CALHOUN, Jerry Manford - 1912 Bio (1857-1927)

CALHOUN, JIMESON, SENSE, BALL, RYMER, MCWHITER, MCWHIRTER, GIFT, ALLEN, ERICKSON

Posted By: Debbie Nash (email)
Date: 2/5/2004 at 18:11:56

From the “History of Jefferson County, Iowa” – 1912, Volume II
Pages 317-319

JERRY M. CALHOUN

“Jerry M. CALHOUN, who manifests a spirit of unfaltering determination and unwearied industry in carrying on his farming interests in Center township, is the owner of good farming property which returns to him substantial profits. He is one of Iowa’s native sons, his birth occurring in Cedar township, Van Buren county, on the 19th of September, 1857. His parents, Nobe and Malura (JIMESON) CALHOUN, were born, reared and married in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and in 1853 they came to Iowa, locating in Van Buren county. Their remaining days were passed there and in Jefferson county, the father giving his lifetime to the occupation of farming. He passed away in this county in 1873, at the age of forty-two years. His wife later married Lewis SENSE, who is also deceased, and she now makes her home in Knox county, Missouri. In their family were five children, as follows: Anna, who married Frank P. BALL, of Cedar township; Jerry M., of this review; Scott, residing in Los Angeles, California; Mary Adaline RYMER, deceased; and Nobe, the wife of Fred JIMESON, of Knox county, Missouri.

Jerry M. CALHOUN was but five or six years old when he came with his parents to Jefferson county and within its borders he has since maintained his residence. He was reared to rural life and when not busy with his lessons he assisted his father in the work of the home fields, early becoming familiar with the tasks that usually fall to the lot of the country lad. Upon attaining his majority he wisely selected as his life work the occupation to which he had been reared, and since entering the business world on his own account he has engaged in agricultural pursuits, the success of his undertaking indicating how thorough was his preparation and how well he had mastered the lessons which he had received concerning the value of industry, energy and perseverance. He now owns a good farm of eighty acres located on section 1, Center township, upon which he has resided since 1887, and he also has an additional tract of sixty-five acres on section 3, this township. He has brought his home place under a high state of cultivation, introducing various improvements which have greatly enhanced the value of the property and equipping it with all of the necessary conveniences for the successful conduct of a farming enterprise.

Mr. CALHOUN was married, in 1881, to Miss Emma E. McWHITER [sic - McWHIRTER], who was born on the 11th of February, 1857, on the farm which is yet her home and which was entered by her father from the government at an early day. Her parents were John and Catharine (GIFT) McWHITER [sic - McWHIRTER], the former born in County Antrim, Ireland, in October, 1818, and the latter in Pennsylvania in 1827. The father on coming to the new world first located in Maryland and later took up a claim in Iowa. In 1849 he went to California and later made another trip to the Golden state, the journey on both occasions being made with ox teams although his second return to this state was made by the water route. He engaged in farming here up to the time of his retirement from the business world, and spent the last ten years of his life in Fairfield. He passed away on the 4th of January, 1901, his wife surviving him for about five years, her death occurring in March, 1906. In their family were seven children of whom Mrs. Calhoun was the second in order of birth, the others being: Mary C. ALLEN, of Jefferson county; Maggie, deceased; Nina, a resident of Fairfield; Glenn, who has also passed away; Martha ALLEN, residing in St. Louis; and Etta, deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. CALHOUN were born three children, namely: Catharine Malura, who married Harvey ERICKSON, of Fairfield; Mabel and Nobe John, both at home.

The religious faith of Mr. CALHOUN is indicated by his membership in the Christian church, to which his wife and children also belong. Early in life he became interested in the politics of the country and, forming his own opinions and rules of conduct has given his support to the democratic party and has ever been a worker for the best interests of the community in which he resides. He is now serving as township trustee and in this capacity he is using his influence in behalf of all those projects which have for their object the permanent development and improvement of the district.”

I am copying this for genealogical purposes and am not related to said individuals.