Felton, John B.

FELTON

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 14:42:53

JOHN B. FELTON
born Feb 17, 1845, VA

J. B. Felton, who has for over forty years maintained his residence on section 27, Virginia township, Warren county, Iowa was a small boy when he came with his parents from the East and made settlement on the broad prairie here. Both as a pioneer and worthy citizen is he entitled to some specific consideration on the pages of this volume.
J. B. Felton is a native of the Old Dominion. He was born in Taylor county, Virginia February 17, 1845, son of John and Margaret (Woodring) Felton, he being the tenth born in their family of thirteen children - six sons and seven daughters - and one of the ten that attained maturity. Seven of this number survive, namely: Abraham, Salida, Colorado; Matilda Strock, of New Virginia, Iowa; W. H., a veteran of the Civil war and now a resident of New Virginia; Mrs. Susan Jane Fleming; J. B.; Zachariah, New Virginia; and Mrs. Sarah Jones, Malvern, Iowa. It was in the year 1854 that the Felton family left their old home in Virginia and came out to Iowa, landing in Warren county on the 11th of November. Here the father, John Felton, erected the first log house in what is now New Virginia. He owned land both in and near the town; and in honor of his old home in the East he named the township Virginia and the town New Virginia. He was born January 31, 1804 and died March 20, 1881, and his remains rest in the cemetery near the town he named and of which he an honored pioneer. His good wife was one among the first white women to cast their lot on the prairie of Virginia township. She was born July 21, 1808 and died September 20. 1895. Hers was a beautiful Christian character. She had the esteem and love of all who knew her and her death after an illness of about seven months was a sad blow to her family and the entire community. From her fourteenth year she was a devoted member of the Episcopal Church. Mr. J. B. Felton grew up on his father's frontier farm. When the Civil war broke out he was yet only a boy in his teens, but its close he entered the Union ranks proved himself to be a valiant soldier. It was January 4, 1864 that he enlisted as a of Company K, Thirty-fourth Iowa Regiment as a recruit of Warren county; was on river at Fort Morgan, Fort Gaines, and Blakely; and was honorably discharged Houston, Texas, August 15, 1865. He is married and has a family of five children, three sons and two daughters, viz: Pearle, Earle, Carl, Estelle, Blanche, and Alma Voss. Mrs. Felton was formerly Miss Rhoda Jones. She is a native of Noble county, Ohio and a daughter of the Rev. John H. Jones. Source: A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1896, vol.1, p.444