Loupee, W. F.

LOUPEE, PHILO, RHUARK, SMITH, WALKER, MCBROOM, BROUGHTON, MUNN, OARTWIG, WING, FULLER, LODGE, COOK, RENSHAW, WILLIAMS, WHITAKER, ANDERSON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 9/14/2009 at 16:26:32

Loupee, W. F.

One of Jasper County's substantial and influential citizens is W. F. Loupee, who lives about a half mile north of the city of Newton, his fine farm representing much hard labor, but he is a man of well-known energy and determination in business affairs, indolence and idleness having ever been entirely foreign to his nature, and his continued activity in the management and development of his property has made his one of the valuable farms of the county.

Mr. Loupee was born on August 27, 1853, in Cass County, Michigan, the son of George and Julia (Philo) Loupee, the father a native of Germany, born on March 15, 1826. When a babe, two and one-half years old, he was brought to America by his parents in an old-style sailing vessel, which, during the voyage, was driven on a rock upon which it stuck fast for thirty-six hours. The family soon came on to Massillon, Ohio, but a few years later moved to Michigan, where the elder Loupee died. His son, George, father of the subject, learned the cooper's trade, which he followed during the winter months, engaging in farming in the summer time, following this for about four years, then he traded his farm of eighty acres for ninety-six acres in Jasper County and for three years he farmed in Kellogg Township, then took his family back to Michigan, but retained his farm here, returning to it five years later, in 1869, and there he lived until 1905, successfully engaged in general agricultural pursuits, then retired and moved to Newton, where his death occurred on Christmas day, 1908, at the age of eighty-two years. His wife preceded him to the grave in 1875. After her death he married Henrietta Rhuark.

Louis, brother of George Loupee, uncle of the subject, served in the Civil War, and was promoted from private to the rank of captain for meritorious service. Eight children were born to George Loupee and his first wife, namely: W. F., of this sketch; Henry is farming in Newton Township; two children died in infancy; Estella married Angelo Smith and they live on a farm in South Dakota; Sarah married W. A. Walker and lives in New Sharon; Minnie married E. M. McBroom and they live on a farm at Laurel, Iowa; Addie married E. E. Broughton, who is in a furniture store in Belmont, Iowa. Six children were born to George Loupee and his second wife, named as follows: John, who is living in Malaka Township, this County; Cyrus also lives there; Ida married D. R. Munn and they live on a farm in South Dakota; Alva, who has remained unmarried, lives in Malaka Township; Josie married Herman Oartwig and they live near Baxter; George, who is still single, lives in Malaka Township. The mother of the above named children passed to her rest on September 30, 1910. W. F. Loupee received his schooling in the district schools in Michigan and Jasper County. When he reached his majority he was united in marriage with Mary Smith Wing, on March 3, 1874. She is descended from a distinguished ancestry, being a direct descendant on her father's side of Edward Fuller, who was one of the famous band of Pilgrims who landed at Plymouth Reckon the Mayflower. Her father, Elijah Wing, was the son of Mary (Smith) Wing, who was the only daughter of Josiah Smith, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and who subsequently became a United States senator from Massachusetts, and a monument erected at his grave in that state bears the following inscription: Hon. Josiah Smith, U. S. Senator for Massachusetts, died April 4, 1802, aged 65 years.

Elijah Wing was born in Massachusetts and in that state he was married to Katheryne Barge, which union resulted in the birth of five children, as follows: Mary Smith Wing, who married W. F. Loupee, of this sketch, her birth occurring on December 10, 1857, at Geneseo, Illinois. It will be noticed that she bears the name of her illustrious ancestor, Smith; she was the youngest of the family. The others are: Jane E. married Joseph Lodge, formerly a farmer of Kellogg Township, but they now live in Cedar Rapids; Roxana, wife of Judge Cook, lives in Cedar Rapids; he was formerly judge of the district court, and lived in Newton; he was twice elected to Congress from this district. He is now attorney for the Chicago & Milwaukee railroad and is one of the distinguished men of the state. Melissa Wing married William Renshaw, formerly a farmer in Kellogg Township, and her death occurred at Stewart, Iowa. Melancthon, formerly a farmer in Mariposa Township, is now living in Omaha.

Mr. Wing was accidentally killed in a runaway in Newton when he was seventy-five years of age. His wife died in Algona, Iowa, in 1884, at the age of seventy-two years. They came to Jasper County in 1867, and became well established and well known here, honored by all for their integrity and hospitality.

W. F. Loupee has always been an agriculturist. His first purchase of land was eighty acres, with his earnings, in Mariposa Township, which he sold two years later, but soon afterwards bought one hundred and forty acres in Kellogg Township, and after four years he sold that and later bought one hundred and eighty-five acres in the same Township. He cultivated that place with his usual success for ten years, then sold it and bought one hundred and fifty-eight acres in Newton Township, for which he paid seventy-five dollars per acre in 1891. This fine farm he sold five years later for one hundred and fifteen dollars per acre. In the meantime he had bought two hundred acres in Kellogg Township, which he retained three years before selling. At the present time he has an interest in two farms in Kellogg Township, besides his handsome home in the suburbs of Newton, which is modernly furnished and in the midst of attractive surroundings, his holdings here comprising twenty-five acres of valuable land. This place he purchased five years ago and has since erected the splendid residence there, and this has been his place of abode ever since, leading a retired life, merely overseeing his farms. He has been very successful in a business way, considering the fact that he started in life for himself with nothing and has fought his own way to the front, having long been regarded as one of the leading general farmers and stock raisers in the County. Fraternally, he is a member of the blue lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, also the Knights Templar and the Royal Arch degrees have been conferred on him. He is a dimitted member of the Order of the Eastern Star chapter at Kellogg. Mrs. Loupee is a faithful member of the Congregational Church in Newton, and they both stand high in social circles in this vicinity, enjoying the good will and esteem of a vast number of friends and acquaintances.

To Mr. and Mrs. Loupee have been born the following children: Anna married Marion Williams; they live in Kellogg Township and have four children; Gertrude is a teacher of much ability, having taught several of the rural schools, and in Lynnville, Sully and Sac City; Fanny married Fred Whitaker; they own a farm in Kellogg Township, but are now living in Newton, and they have two children; Jay T., who lives in Kellogg Township, married Hannah Anderson, daughter of H. P. Anderson, and they have three children; Floy, who recently completed the four years' course in the Newton high school, is an accomplished musician. These children have all been educated in the Newton schools and the daughters have all taught school, except the youngest. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 930