Berlin township, and they have three children,--Ollie, LeRoy and Mary M. (7) Gertrude is the wife of Henry Ault, by whom she has one child,--Thelma,--and they reside with her brother William in Calhoun county, Iowa. (8) Emily and (9) Mary are both at home with their mother.

Mr. Stemple continued his residence in Scott county until 1866, when he removed to Clinton county and located in Orange township, where he bought property and continued to make his home until his death. At that time he owned one hundred and twenty acres of rich farm land on sections 1 and 12, his home being located on the latter section. There he died on the 8th of April, 1901, after a long illness. He was a loving and devoted husband and father, and was highly esteemed by a large circle of friends and neighbors for his honesty and integrity in all his dealings. He was a consistent and faithful member of the Methodist church, and his life has ever been in harmony with his professions. As a citizen he was true to every trust reposed in him, and capably filled several local offices.