James A. Harpole

HARPOLE, SELLS, WILDIN, LAHNER, HULL, ALLEN, HATFIELD

Posted By: Mary Welty Hart (email)
Date: 3/12/2006 at 17:34:51

Winterset Madisonian, Winterset, Iowa
April 7, 1954

JAMES HARPOLE Dies In Dynamite Blast

James A. Harpole, a pominent Madison County farmer for many years, was instantly killed Monday evening in a dynamite blast while engaged in destroying an old tree stump. His 12-year old son, Marshall, was injured also.

The tragic accident occurred on what is known as the Hardy forty, adjoining the old Gillette Harpole place in Crawford township. It is located abaout a mile north of the James Harpole home place, north of Patterson.

James Harpole was 53 years of age at his death. He was born Aug. 1, 1900, on a farm in Webster township, a son of Gillette and LaVisa Sells Harpole. With the exception of two years spent in Colfax, Ill., after the death of his mother in 1909, his life was spent in Madison county.

For many years he had been known as a leader in the farm field. He was especially active in the Farm Bureau, in which he had been a member since 1920, serving as county secretary last year. He had served as a 4-H club leader, and was a director of the Farm Supply company. He had also served as township clerk and school director and was a member of the Patterson Methodist church.

He was married at Atlantic in January, 1921 to Miss Irma Wildin, and their life together has been spent in Crawford township. They were parents of 10 children, all of whom survive their father. They are: Murray Harpole of St. Paul, Minn.; Doris, Mrs. L. L. Lahner of Des Moines; Francis Harpole of Winterset; Maxine, Mrs. S. G. Hull of What Cheer; Jo Ann, Mrs. C. W. Allen of Vail; and Merritt, Marshall, Marilyn, Steven and Brian, all at home.

He also leaves eight grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Glen Hatfield of Winterset; and four brothers, Eugene Harpole of Arcadia, Calif., Claude Harpole of Spirit Lake; Charles Harpole, who recently moved from Madison County to Colorado; and Francis Harpole of Colfax, Ill.; and his foster mother, Mrs. Gillette Harpole of Winterset.

Funeral services will be conducted from the Patterson Methodist church this Thursday at 2 p.m. in charge of the pastor, the Rev. Eldon Haworth, assisted by the Rev. Oren Hall, former pastor who now lives at Maxwell. Burial will be made at Montpelier cemetery, near his home.

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