Guessford, W. M.

GUESSFORD, SMITH, BOOYER, SPRINGER, EVART, BLAKELY, DONALD

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/29/2009 at 07:55:36

Guessford, W. M.

The methods of W. M. Guessford, well known real estate and insurance man of Newton, who for many years was a leading farmer of Jasper County, have always been progressive, and he is quick to adopt new ideas which he believes will be of practical value in his work. Indolence and idleness have been entirely foreign to his nature and owing to his close application to his business and his honorable methods he has won the prosperity that he richly merited, while he enjoys the friendship and esteem of the people throughout the County.

Mr. Guessford was born in Adair County, Kentucky, November 20, 1848. He is the son of William D. and Emily J. (Smith) Guessford, both natives of Kentucky. The father emigrated to Missouri in 1850, coming on to Iowa in 1856, locating four miles south of Newton where he remained until seventeen years ago, when he moved to Newton and died here in October 1906. He devoted his life to farming and his efforts were crowned with abundant success. He was a good citizen, but plain and retiring, seeking no public honors. The mother of the subject passed away when he was but seven years old, in 1855, preceding her husband to the grave over half a century. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are living, namely: Mrs. Louise Booyer, of Viola, Illinois; Mrs. Anngemona Springer, of Harlan, Iowa: D. M., of Sumner, Nebraska; and W. M. of this review. The father of these children married a second time, his last wife being Lucy Evart, a native of New Jersey, this union resulting in the birth of five children, four of whom are living, namely: Joshua and Leander, both of Newton; George lives southeast of Newton; and Ida lives in Newton.

W. M. Guessford grew to maturity on his father's farm and assisted in the general work about the place. He received a very good education in the public schools, and he has made farming his chief life work, following the same, with unabated success for a period of thirty-five years in Jasper County, having maintained a very desirable, productive and well improved place ten miles southeast of Newton. Seven years ago he gave up farming and moved to Newton where he has since engaged in real estate and the insurance business with singular success, having succeeded in building up a very satisfactory patronage. He is well informed on the various grades and range in prices of real estate in this locality and his scrupulous honesty in all his dealings with his fellow men has given him an excellent standing in the business world, so that he has both the goodwill and the confidence of all who know him.

Mr. Guessford is the owner of two valuable farms, one of eighty acres a mile south of Newton, and one of one hundred sixty-seven and a half acres near Colfax.

On September 20, 1869, he married Catherine I. Blakely, a native of Ohio. She was the daughter of Z. W. and Elizabeth Blakely, who came to Jasper County, Iowa, in 1866.

The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Guessford: Cora; Edward lives east of Newton; Mrs. Lucretia Donald lives in Wayne County, Iowa, near Corydon; Elmer lives near Cambria, Wayne County, Iowa; James R. is associated with his father and is also in the auction business; Earl C. is employed in the First National Bank of Newton. Mr. and Mrs. Guessford are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Guessford being a teacher in the Sunday school; their children also belong to this church. Mr. Guessford is an enthusiastic worker in the church and Sunday school and has held every official position in the church. Fraternally, he belongs to the Woodmen of the World. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 463.