Byal, William J.

BYAL, MILLER, MURPHY, RIPPEY

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/27/2009 at 12:35:52

Byal, William J. ~

Agriculture is the oldest of all alchemy, says a distinguished writer, for it turns earth and even refuse into gold and confers upon its cultivator the additional reward of health. This oldest of human vocations and noblest of them all has been honored by the successful career of William J. Byal; one of the enterprising and public spirited citizens of Clear Creek Township. His career contains few mistakes and abounds in much that is honorable and of good report, containing the record of an untarnished name and a character above reproach, which is much more to be desired than great riches.

Mr. William J. Byal was born in Clear Creek Township, Jasper County, Iowa, February 15, 1870, grew to manhood here, received his education in the local public schools, which he attended during the winter months and assisted with the general work on the farm during the crop season, in fact he has continued to be identified with the agricultural life of the community in which he grew to manhood. He is the son of William Byal, a well-known citizen of this locality, who is referred to elsewhere in this work in the sketch of Henry Byal.

William J. Byal was married on February 12, 1896, to Mittie A. Miller, who was born in Indiana, February 7, 1872, but most of her life was spent in Jasper County, whither she was brought by her parents when she was five years old, in 1877. She is the daughter of E. J. and Martha (Murphy) Miller, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of Pennsylvania. They grew up and were married in the East and emigrated to this County while it was undergoing its first important period of development, established a good home, and they are still living in Clear Creek Township.

There were three children in the Miller family, of whom Mrs. Byal is the eldest; the others are Mrs. Francis J. Rippey, born March 25, 1874, lives in Independence Township; and Jesse Pearl, born September 1, 1879, lives in Saco, Montana.

To Mr. and Mrs. Byal four children have been born, all in Clear Creek Township, and they were named as follows: Geneva, born October 20, 1897, died March 12, 1905; Wilda, born June 9, 1900; Roscoe, born August 29, 1906; Hugh, born August 24, 1910.

Mr. Byal is the owner of one of the choice farms of Clear Creek Township, consisting of two hundred and forty acres, which he has kept under an excellent state of improvement and cultivation and which ranks with the best farms in this portion of the County. He keeps an excellent grade of livestock of all kinds, and his home is modern, attractive and well furnished and he has a substantial group of outbuildings. Through good management, persistent effort and honorable dealings with his fellow men he has secured a competency and at the same time won the confidence and respect of all who know him.

Politically, Mr. Byal is a Republican, but he has never taken a very active interest in public matters. His father was for a number of years a member of the board of supervisors of Jasper County. The wife of the subject belongs to the Christian Church at Ira, and they both belong to the Rebekahs at Mingo. In addition, Mr. Byal is a member of Mingo Lodge No. 174, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of Unity Lodge No. 520, of Baxter. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1166.