J. C. Ripperton

RIPPERTON, GRACEY, BUTT, MILLER, SANBORN

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 5/4/2010 at 21:55:45

History of Jackson County, Iowa, James W. Ellis, 1910

J. C. Ripperton, a successful and enterprising agriculturist of Brandon township, has lived on his present place of two hundred acres on section 21 for the past sixteen years and in addition to his farming interests has worked at the plasterer's trade throughout his entire business career. His birth occurred near Sturgis, Michigan, on the 16th of January, 1853, his parents being Moses and Julia (Sanborn) Ripperton, who were natives of Pennsylvania and New York respectively. The paternal grandfather, who was born in Germany, was brought to the United States by his parents when but five years of age. He participated in one of the Indian wars. Moses Ripperton, the father of our subject, was reared in Ohio and subsequently lived in Michigan for a short time but in 1853 took up his abode in Maquoketa, Jackson county, Iowa. At the end of four years he located in Brandon township, where he continued to reside until called to his final rest in 1892. He was a plasterer by trade and successfully followed that occupation throughout his entire life but also owned a farm of one hundred and fourteen acres adjoining that on which our subject now makes his home. His upright and honorable life won him the kindly regard and esteem of all with whom he came in contact and Jackson county numbered him among its worthy residents for almost four decades. It was in Indiana that he was joined in wedlock to Miss Julia Sanborn, who passed away in Maquoketa, this county, when her son, J. C., was but five years of age. She was the mother of five children, namely: Luther, who is deceased; Melville, a resident of Denver, Colorado; J. C., of this review; Frank, who died in early life; and Charles, who passed away at the age of twenty years.
Though J. C. Ripperton received but limited educational advantages in his youthful days, he has constantly augmented his knowledge through reading, experience and observation and is now a well informed man. As a lad of twelve years he began to learn the plasterer's trade and has since given his time and energies to that occupation with excellent success. During almost the entire period he has also devoted considerable attention to agricultural pursuits, buying and selling several different farms. He was likewise identified with mercantile interests for eight years, conducting a store in Canton, Iowa, and working at his trade at the same time. For the past sixteen years he has owned and resided upon a fine farm of two hundred acres on section 21, Brandon township, and the many substantial improvements which are now seen upon the property stand as monuments to his enterprise and thrift. He is the president of the telephone company but expects to retire from that office at the end of his present term.
On the 20th of July, 1879, Mr. Ripperton was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Gracey, a daughter of Dr. Gracey, of Canton, Iowa, who is now deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ripperton have been born six children, as follows: Carlie, who has passed away; Frank, who wedded Miss Lutie Butt and follows farming in Brandon township; Peter, who was accidentally killed at the age of fourteen years, being kicked by a horse; James, who married Miss Nellie Miller; Grover, who is likewise deceased; and Lee, at home.
Mr. Ripperton formerly voted the republican ticket but since Cleveland's first election has supported the men and measures of the democracy and is the only one of the name who is allied with that party. In January, 1908, he was elected township trustee and has also acted as justice of the peace and as president of the school board, ever proving an efficient and faithful public official. He has traveled to a great extent but has always managed to spend the Christmas holidays in this county. His manner is one of frank cordiality and geniality and his unfailing courtesy and loyalty to those with whom he is associated in business or social relations have made him very popular. He has made his home within the borders of Jackson county throughout practically his entire life and has long been numbered among its prosperous and representative citizens.
GEORG