C. L. RIPPLE, b. 16 Nov 1838

FARRELL, MATHEWS, MCCLOSKEY, REED, TRUMBULL, MAYBERRY, WALKER, BLACK

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 2/20/2004 at 23:07:01

C. L. Ripple, a veteran of the late Civil War, is the most prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Richland Township, and is classed among the most enterprising and successful members of his calling in all Jackson County. He is a son of a pioneer of this section of Iowa, and may himself be considered a pioneer. He has improved a large farm of 530 acres, beautifully located on Farmers' Creek, lying partly in Richland Township, and the remainder in Farmers' Creek Township (280 acres on sec 31, ninety acres on section 32, the former township, and eighty acres on section 1, and the same number on section 12 of the latter township), all of which, with the exception of sixty acres, is under fine cultivation, and produces abundant harbests, and is in all respects one of the best ordered, and most desirable estates to be found in the county. It is watered by springs and Farmers' Creek, is fenced, and has beautiful groves and orchard. The buildings are roomy and conveniently arranged, comprising a fine brick residence 24 x 28, with wing 14 x 16, commodious barns, etc. Mr. Ripple has his farm well-stocked. He has a herd of graded Durhams, and also buys and feeds cattle to the extent of a car-load a year; he has twelve graded draft horses, using three teams in the working of the farm; and he also has a flock of seventy sheep; but he makes a specialty of hogs, preferring the Poland-China breed, and he has a fine lot.

Our subject is of German descent, his grandfather Ripple having been born in Germany, but he subsequently emigrated to the United States, and spent his last years in Pennsylvania. In that State, in Lawrence County, his son James, father of our subject, was born. He was there bred to the life of a farmer, and became the possessor of a ninety-acre farm, that was valuable on account of its rich deposits of coal and iron. In 1855, in the spring of the year, he abandoned his old Pennsylvania home, and came with his family by boat to Iowa, landing at Bellevue, April 9, and thence coming to Farmers' Creek Township, where he purchased 200 acres of land. He cast in his lot with the pioneers that had preceded him to this region, and rendered valuable aid in developing the resources of the township, and in promoting its growth. He improved a good farm, and continued its management with good judgment and discretion until his death, in 1885, at the ripe old age of seventy-eight years. He left to his descendants the precious legacy of a life well-spent, whose record was that of a virtuous, conscientious, upright man. Religiously, he was a Presbyterian, steadfast in the faith; politically, he was a Democrat, and work zealously for the interests of the party. His good wife passed to the life beyond at the homestead in Farmers' Creek, where she had assisted him in the upbuilding of a home. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Farrell. She was born in Lawrence County, Pa., the youngest of twelve children of Joseph Farrell, a well-to-do farmer of Lawrence County, of Scotch-Irish descent. Of her marriage twelve children were born, eight, of whom are living, as follows: Adeline, now Mrs. Mathews, of Farmers' Creek; Margaret, Mrs. McCloskey, a widow living in Woodbury County, Iowa; C. L., of this sketch; Mary J., Mrs. Reed, of Woodbury County; Chauncey and James, of Farmers' Creek; Hannah, Mrs. Trumbull, of Burton County; William, of Woodbury County.

