Guthrie, A. T.

GUTHRIE, STEWART, SPENCER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/29/2009 at 07:59:01

Guthrie, A. T.

Among those whose life history is closely interwoven into that of Jasper County is A. T. Guthrie. He is the son of Isaac and Martha Guthrie and was born in Palo Alto Township, Jasper County, Iowa, June 22, 1859. His parents emigrated from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1853, taking up land in Jasper County, which is still in the family. The story so often recited of the hardships and privations of the early settlers in a new country is the story of the parents of the subject of this sketch, and the boyhood of A. T. Guthrie was replete with the weird charm and rugged romance of the wilderness. It was from this primitive surrounding, from this nearness to God's great unclaimed solitude, that the little pioneer boy drank in that strength of manhood and sterling worth which stamp him as one of Jasper County's best citizens. Mr. Guthrie moved to Cairo, Nebraska, at the age of twenty-two, where for a time, he engaged in farming with very good success, and there in Hall County he owns a splendid farm of one hundred and sixty acres. That region was at that time very new and the land yielded readily to cultivation. After a period of six years Mr. Guthrie returned to Jasper County, Iowa. It was upon his return to Iowa that he was married to Agnes Stewart in 1888, whose history will be treated in detail later in this article. The next move of Mr. Guthrie was to Holyoke, Phillips County, Colorado, where the subject engaged in farming. He was elected sheriff of the County by the Republicans and served in that capacity two terms of two years each, performing his duties well and efficiently. Upon retiring from the office of sheriff he engaged in the implement business for six years, after which he sold out and returned to Jasper County, Iowa, in 1902, where he has since resided.

Mr. Guthrie is the owner of a splendid farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Jasper County, one mile south of Newton known as the old Andy Stewart farm. Aside from general farming Mr. Guthrie is engaged in the raising of thoroughbred stock, registered Percheron and Shire horses, shorthorn cattle, and Shropshire sheep. He owns a fine set of farm buildings, furnished with many modern, up-to-date conveniences.

Mr. Guthrie is a member and steward in the Presbyterian Church and is affiliated with the blue lodge and Royal Arch Masons at Newton, Iowa. He is the oldest of three children now living, having one brother, Charles Guthrie, and a sister, Mrs. Lillie Spencer, wife of Bert Spencer, all residing in Jasper County and all of them prosperous people.

Agnes Guthrie, wife of the subject of this sketch, is a daughter of Andrew Stewart, who came to America from Scotland in 1865, engaging in the coal mining industry. Her mother's name was Mary Stewart and no hardier or better people ever come to any country than they. By their industry and frugality they came to own one of the best farms in the entire County. Mrs. Guthrie was seven years of age when she came to this country, and, with the exception of her sojourn in Colorado with her husband, has since resided in Jasper County, Iowa. She is the type of the thrifty housewife, a good mother and a woman of rare discernment and intelligence. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

Three children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Guthrie, the eldest, Stewart I. Guthrie, being twenty years of age; Vernon A. Guthrie, seventeen years, and Frank A. Guthrie, aged thirteen years. They are also raising a young lady, Violet Wilson Guthrie, aged fifteen years. All reside at home with their parents and assist in the farming and stock raising, the stock raising being conducted under the name of A. T. Guthrie & Sons.Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 932.