Pringle, Stephen Douglas

PRINGLE, WELCH, SEGAR

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 5/23/2009 at 21:46:34

History of Hamilton County Iowa,1912, Vol. II p.90

STEPHEN DOUGLAS PRINGLE

Stephen Douglas Pringle is successfully engaged in general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising in Cass township, Hamilton County, where he owns one hundred and eighty-four and a half acres of valuable and productive land located on sections 19 and 30. He is a native of Iowa, his birth having occurred in Keokuk County on the 26th of October, 1860, and a son of Thomas and Nancy (Welch) Pringle. The father was a native of Indiana and the mother of West Virginia. They were married in Iowa, and soon thereafter located on government land in Keokuk County. Thomas Pringle assiduously applied himself to the further improvement and cultivation of his farm until 1874, when he sold it and came to Hamilton County. Here he purchased two hundred and forty acres of land located on section 3, Cass township, and continued his agricultural pursuits for nearly twenty years. About 1892, he sold his farm and retired from active life, having accumulated a competence that made it possible for him to spend his latter days in well earned ease. For about six years thereafter he made his home in Webster City, but he subsequently removed to Toledo, this state, and there he passed away in the spring of 1905, at the venerable age of eighty-six years and eight months. He had long survived the mother, whose death occurred on the 5th of January, 1884, when she had reached the age of sixty years. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Pringle numbered fourteen, our subject being the eighth in order of birth.

The education of Stephen D. Pringle was acquired in the common schools of this state, and while engaged in the mastery of the common branches he was familiarizing himself with the practical duties of an agriculturist by assisting his father with the work of the fields and care of the stock. He remained at home until he was twenty three years of age, when he married and began farming on his own account. For sixteen years thereafter he engaged in the cultivation of one hundred and twenty acres of land which he had previously purchased in Wright County, but at the expiration of that time he disposed of his holdings and invested the proceeds in a hundred and sixty-two acre tract in Cass township, this county. He likewise sold this place in 1898 and purchased his present farm, comprised of one hundred and eighty-four and a half acres. That Mr. Pringle is enterprising and progressive in his agricultural methods is manifested by the general appearance and condition of his homestead. His entire holding is fenced, one hundred acres of it hog tight, and his fields are tiled and under high cultivation. One hundred and forty acres of his land is devoted to general farming and in connection with this he engages in stock-raising.

On the 22d of February, 1883, Mr. Pringle was married to Miss Nettie Segar, the fifth child in a family of fourteen and a daughter of B. B. Segar. She was born on the 31st of March, 1862, and passed away at the age of twenty-five years, her death occurring on May 5, 1887. On the I4th of April, 1888, Mr. Pringle was married to Miss Mary Segar, a sister of his former wife and next to the youngest member of the family, her natal day being May 26, 1868. Five children have been born to Mr. Pringle and his second wife, of whom three died in infancy. Elva May, the elder of the two daughters who are living, is a student in the high school at Webster City and Hattie Alice is attending the district school.

Mr. and Mrs. Pringle are active members of the United Brethren church. He is serving as class leader and superintendent of the Sunday school and for four years was trustee and steward. In politics he is a democrat, but has never been identified with any official position. Mr. Pringle is a public-spirited man and assists in forwarding every movement which he feels will elevate the standards of the community along intellectual, moral or social lines, his influence always being exerted in behalf of progress and development.

Hamilton Biographies maintained by Lynn McCleary.
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