Signs, J. Emery

SIGNS, KINTZ, LONG, DEETER, HAMPTON, PORTER, HUGHES, JONES, SHUEY

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 10/21/2009 at 07:36:50

Signs, J. Emery

Not alone are those worthy of biographic honors who have moved along the loftier planes of action, but to an equal extent are those deserving who are of the rank and file of the world's workers, for they are not less the conservators of public prosperity and material advancement. Through all the gradations of life recognition should be had of the true values, and then should full appreciation be manifested, for there can be no impropriety in scanning the acts of any man as they affect his public, social and business relations. Viewed from whatever standpoint, the career of J. Emery Signs, one of Clear Creek Township's prosperous farmers, is worthy of consideration in this connection. He is one of the worthy native sons of Jasper County, his birth having occurred on March 1, 1850, in Clear Creek Township, and here he grew to manhood and he has always been identified with the agricultural interests of this locality. He is the son of James and Sarah (Kintz) Signs, the father born in Indiana is living in this Township, and the mother, who was born in Summit County, Ohio, died in this Township. Their family consisted of four sons and one daughter, namely: J. Emery, of this review, is the eldest; Mrs. John W. Long lives in Eden Township, Marshall County; Charles O. lives in Olathe, Kansas; John is a resident of Collins, Iowa; Lee lives on the old home farm in Clear Creek Township, this county.

Mr. Signs, of this review, was married on November 7, 1880, to Ida May Hampton, who was born in Clear Creek Township, November 5, 1861, the daughter of William R. and Sarah Ann (Deeter) Hampton, the father born in Kentucky and the mother in Pennsylvania. They came west, spent their last years at Gering, Nebraska, the father dying on December 5, 1904, and the mother passing away on December 4, 1903. Their family consisted of twelve children, ten of whom grew to maturity, one son and one daughter dying in infancy; they were named as follows: Theodore is living in Juniata, Nebraska; Cornelia Kimberly is living at Gering, Nebraska; Caroline Hidy is a resident of Mapleton, Kansas; Dora Adeline died about fifteen years ago; Ida May, wife of Mr. Hampton of this sketch; Hulda Porter, of Towanda, Kansas; Jennie Hughes, of Mapleton, Kansas; Commodore lives at Gering, Nebraska; William also lives there; Russell R. lives in Independence Township, this County; Albert lives at Gering, Nebraska. These children were born in Clear Creek Township, this county, of which their parents were early settlers, having lived here many years before moving to Nebraska.

To Mr. and Mrs. Signs have been born two sons and four daughters, namely: Earl, born September 27, 1882, died April 11, 1888; Sarah Pearl Jones, born November 14, 1887, lives in Sherman Township, this county; Jessie Belle Shuey, born August 14, 1890, is living north of Collins; Alta, born February 8, 1893, is living at home; Ora, born November 5, 1896, is also a member of the family circle; Orville Edwin, born January 18, 1899. They were all born in Clear Creek Township. One grandchild, Gwendolyn Fern Shuey, was born on May 10, 1911.

Mr. Signs has been very successful in a business way, and he is the owner of one hundred and nineteen acres in Clear Creek Township, which comprises one of the best improved and most productive farms of this locality, on which stands a modern, well furnished home, and he has laid away a competency for his old age.

Politically, Mr. Signs is a Democrat, and he has been Township trustee and a member of the local school board. Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America at Mingo. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1199.