Jasper E. Marston

FISHER, LYONS, MARSTON, WATERS

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/14/2005 at 20:36:56

Jasper E. Marston, who is a resident of Perm township, where he is successfully engaged in farming, was born in Allamakee county, Iowa, on the 12th of January, 1856, of the marriage of James and Nancy M. (Fisher) Marston. The father, who was born in New Hampshire, removed to Allamakee county, Iowa, in 1853 and there purchased land. He operated his farm for a number of years, or until 1864, when he removed to Clayton county, where he passed away on the 25th of June, 1865. He was a Baptist minister and preached the Gospel in addition to farming. His wife, who was born in Massachusetts, died on the 25th of June, 1899, having survived him for exactly thirty-four years.

Jasper E. Marston received his education in the public schools of Clayton county, in the high school at Postville and in the Upper Iowa University at Fayette. After leaving the latter institution he taught school for a few months during the winters and during the summers operated the home place of one hundred and sixty acres. When thirty-three years of age, however, he went to Cherokee county, Iowa, and having purchased a small farm, concentrated his efforts upon its development. After two years he sold out and came to Madison county, buying eighty acres of land on section 13, Perm township. He has since operated that place and makes a specialty of raising shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs of a good grade. As he is industrious and gives much thought to his work he is meeting with gratifying success.

On the 11h of October, 1887, Mr. Marston married Miss Susan Waters, a daughter of Samuel and Mary C. (Lyons) Waters, natives of Ireland and Morgan county, Ohio, respectively. The father came to America and located in Pennsylvania in 1853, but three years later went to Allamakee county, Iowa. While living in the Keystone state he engaged in mining, but upon removing to Iowa purchased land which he operated until 1910. In that year he removed to Frankville, where he is now living at the age of eighty-two years. His wife passed away on the 7th of February, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Marston have become the parents of four children: J. Harry, twenty-six years of age, who is living in Boone, Iowa; Ruth M., who is teaching school at Frankville; Theodore W., who is a student in the Earlham Academy; and Gale A., ten years of age, who is attending the common schools. Mr. Marston is a republican and supports the candidates and principles of that party at the polls. Mrs. Marston belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church, and no good cause appeals to her in vain.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman Mueller.