William A. Chace

BLADES, BRANAMAN, BRUCE, CHACE, GRIFFITH, JOHNSTON, RUTLEDGE, STARK

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/15/2004 at 13:00:52

Among the esteemed residents of Winterset is William A. Chace, a retired Beamier who owns two hundred and sixty acres of land in Douglas township. He is a native of Indiana, born in Boone county, on the 13th of February, 1844, a son of Augustus and Jane (Blades) Chace. The birth of the father occurred in New York on the 27th of April, 1802, and as a youth he learned the cooper’s trade which he followed in Indiana. He became the owner of a farm there P and also followed agricultural pursuits to some extent. In 1848 he left the Hoosier state and came to Madison county, Iowa, here entering land. He then returned to Indiana but the following year brought his family to this county and established his home in Douglas township, his farm being cultivated by his son-in-law, while he operated a grist mill at Somerset, Warren county, for a couple of years. He then returned to his farm in Douglas township. He was a school director when the Stringtown school was built and served acceptably as justice of the peace. He became one of the substantial men of his township, owning six hundred and forty acres of land on which he carried on general farming and stock-raising. His wife's father, Thomas Blades, was a slave owner, but, becoming convinced of the iniquity of the practice before the war freed one hundred slaves voluntarily. To Mr. and Mrs. Chace were born thirteen children, of whom our subject is the youngest and only two of whom are living, both in Iowa. Nine of the thirteen children were left widowers or widows and Augustus Chace took some of the grandchildren to his home and reared them to years of maturity. Both he and his wife were charter members of the West Star Methodist Episcopal church in Douglas township and their faith was manifest in their daily lives.

William A. Chace attended school in a log cabin which was also used for a blacksmith shop and the only seats were rough benches, the other furniture being correspondingly rude. As a boy it was often his task to take corn to be ground at the old Buffalo mill and from his early childhood he assisted to the extent of his strength in the work of the farm. He remained upon the homestead and aided in its operation until he was thirty-six years of age, although previous to that time he had bought land of his own. He is now the owner of the one hundred and sixty acre farm which his father entered from the government and he derives a good income therefrom. While he was actively engaged in agriculture he raised the usual cereals and also paid considerable attention to the raising of high grade stock. In 1911 he removed to Winterset and has since lived retired, enjoying a leisure that is the more pleasant because truly deserved.

In 1880 Mr. Chace married Miss Viola Rutledge, who was born in Wapello county, Iowa, in 1856 of the marriage of Archibald and Mary J. (Johnston) Rutledge. Her father's birth occurred upon the ocean while his parents were crossing to this country from Ireland, his natal day being the 31st of July, 1825, but he always claimed New York city as the place of his nativity. His death occurred on the 1st of May, 1892. His wife, who was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on the 27th of April, 1826, was called to her reward on the 8th of August, 1886. Mr. Rutledge resided in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, for some time, removing to Wapello, Iowa, in 1851. He became a merchant of Eddyville, owning a general store, and many of the pioneers of the surrounding region were his customers. In 1862 he came to Douglas township, this county, purchased land and began farming. He followed agricultural pursuits until 1885, but in that year he retired from active life and passed his declining years with a daughter on the farm. He was a republican and did much to secure the success of the party in his locality. He was equally loyal to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a member, and served faithfully as a steward thereof. He was one of the charter members of the West Star church in Douglas township. To him and his wife were born eight children, of whom Mrs. Chace is the third in order of birth. By her marriage she has become the mother of three children: Elsie Branaman, a trained nurse who is at home; Lee, who married Miss Nota Stark, a granddaughter of Richard Bruce, a well known pioneer of this county, to which union have been born three children, Clarence, Cecil and Hubert; and Edna, the wife of Ersey Griffith, a farmer of this county, by whom she has two sons, Robert and Paul.

Mrs. Chace is one of the leaders in church and Sunday-school work and also belongs to the Woman's Relief Corps and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Mr. Chace is a republican and was for six years school director. He holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and attends services both in Douglas township and in Winterset. His life has been a successful one both as regards attainment of material prosperity and as regards the gaining of stanch and loyal friends.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915”