Vinal, Walter J.

VINAL, READ, WOOD, DELVES

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/15/2009 at 18:37:29

Walter J. Vinal

Among those who have immigrated to this country from the Old World is the gentleman of whom we are about to give a brief history. He is actively engaged in general farming in Richland Township, Jasper County, and was born in Sussex County, England, October 15, 1846, to Henry and Matilda (Read) Vinall. The parents were born in the same place as was their son, and immigrated to the United States in 1849, locating near Cincinnati, Ohio, where the father worked out by the month until able to rent a place, finally purchasing near Davenport, Iowa. He now lives in that city free from the toils of life, aged seventy-five years. The mother is also seventy-five years of age.

The grandparents of our subject were George and Sarah Vinall, and in his native country the grandfather was a sawyer by occupation; they both died in England. They were the parents of seven children, five boys and two girls, of whom Henry is the only survivor. The mother of our subject was one of fourteen children, seven boys and seven girls, all reaching mature years. She bore her husband fourteen children, ten of whom grew to manhood and womanhood and are all yet living.

Walter J. Vinall was the recipient of a common school education, and at an early age manifested a lively interest in educational matters and an amount of industry and integrity of purpose that could but result in success. Following the footsteps of his father, he has always devoted his attention to farming, with the exception of seven years, during which time he taught, school in the winter months. At the age of twenty-six he commenced to make a business record for himself and is now the owner of a valuable estate and also of a comfortable home. His farm comprises two hundred and eighty acres of excellent land in a body, all of which is in a perfect state of cultivation. The original estate was eighty acres, on which our subject erected all the buildings himself. Prior to coming to this county, which he did in the fall of 1880, Mr. Vinall rented land for six years in Scott County, Iowa.

The gentleman whose name heads this sketch was married November 19, 1872, to Miss Emily Vinall, a cousin. She was born May 19, 1850, to Thomas and Mary Vinall, natives of England, who spent their entire days there, dying when quite old. Mrs. Mary Vinall was one in a family of seven children, three of whom are living. Some of the Vinall family were seamen, some were employed by the Government, and the rest were farmers. Our subject's wife when fourteen years old commenced working out in her native country, but when twenty-two years of she started for America, coming alone. She was nine days upon the water and landed at Quebec, Canada. Her marriage with our subject soon occurred, and has been blessed by the birth of four children: Ettie M., born October 22, 1873; Thomas H., December 18, 1875; John W., February 29,1884; and Samuel H., March 1, 1886. They are all at home and are receiving the best educational advantages within the grasp of their parents. The grandparents of Mrs. Vinall were William and Mary (Wood) Delves, and the father was steward of a large farm for fifty years in Sussex County, England. He and his wife lived to reach the advanced ages of eighty and ninety-one years, respectively.

Our worthy subject has been called upon to serve his township in various responsible offices and is now filling his second term as Trustee. He was President of the School Board and Treasurer for one term, and has held other minor positions. He is a stanch Republican in politics and cast his first vote for General Grant. When sixteen years old he united with the Christian Church and has ever been a valued and active worker in its faith. The honored office of Sunday school Superintendent has been his, he filling it efficiently and being well liked by all his scholars and teachers. A reliable, steady-going citizen, an industrious farmer and a good neighbor, he is looked upon with due respect, and his wife has also many friends. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA Page 468.