JOSEPH OSBURN WENTWORTH, b 27 Sep 1830

WENTWORTH, OSBURN, HART, COOK, CRAIG, CALKINS, FLETCHER, BLAIR, EATON, DUNHAM, MORGAN

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 2/28/2005 at 07:16:33

Varied and interesting have been the events crowded into the life of the subject of this notice, who was one of the earliest pioneers of this county and who has witnessed its growth and development from a wild and uncultivated state, to the home of a prosperous and intelligent people. A native of Tompkins County, N.Y., he was born Sept. 27, 1830, received a practical education in the common-schools and developed into a teacher, which profession he followed one winter in Van Buren Townhip, after coming to this county. Later he secured a tract of land and entered upon the farm pursuits in which he was so highly prospered, accumulated a competence and is now in the enjoyment of much that makes life pleasant and desirable.

Charles Wentworth, the father of our subject, was born in Roxbury, Mass., Nov. 17, 1803, and was left an orphan when a small boy. He received a limited education, served an apprenticeship as a carpenter and joiner, and later acquired a comfortable property and became a highly respected citizen. He came to the West during the period of its early settlement and died in Fairfield Township, this county, March 6, 1876 - the centennial year. He was married in early manhood to Miss Permelia Osburn, who was born in Berkshire County, N.Y., Sept. 15, 1810. She was the youngest of ten children. She survived her husband eight years, passing away on June 10, 1884, at the homestead in Jackson County.

To Charles and Permelia Wentworth there were born ten children, only four of whom are living. The eldest, Nancy A., was married Dec. 30, 1852, to Benjamin Hart, a merchant, of New York State, who is now deceased. Mrs. hart is the mother of two daughters - Sarah and Carrie Belle, and lives in Whittville, Comanche Co., Tex. Sarah Hart married Charles Cook, a farmer and ranchman, of Texas, and is the mother of three children - Carrie H., Benjamin H., and Quail. Carrie Belle Hart was a teacher both of the common school and music. Nancy Hart owns a farm of 1,920 acres. Miss Portia E. Wentworth was married Oct. 8, 1857, to Uriah Craig, who was born in New York State, June 29, 1838. They live in the State of Washington, and have three children - Mary E., the wife of Alonzo Calkins, of Washington; Charles and Etta, at home. Miss Mary E. Wentworth was born April 19, 1835 and taught the first school in Fairfield Township. She died when an interesting young lady of twenty-two years, May 18, 1855. Charles F., was born in Tompkins County, N.Y., May 2, 1835 and married Miss Mary Ann Fletcher, of Wisconsin, who is now deceased; they had one son, who with his father is living near Seneca Post-office, in Nemeha County, Kan.

The subject of this sketch was married Jan. 1, 1855, to Miss Euphemia Blair, a native of Elbridge, Onondaga Co., N.Y., and born April 1, 1837. Her parents were of Scotch descent. Of this union there were born five children, four of whom are living. Sarah P., was born Aug. 12, 1857, and is now the wife of Murray Eaton, of Maquoketa, this county; Clara was born Oct. 4, 1859, and died on the 24th of September, one year following; William was born in Van Buren Township, March 6, 1862, is still unmarried and at home with his father; Louis was born April 20, 1865, and Cassie C., Jan. 28, 1869; they are unmarried.

Mrs. Wentworth had one sister, Eulita C., who was married to John S. Dunham, of Mercer County, Pa., and is now living in Clarks, Merrick Co., Neb. Mr. Dunham during the late Civil War served in Company I, 31st Iowa Infantry, went out as a Sergeant, and at one time held four offices in his regiment. He had the honor of escorting Gen. Grant from Pueblo, New Mexico, to Omaha, Neb., and retired from service with the title of Major. He is now engaged as a stock-dealer in Clarks, Merrick Co., Neb.; they are the parents of eight children, six of whom are living, namely: Adellah, Ada, Lillie, John, Frank and Kittie. The mother of Mrs. Wentworth was twice married and by her second husband, Elijah Morgan, had four children - Walter A., Julia, (deceased) Nettie and Benjamin F. Mrs. Wentworth is a member of the Baptist Church, and Mr. Wentworth, politically, is a sound Democrat, and has held the various local offices. Socially, he belongs to the A.O.U.W. He is a relative not far removed of the late John Wentworth of Chicago, one of the pioneers of that city, and a man widely known throughout the Northwest.

At the time of Mr. Wentworth's arrival in this county it presented a wild and desolate appearance, there being but few settlers in Fairfield Township. His father had purchased land warrants in New York City, and located 160 acres on section 17, now included in the homestead of our subject, where he built a shanty and covered it with boards. He then commenced breaking the prairie with oxen and labored in true pioneer style for a series of years. He succeeded in building up a comfortable homestead, which he loved to enjoy many years. He reared his children to honorable and worthy lives and his son, Joseph O., especially has maintained the family name and reputation in the most creditable manner. He is numbered among the representative men of this county, one who has had a sensible influence in shaping its destiny and bringing it to its present prosperous condition.

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