Neville, William 1861-1942

NEVILLE, BARRETT, VERBECK, NUTTING, HUTCHINSON, BAUSTIAN

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 7/6/2010 at 13:19:04

Grinnell Herald-Register (Grinnell, Iowa) May 7, 1942

WM. NEVILLE REACHES CLOSE OF LONG LIFE

Funeral from Malcom Methodist church, Friday, 2:30 P.M.

An orphan boy who surmounted obstacles to become one of Poweshiek county's prosperous and influential farmers, completed life's journey when William Neville passed away at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday morning at his home a mile east of the Campbell filling station and 7 miles east of Grinnell. He would have been 81 years old on his next birthday, Nov. 15. He had been making his home on the home place with his son, Orville.

Funeral services will be held Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock from the Malcom Methodist church, conducted by Rev. E.P. Spurlock. Burial will be in Ivy Hill cemetery in Malcom.

Mr. Neville's climb to prosperity was accomplished with the added handicap entailed by the loss of one hand. He was born in New York City on Nov. 15, 1861, a son of Frank and Elizabeth (Barrett) Neville, both of whom were born in England. Mr. Neville died of smallpox when William was only four years old. Two of the children also died of the disease and the widow was left with four small children. She died when William was 11 years old.

COMES TO COUNTY

After the mother's death the children were taken by the Children's Aid Society of the Episcopal church in Brookllyn and in June, 1873, William Neville and his younger brother Albert were brought to Poweshiek county, at first being located at Brooklyn. Later they went to Grinnell and subsequently lived with C.H. Verbeck, who was residing on a farm in Malcom township. Not long afterward they sent for their sister Martha, who was also reared in this county.

William Neville remained on the Verbeck farm until he was 20 years of age, when, in 1881, he took up farming for himself, renting a farm for the first three years. He was then married, after which he operated Mr. Verbeck's farm on shares for several years until 1898, when he purchased a 210 acre farm in Malcom township, later investing in an additional 80 acres in an adjoining section. This has been his home place ever since.

LARGE STOCK RAISER

During his active life Mr. Neville was extensively and successfully engaged in stock raising and had extensive business interests in the county.

On Feb. 18, 1890, Mr. Neville was united in marriage with Miss Cora Nutting, daughter of D.W. and Helen Nutting, who survives him with four children, Mrs. Ina Hutchinson of Malcom, Mrs. Martha Baustian of Malcom, Rex of Brooklyn and Orville on the home place.

Mr. Neville served as trustee of Malcom township, and director-at-large on the school board. Throughout his long life he has been a forward looking, progressive citizen; a fine example of a man who found competence through his own unaided efforts.