David Fletcher

FLETCHER, DARKIN, CAMPBELL, STEWART, WATSON

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/11/2011 at 21:34:59

DAVID FLETCHER. Among the men who have devoted their energies to the occupation of agriculture, prominent mention belongs to the gentleman whose name introduces this brief sketch. He is thoroughly efficient in every department of farm work, has made of his chosen occupation a science, and through the proper rotation of crops and fertilization of the soil has been enabled to secure the very greatest results from every acre of the property. His landed possessions aggregate two hundred acres, and are located on section 35, Black Hawk Township, Grundy County.

Our subject was born in Cambridgeshire, England, in 1834, and is the son of John and Mary (Darkin) Fletcher. His paternal grandparents were Thomas and Sarah Fletcher, natives of the above county in England. Thomas Fletcher and his wife were members of the Church of England. They reared a family of twelve children, of whom the eldest son, William, died November 30, 1893, in Whiteside County, Ill., at the advanced age of ninety-three years. The grandmother of our subject lived to the advanced age of ninety-nine years.

John Fletcher, the father of our subject, was born in England in 1805, and in his native land was given a good education. His wife was the daughter of John and Mary Darkin, and they became the parents of fifteen children, ten of whom reached mature years. They bear the respective names of William, Esther, John, Robert, David, Darkin, Sophia, George, Alfred and Anna. He emigrated to the United States in 1855, accompanied by his family, and finding a suitable location in Clinton County, this state, there made his home, and departed this life the following year.

David Fletcher began life in America by working in a brick-yard, and later, on removing to Illinois, was employed as a farm hand for about ten years. In 1880 he was married in Grundy County to Mrs. Agnes Campbell, widow of Daniel Campbell, and the daughter of John and Jane (Stewart) Watson. By her first marriage Mrs. Fletcher became the mother of four children: John, Alexander, William and Daniel. Her marriage with our subject has been blessed by the birth of two children, Fred and Ray.

Mr. Fletcher has made Black Hawk Township his home since 1880, and he here owns a very valuable property, and throughout the community he is held in the highest regard. Himself and wife are members of the Congregational Church at Reinbeck. He manifests a commendable interest in everything that pertains to the welfare of the community, and in politics is a Republican.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894