Westfall, L. C.

WESTFALL, POLING, ADAMS, TURNER, ANDERSON, SOLOMON

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 12/4/2008 at 08:36:29

WESTFALL, L. C.

Engineer; Greencastle; born in Morgan Co., Ind. in 1842; came to Jasper Co. in 1854; owns a house and lot in Greencastle. He married Miss Jane POLING in 1866. She was born in Van Buren Co., Iowa in 1847. They have four children - Alice, Walter S., Minnie L. and Arthur M. Mr. W. is a Republican; is a member of the Evangelical Association; also Sons of Temperance. Holds the office of Township Clerk. Enlisted in Co. B, 14th I. V. I. in October 1861; participated in battles of Pittsburg Landing, 1st and 2nd Corinth, siege of Vicksburg, Atlanta, Sherman's march to the sea, and Bentonville; was mustered out at Louisville, Ky. in 1865. ~ "Poweshiek Township Biographies," The History of Jasper County, Iowa, (Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1878)
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Westfall, Lee C.

In studying the interesting life histories of many of the better class of men, and the ones of unquestioned merit and honor, it will be found that they have been compelled very largely to map out their own career and furnish their own motive force in scaling the heights of success and it is of such a one that the biographer now writes, Lee C. Westfall, an honored veteran of the Great Rebellion and a substantial citizen of Mingo, Poweshiek Township, Jasper County.

Mr. Westfall was born in Morgan County, Indiana, on October 10, 1842. He is the son of A. P. and Sarah Pettit Westfall, being their only child. They came from Knox County, Illinois, to Jasper County, Iowa, in 1854, locating at Monroe, then Tool's Point. The mother's second husband was Joseph Owens.

The subject became both a stationary and locomotive engineer, making this his principal life work, following his chosen vocation until about 1890, when he retired. He was one of the brave sons of the North who offered his services and his life, if need be, that the Union might be perpetuated, enlisting at Monroe, Jasper County, in Company B, Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, at the first call for three-year troops, and he served until in July 1865, in a manner that stamped him as an efficient and loyal American soldier. He served under Grant at Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, in fact, all the engagements in the West. After the fall of Vicksburg he was sent to Georgia and fought at Kennesaw Mountain and in all the battles in the Atlanta campaign. He was wounded on July 21, 1864. He was with Sherman on the march to the sea, and went from Savannah, Georgia, through the Carolinas to Washington City.

After returning home from the army Mr. Westfall resumed his work as engineer, becoming widely known in this part of the state in this line of endeavor. For a number of years he has been township trustee and he has been township clerk for the past fourteen years, and secretary of the township school board for the past fifteen years. Politically, he is a Republican. He is a member of the E. H. Keyes Post No. 511, Grand Army of the Republic, at Mingo, being adjutant of the same for fifteen years. He has filled these offices with much credit to himself and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned.

Mr. Westfall was married in 1866, in this county, to Jane Poling, daughter of Martin Poling, who served in the Civil War in the same company and regiment with the subject, as did also Mrs. Westfall's brother, Silas Poling. The mother of Mrs. Westfall was known in her maidenhood as Peary Carpenter, they were born in Randolph County, Virginia, from which they went to Union County, Ohio, then came to Jasper County, Iowa, in 1856, and they died in Shelby County, this state.

Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Westfall, namely: Alice married D. D. Adams, son of Elias Adams, a pioneer here; S. W. is farming in Poweshiek Township; Minnie L. married E. S. Turner, of this township, who is mentioned in the sketch of his father, C. C. Turner, appearing in this work; Arthur M. is farming in Winnebago County, Minnesota; Leroy G. lives in Mingo, Iowa; he is at present clerk in Baker & Baker's general store in Mingo.

The mother of these children passed to her rest en October 14, 1901, and on August 25, 1903, Mr. Westfall was married to Mrs. Mary Anderson, daughter of James Solomon, a pioneer of Poweshiek Township, Jasper County. Mr. Westfall is well known throughout the county and is highly respected by all as one of the worthy pioneers and veterans. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 820.