David F. Clampitt

CLAMPITT, CUNAR, DAVIS, KEATHLEY, MILLER, OWENS

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/19/2004 at 21:25:03

David F. Clampitt has gained an enviable reputation as a progressive and successful farmer and stock-raiser, his property on sections 6 and 7, Douglas township, being one of the well improved farms of his locality. He was born in Lawrence county, Indiana, on the 3d of March, 1853, a son of William H. and Sally A. (Keathley) Clampitt. The father, who was born in that county on the 1st of March, 1828, was reared upon a farm and in addition to becoming familiar with agricultural work learned the carpenter's trade. He enlisted in the Second Indiana Regiment under Captain Davis and fought in the Mexican war. Later he made the journey overland to Iowa and arrived in Winterset on the 20th of November, 1854. He purchased land at a dollar and a quarter per acre and thus profited by the liberal terms granted to settlers by the government. He did much for the upbuilding of the country, continuing the development of his farm, although there were many hardships to be endured and many discouragements in those early days of settlement, when the dream of a prosperous farming country with many villages and cities seemed far off. Mr. Clampitt, in common with the other settlers, suffered much during the winter of 1856 and 1857, when the snows were especially heavy. In addition to cultivating his land he followed his trade as a carpenter, and many of the pioneer homes were his work. In 1862 he moved to Worthington and began freighting goods to Denver, Colorado. On account of the Indian outbreak, however, he made but few trips. He was with the last train that came east in 1863. For the following three years he devoted his attention chiefly to carpentering, but in 1866 again took up farming and continued to cultivate the soil and work at his trade until he removed to Petoskey, Michigan, where he concentrated his energies upon the work of a carpenter and builder. He passed away in that city in 1892.

He was very popular and as he was a well-read man and possessed considerable executive ability he was one of the acknowledged leaders of his community. He was quite active in political affairs but never sought office. The Methodist Episcopal church profited much by his interest and his work in its behalf, and he assisted in building the church edifice of the Worthington Methodist Episcopal church in Madison township, Iowa county, Iowa. He was known wherever he lived for his integrity and, steadfastness of purpose and possessed the moral courage to stand for the right even. if doing so meant being alone in his position. His wife was born in Lawrence county, Indiana, May 17, 1832, and passed away in 1873. They were the parents of eight children, six of whom are deceased, the two living being: Henry Thornton, a minister in the Church of Christ at Guthrie Center, Iowa; and the subject of this review.

David F. Clampitt was a student in the first schools of Madison township and sat upon log benches while mastering the three R’s which constituted the curriculum. He remained with his parents until he was twenty years of age and then hired out as a farm hand to James Henderson, of Guthrie county. After remaining there for a year he returned to Madison county and worked in the employ of others until 1880. He then began farming upon land which is now a part of the municipality of Earlham. He has lived in a number of localities and has owned land in both Adair and Madison counties, but is now residing in Douglas township, this county, where he owns eighty acres. He raises thoroughbred Chester White hogs and ships to all parts of the country, but although his stock comes from the best herds in the United States he has never cared to exhibit. He also carries on general farming to some extent. He is energetic and progressive and is reaping the reward of his labors in continued prosperity.

In 1879 Mr. Clampitt was united in marriage to Miss Annis J. Miller, who was born in Linn county, Iowa, of the marriage of Israel and Cynthia D. (Owens) Miller. The father was born near Columbus, Ohio, on the 16th of June, 1818, and died in 1912, while the mother, who was born in Ripley county, Indiana, on the 10th of November, 1828, is still living. Mr. Miller came to Madison county, Iowa, in 1857, and purchased wild prairie land in Lincoln township, which he broke and began to farm. In 1863 he drove back to Indiana to spend the winter with friends. Upon his return to Iowa he removed to Linn county, where he put in a crop, but soon afterward sold his interests there and returned to his farm in this county. He passed the remainder of his life here and aided in securing the development of his locality. He owned a quarter section of land and for nearly a half century was well known as an agriculturist. When a boy he united with the Christian church and from that time until his death did all in his power to further the interests of that organization. He was one of the organizers and charter members of the Early chapel in Jackson township, and in all that he did he placed the greatest emphasis upon righteousness, believing that matters should be settled from the standpoint of right and wrong and not from that of expediency. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, but only two are living, the sister of Mrs. Clampitt being Mrs. W. B. Stock, of Omaha, Nebraska.

To Mr. and Mrs. Clampitt have been born six children, as follows: Charles, born September 11, 1880, is a farmer in Greene county, Iowa. He married Miss Pearl Cunar and they have four children, Russell, Eugene, Lavon and Raymond. R. Lee, born August 6, 1884, is carrying on agricultural pursuits in Warren county, this state. He married Miss Dolly Davis, of Winterset, a descendant of one of the pioneer families of this county, and they have three children, Donald, Mildred and Emily. Clara, who attended the Teachers' College at Cedar Falls, is now teaching in the district schools of this county. Nellie and Elsie are both at home, and Frank, born March 8, 1899, is attending school at Earlham.

Mr. Clampitt has been a member of the Christian church since his youth, and his children have received the benefit of careful training in religious matters. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, and his fraternal connection is with the Masonic order. He is a member of the Chester White Swine Record Association and finds that connection of value to him in his stock-raising. He is respected because of the ability that he has displayed in the conduct of his business affairs and because of the integrity and probity that are characteristic of him in all relations of life.

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