Jonathan L. Pease

PEASE, HERRON, ENGLE, BLAKENY, BRAIDEN

Posted By: Greta Thompson (email)
Date: 9/3/2003 at 14:20:19

Jonathan L. Pease, an early settler of Cedar Township, is an extensive farmer and a highly esteemed citizen, carrying on agricultural operations on section 16. He crossed the Mississippi at an early period in the history of Iowa, and since coming here has marked with undiminished interest the advance of civilization in the beautiful country west of the Mississippi. No man who has an intelligent interest in the progress and development of his surroundings can refrain from rendering his best assistance to the industrial or agricultural interests of his section, and Mr. Pease has performed his part in this line of duty in a very creditable manner, and now stands as one of the valued landmarks between the past and the present.

Mr. Pease is a native of Washington County, Pa., born in the township of Norstran, Feb. 18, 1826. His father, Andrew Pease, and his grandfather, Nicholas Pease, removed to Pennsylvania from Maryland when the father of our subject was a youth fourteen years old.They were among the early settlers of that region, and purchased a tract of timber land in Washington County, and cleared a farm from the wilderness. Nicholas Pease was the father of two sons, and at his death the property was divided between them. Andrew Pease was twice married, his wife having been Miss Mary Engle, who became the mother of nine children. The maiden name of the second wife and the mother of our subject, was Mary Blakeny, a native of the north of Ireland. By her marriage with Andrew Pease she became the mother of five children, of whom the subject of our sketch was the youngest child.

Jonathan L. Pease was reared on the farm of his father, and at the death of the latter, he and his brother, Boyd E., opurchased the interest of the other heirs and lived upon the homestead until 1855. Jonathan L. then sold out, and turning his face westward came into Lee County, Iowa, and purchased eighty acres of land on section 16 in Cedar Township. Only forty acres of this was broken and fenced, but a log cabin had been built upon it. He here commenced his career as a Hawkeye farmer, and since that time has added to his purchase until he is now the owner of 346 acres, all in one body and tillable. He has brought the most of it to a high state of cultivation, and it is furnished with fine buildings, costly farm implements and machinery, and all the necessary appliances for carrying on agriculture in the most modern and improved style.

The marriage of Jonathan L. Pease and Miss Sarah J. Herron was celebrated in Washington County, Pa., Nov. 6, 1851. Mrs. Pease was born April 22, 1823, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of nine children, three of whom are deceased. The record is as follows: Emery H. and James M. are merchantws at Mt. Hamill, Iowa; Lizzie Ella is the wife of James P. Braiden, of Valley County, Neb.; Forest B. M., Linnie F. and Charles H. are at home. Minnie, the twin sister of Linnie F., died at the age of fourteen years. Albert died when one year old; Joseph A., the youngest child, died at the age of eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Pease and two daughters are members of the Sharon Presbyterian Church. Mr. Pease has been connected with the United Presbyterian Church and was for a time an Elder.

Mr. Pease is an intelligent and observant man, well read, and possessing a valuable fund of information upon all the important matters of the day. He has been a prominent man in his township since coming here, and his councils have been sought upon matters of common interest. He has fulfilled his duties as a father and citizen creditably and conscientiously, and as a business man has been one of the valued factors of his community. He is genial and kindly in his disposition, and possesses the confidence and esteem of a large circle of friends.