Joseph Robert Sole

ADDY, BRITTAIN, COLLINS, COX, MILLS, SOLE

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/27/2004 at 13:57:28

“History of Madison County Iowa and Its People”
Herman A. Mueller, Supervising Editor
Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1915

Joseph R. Sole has lived in Madison county for the past forty-five years and is widely recognized as one of its substantial agriculturists and representative citizens, operating a farm of eighty acres on section 7, Madison township, adjoining the town of Earlham. He likewise owns a tract of similar size on section 8 of the same township, and has five acres of timber land on section 22. His birth occurred in Virginia on the 25th of August, 1846, his parents being George W. and Sidney (Collins) Sole, who were likewise natives of that state. The father was an agriculturist by occupation and throughout his entire business career operated a farm in Virginia, where his demise occurred on the 12th of October, 1901, when he had attained the age of eighty-three years. His wife was called to her final rest in 1854.

Joseph R. Sole was reared and educated in his native state and there spent the first twenty-four years of his life. In 1870 he came to Madison county, Iowa, and for one term attended school at Winterset. He also taught school for a time in early life. He worked as a farm hand in Union township for one year and subsequently cultivated rented land in that township until 1884, when he purchased a tract of one hundred and thirteen acres and later bought twenty acres more in Union township. He improved this property and operated it successfully until 1903, when he disposed of the farm and purchased a tract of eighty acres on section 8, Madison township, which he also improved. Subsequently he bought and improved an eighty-acre tract on section 7, adjoining the town of Earlham, which he has operated continuously to the present time, also still owning the farm on section 8. In connection with the cultivation of cereals best adapted to soil and climate he devotes considerable attention to live stock, feeding about two carloads of cattle annually.

On the 30th of November, 1871, Mr. Sole was united in marriage to Miss Ruth Cox, a daughter of Eli and Mary (Mills) Cox, who were natives of Ohio and Indiana respectively. The father, a contractor, bridge builder and farmer, took up his abode among the pioneer residents of Madison township, this county, and erected the first schoolhouses and bridges here. Eventually he purchased a farm in Union township, which he improved and which his sons operated, as his attention was demanded by his contracting business. His demise occurred in Winterset in 1885, while his wife passed away on the i6th of April, 1909. They reared a family of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, all of whom survive with the exception of Mrs. Sole, who died on the 10th of January, 1903, after about a year's illness. To our subject and his wife were born seven children, as follows: Elizabeth, who passed away on the 26th of March, 1890; Clara, who gave her hand in marriage to John Brittain, a farmer of Union township ; Sidney, the wife of Perry S. Roderick, who lives on the farm of his father-in-law on section 8, Madison township; Mary B., who is the wife of Charles Addy, an agriculturist of Jefferson township; Albert and George W., who operate the farm on section 8; and Lilly May, who died in January, 1884, in infancy.

In his political views Mr. Sole is a democrat and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to positions of public trust. He served as assessor of Madison township for eight years, was township clerk of Union township for two years and also acted as trustee of Union and Webster townships. He is now secretary of the school board and has held that position for several years, while in the fall of 1914 he was his party's candidate for the office of county treasurer. His religious faith is that of the Baptist church. He has always shown great interest in all that pertains to the general welfare and has been known as a public-spirited man who has ever found time and inclination to cooperate in the movements for the public good. In all the relations of life he has been honorable and straightforward, and his example is well worthy of emulation.

Madison Biographies maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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