Tramel, William Alexander

TRAMEL, ALEXANDER, JEFFRIES, CAMPBELL, PRICE, WESTON, SPENCER, MEADE, CRAIG

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 10/23/2009 at 06:35:55

Tramel, William Alexander

The early agriculturists of Jasper county will ever be held in the grateful memory of the present generation and of the active young farmers of today, and the husbandman who came here a half century ago and cleared, upturned and seeded the wild prairie sod and erected for himself and venturesome family a rude dwelling, and opened the country, then roadless, for the advance of a higher civilization, well deserves the respect which is accorded him after he has passed the allotted span of life. Of such as these is William Alexander, Tramel, well known farmer of Clear Creek Township, a man who has always labored along such well established lines as to wrench success from seeming discouraging situations and at the same time has been enabled to do much for his neighbors, believing in the old maxim, "live and let live," and as a result of such a life of usefulness and honor he is today held in high favor with all who have had an opportunity to know him intimately.

Mr. William Alexander Tramel was born in St. Joseph County, Indiana, August 19, 1835 and there he grew to maturity, working on the home farm during his boyhood days, and when seventeen years of age, in 1852, he accompanied his parents to Iowa and settled in Clear Creek Township, Jasper County, and here he has resided ever since, having lived to see the wonderful growth of the locality, for it was then wild and settlers were few. The farm on which he now lives and owns was paid for by his father with an 1812-14 war warrant. The father, W. A. B. Tramel, was born in North Carolina in 1802, and his death occurred on his home place in this township in April 1897, at an advanced age, having reached his ninety-fifth milestone, and the century through which his useful life extended was the most remarkable in the world's history. He married Cynthia Alexander, who also was born in North Carolina, in 1804, and her death occurred in Clear Creek Township, March 3, 1878. Their family consisted of the following children: Eliza Ann Jeffries, whose death occurred in 1903; Nancy Campbell is also deceased; Martha Price, born January 28, 1833, is living in Ira, this County; W. Alexander, of this review; Joseph M. died in East Portland in 1906; Caroline Weston, born October 29, 1840, also lives at Ira; J. J., born November 26, 1842, of Ira.

On April 24, 1861, W. A. Tramel, of this sketch, was married to Sarah J. Spencer, who was born in Licking County, Ohio, August 5, 1835. Her father, William Spencer, was born in Vermont and his death occurred near Newton, Iowa, in 1861. He married Mary Meade, also a native of Vermont, and she died in Clear Creek Township in 1890. Their family consisted of two sons and two daughters: Charles, born in Vermont and died in Colfax, Iowa; Henry, born in Vermont, died near Newton, Iowa; Mary Craig died in Ohio in 1856; Sarah J., wife of Mr. Tramel, of this sketch, is the youngest and the only surviving member.

To Mr. and Mrs. Tramel have been born three children, the first born dying in infancy; Mary C., whose birth occurred on March 8, 1871, has remained with her parents; C. W., born December 25, 1873, is living on the home farm, which he works. They were born, reared and educated in Clear Creek Township and have always lived here.

Mr. Tramel has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and he is the owner of eighty acres of good land in Clear Creek Township, which he has kept well improved and tilled in a manner that has brought large returns. His son also owns eighty acres and his daughter fifty-four, all good land. The Tramel home is a pleasant one, modernly furnished.

Politically, Mr. Tramel is a Republican, and he has been active in local affairs, always ready to assist in forwarding any public enterprise. He has been Township trustee and a member of the school board, filling both offices most satisfactorily. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Ira, and are faithful in their attendance upon its ordinances. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1191.