The subject of this biography, was born near the town of Edinburg, Lawrence Co., Pa., Nov. 16, 1838, and was there reared on a farm, and obtained his education in a log school-house with slab benches. He was sixteen years old when he accompanied his parents to Iowa, and in their new home he grew to manhood, and attended school two winters after coming here, to better his education. He has a distinct recollection of the pioneer scenes that prevailed here when he first came, andof the abundance of the wild game. He remained an inmate of the parental household until he was twenty-one, when he began farming for himself, renting land in Farmers' Creek, and using oxen to work with. In 1860 he bought forty acres of land in Richland Township, and cultivated it until 1861, when the chinch bugs routed him out. In August, 1862, in the pride and glory of a strong and vigorous manhood, he offered his services to the Government to assist in putting down the war, and his name was enrolled amongst those of the brave soldiers of Company I, 31st Iowa Infantry. He was mustered in at Davenport, was sent to Helena, Ark., with his comrades, and after skirmishing with the enemy at that point, they were dispatched to Vicksburg, and thence on the expedition up the Yazoo, and took part in the battle of Yazoo. From there our subject's regiment went to Arkansas Post, and was present at the battle there, and then returned to Young's Point, where it went into winter quarters. Our subject was next called into action in the skirmish at Fourteen Mile Creek, and then fought at the battle of Jackson, and subsequently at the siege of Vicksburg, which lasted forty-seven days, and he took an active part in the memorable engagement of the 22d of May. After the surrender his regiment was ordered back to Jackson, and skirmished with the rebels all the way, and subsequently returned to Camp Sherman near Vicksburg, where it remained until September. Then Chattanooga became the objective point, and the men went there by the way of Memphis. Mr. Ripple was taken sick at Bridgeport, Miss., and was sent to Nashville, where he was in the hospital for two months. As soon as possible he joined his regiment at Woodville, Ala., where it was in winter quarters, and in the spring of 1864, the soldiers entered upon the Georgia campaign under the leadership of the gallant Sherman, and showed their good fighting qualities at Resaca, Sallas, Kenesaw Mountain and siege of Atlanta, where, on the 22d and 28th the most hotly contested battles of the month were waged. After taking part in the battle of Jonesborough, our subject and his comrades were sent in pursuit of Gen. Hood, and had an engagement with the enemy at Snake Creek Gap. Returning to Atlanta, they accompanied Gen. Sherman to the sea. At Savannah Mr. Ripple was detailed to drive in the train, and acted as teamster until the close of the war, when he went with the troops to Washington. He had contracted sore eyes, and was almost blind, but he took part in the grand review. He was mustered out and discharged from the army at Davenport, June 28, 1865, having won for himself an honorable record as a faithful and courageous soldier, who was true to the highest interests of his country in her hour of trial.

After his experience of the privations and hardships of life on Southern battle fields, our subject returned to his home with his health much impaired, and he was not able to do much that summer, but look after his little farm of forty acres. In the fall he bought forty acres adjoining it, and was so successful in cultivated the whole, that he was enabled to lay up money, and in 1871 bought eighty acres more adjoining, which was partly improved. He busied himself in farming and stock-raising, and continued to make improvements, and has from time to time bought more land, until his farm numbering 530 acres, is one of the largest for many miles around. That he has been very successful, more so than ordinary, he owes entirely to hard labor, good management, and a talent for business.

Mr. Ripple and Miss Margaret Mayberry were united in marriage, Dec. 15, 1859, and ten children have blessed their wedded life, seven of whom are living: Elizabeth J., Amy D., John L., Joseph H., Horace C., Esther A., and W. Harrison. Elizabeth married Sylvester Walker, a farmer in Farmers' Creek Township; Amy D. married George Walker, a farmer in Farmers' Creek Township; Marcellus; James Alexander, and an infant unnamed, are deceased. The others are at home with their parents. Mrs. Ripple is a native of Mercer County, Pa., a daughter of A. J. and Jane (Black) Mayberry, natives of Mercer County, Pa. Her father was a blacksmith, in the employ of a canal company; he also farmed while a resident of the Keystone State. But he finally removed from there with his family, and became an early settler of Farmers' Creek Township, where he spent his remaining years. In his wife our subject possesses a true helpmate and companion. She is a sincere Christian, and an influential member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has served as Superintendent of the Sunday School.

Mr. Ripple is an intensely patriotic and loyal citizen, as was shown by his course through the war and by his conduct since. He possesses a full share of public spirit, is devoted to the best intests of his county and township, and as President of the local School Board, is zealously furthering the cause of education. The Republican party possesses in him one of its most intelligent supporters, and one of its strongest advocates in this vicinity. It may be remarked in this connection, that Mr. Ripple went into the war as a Democrat, but in the fiery crucible of that terrible struggle, his opinions were changed in regard to the merits of the policy pursued by the two great parties, and he came out from the contest a firm Republican. Our subject has a quick intellect, his judgment and business ability are of a high order; he has a keen sense of honor, and his life-record is untarnished.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois)