Greenlief, Charles E.

GREENLIEF, BROWN, CURE, HIBBITS, RUMBAUGH, CUNNINGHAM, SWANEGAN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/29/2009 at 07:50:45

Greenlief, Charles E.

Clearly defined purpose and consecutive effort in the affairs of life will inevitably result in the attainment of a large measure of success; but in following out the career of one who has gained success by his own efforts there comes into view the intrinsic individuality which made such accomplishment possible, and thus there is granted an objective incentive and inspiration, while at the same time there is enkindled a feeling of respect and admiration. In carving out his career Charles E. Greenlief, one of the leading business men and enterprising citizens of Newton, lived a useful life and it seems that he tried to be of benefit to those who came into contact with him, while laboring to advance his own interests, thus he is eminently entitled to the universal esteem in which he is held.

Mr. Greenlief is one of the honored native sons of Jasper County, and he has been content to spend his life here, taking part in the development of the same through all its stages. His birth occurred on January 19, 1868. He is the son of William C. and Eunice (Brown) Greenlief, the father a native of Montreal, Canada, and the mother of Steuben County, New York. They came west when young and were married in Davenport, Iowa, the father having come to Illinois from Canada in 1854, and after living in that state four or five years, went to Davenport in 1861. Near that city he worked for a year breaking prairie, then, in 1862, came to Jasper County, settling in Mound Prairie Township on one hundred and sixty acres of raw prairie land. To this he subsequently added eighty acres more and developed it all into a fine farm and here they spent the remainder of their lives, the father reaching the remarkable age of ninety-three years, the mother having died at the age of fifty-five years. For additional facts relating to their lives the reader is directed to the sketch of Leonard A. Greenlief in this work.

Charles E. Greenlief is one of a family of four children, two boys and two girls; Hattie died when a baby; Emma J. died when seventeen years of age; Charles E. of this review; and Homer B., of Des Moines, Iowa.

After the death of his mother the subject left home to make his own way in the world, and, although but thirteen years old, he successfully ran a feed mill for Will Arten of Prairie City for eight months. He then worked as a farm hand for two years, after which he began working in a machine shop at Des Moines, continuing there for several years, becoming a very adroit workman. He then opened a sawmill in Marion County which he operated two years, also ran one two years in Jasper County. He then secured employment with the Parsons Band Cutter and Self-Feeder Company, being foreman of the machine shop for eight years. He then purchased the home place and lived on it for two years, then went to Canada and operated a steam plow for six months, having previously purchased a section of land in that country. Returning to Newton, he bought an interest in the One Minute Manufacturing Company and for six years has been superintendent of the factory, no small amount of its success being due to his able management and extensive knowledge of this line of work.

On December 25, 1892, Mr. Greenlief was united in marriage with Mrs. Jomattie Cure, daughter of J. B. and Marian (Hibbits) Rumbaugh, of Ohio, Mrs. Greenlief being born in Jasper County. Her parents were farmers and are now living a retired life in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Their family consisted of ten children, four of whom died in childhood; Mrs. Armittie Cunningham died at the age of thirty-two years; Newton M. is in Des Moines; Mrs. Mariah Swanegan and N. G. also live in Des Moines; Jomattie, wife of Mr. Greenlief; Oliver B. lives in Seversville, Iowa.

Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Greenlief, namely: Nellie, born April 6, 1895; Harry L., born May 29, 1897; Delta Grace, born October 3, 1899; Pearl May, born March 21, 1902, died when five months old; Jesse William, born March 9, 1910.

By a former marriage Mrs. Greenlief became the mother of these children: John Edward, born February 2, 1886, died when five months old; Thomas J., born March 5, 1888; Hazel I., born April 19, 1890.

Mrs. Greenlief's father was a soldier in the Civil War and he is now an invalid as a result of the hardships of army life. In an early day he was a freighter, having hauled goods by wagon from Keokuk to Des Moines. The first school ever taught in Mound Prairie Township was taught in the house of Mr. Greenlief's father. He was a pioneer here and has long been known in this part of the County.

Mrs. Greenlief is a member of the Christian Church. Fraternally Greenlief belongs to the Yeomen lodge, also the Newton Business Men's Association. He is one of the well-to-do and prominent men of this city, is well known and has the respect and good will of all classes. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 683.