Conwell, Orville E.

CONWELL, NEFF, LAVALLEUR, KRACHT, HARRE, DAVIDSON, CLARK, MILLER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/27/2009 at 18:35:49

Conwell, Orville E.

One of the highly respected families of Jasper County whose members have tried to do their full duty in the affairs of the locality since they came here with the early settlers, the Conwells are certainly deserving of our attention at this time, one of the best known of the present generation being the young farmer of Independence Township whose name forms the caption of this sketch.

Orville E. Conwell was born in the Township in which he has been content to spend his life and in which he is still very comfortably domiciled on a small farm, the date of his birth being recorded as December 20, 1881, and here he grew to manhood, attended the local schools and assisted his father with the general work on the home farm. His father, Robert C. Conwell, was born in Ohio, January 25, 1844, there spent his childhood, took up farming for a livelihood, came to Independence Township, Jasper County, Iowa, later in life and here he still resides, having become well established here. His wife, who was known in her maidenhood as Ellen Neff, was born in Bureau County, Illinois, December 6, 1851. To this union the following children were born: Mrs. Della Lavalleur, born June 24, 1874, is residing in Lorimor, Iowa; Florence died at the age of two years and nine months; Cora, born August 29, 1879; Orville E., of this review; Floyd, born September 15, 1889, is living at home. These children were born in this Township. The Conwells, being among the earliest settlers here, have lived to see the great development that has taken place.

Orville E. Conwell was married on April 30, 1902, to Amanda Kracht, who was born in this Township, June 3, 1884. Conrad Kracht, her father, was born in Germany in 1850, and her mother, known in her maidenhood as Emma Harre, was born in Wisconsin July 30, 1858; both now reside in Baxter, Iowa. The father immigrated to the United States when a young man and here he met with gratifying success. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Kracht: Mary, who married R. P. Davidson, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; William H., born November 21, 1881, is living on the home farm in Independence Township; Pauline A. Clark, born August 21, 1883, lives in Marshalltown, Iowa; Amanda S., wife of Mr. Conwell of this review; Helen L., born March 24, 1887, lives in Marshalltown; Lydia H. Miller, born December 18, 1889, lives in Independence Township; Ella F., born May 6, 1893; Edwin C., is attending school in Baxter. To Mr. and Mrs. Conwell have been born two daughters, Romaine, born August 30, 1903, and Vera, born July 1, 1905.

Mr. Conwell has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and he is now the owner of a productive and neat little farm of forty acres in Independence Township, and in connection with this he has charge of one of the best farms in the County, and he is making a success of general farming. He raises good grade stock and at a certain time each year buys and sells many cattle and some horses, and he is regarded as an excellent judge of these animals.

Politically, Mr. Conwell is an independent voter. He belongs to Baxter lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Baxter. His wife is a member of the German Reformed Church of her community. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1277