Laverty, James

LAVERTY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 15:56:57

JAMES LAVERTY
born Mar 17, 1822, Indiana

History of Warren County, Iowa; Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns & Etc., by Union Historical Company, 1879, p.686
LAVERTY, JAMES, farmer, East Washington, Sec. 32; P. O. Summerset; was born in Park county, Indiana, March 17, 1822; he was educated at Asbury University, Indiana, and graduated from that institution in 1844; he came to this State in 1847, and settled on the farm he now occupies; this land was at one time a part of Polk county, and while it was thus attached he was elected county surveyor of Polk county; he served as a member of the board of supervisors of Warren county, and has been closely identified with the interests, growth and prosperity of the county; he married Miss Mary A. Peck, in 1845; she was born in Kentucky, and died March 29, 1879, leaving two children: Este Fidelia (now Mrs. Rogers), and John W.

James Laverty, who is serving County Surveyor of Warren county, was born in Parke county, Indiana, on the 17th of March, 1822. He was reared to manhood in the place of his nativity and received a common-school education in Parke county, and at the age of seventeen entered Asbury (now De Pauw) University, of Greencastle, Indiana, at which he was graduated in 1844 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Three years later the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by the same institution. A young man of bright intellect, he turned his attention to the profession of teaching, which he followed in his native State.
His parents were John M. and Nancy (McNutt) Laverty, the former born in Pennsylvania in 1792, and the latter in Ohio, in February 1803. In 1848 they removed to Warren county, Iowa where their remaining days were passed, the mother's death occurring in 1859, while the father survived until the 1st of January, 1872. They had several children, but all died in infancy except the gentleman whose name heads this record. His paternal grandparents were Isaac and Jane (Martin) Laverty, and the latter was a native of Ireland. The maternal grandparents were born in Ireland, and emigrated to Virginia, and the grandfather, James McNutt, received a tract of land in Ohio from the State of Virginia in reward for his services as a soldier of the Revolution. John M. Laverty was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his military record was a brilliant one. He, too, was given a land warrant, which he located in the West. He was a man of good education, a very prominent citizen of the Hawkeye State, and with the history of its development his name is inseparably connected. He served as the first Surveyor of Warren county, and laid out the town of Indianola. To him the county owes much of its prosperity and progress, for he belonged to that class of representative citizens who were untiring in their efforts to promote the general welfare. A devout man, his high Christian character and sterling worth commended him to the high regard of all and his friends were many. His first wife was an estimable Christian lady who died in 1860. The following year he married Miss Electa Miller, of Palmyra Iowa. The gentleman whose name heads this record was married in 1845 to Miss Mary A, Peek, a native of Putnam county, Indiana, born in 1823. At the time of their marriage he was engaged in teaching in Terre Haute, and they began their domestic life in that city. In 1847 they removed to Polk county, Iowa where Mr. Laverty engaged in farming. A peculiar feature of this settlement is the fact that the boundaries of the county and township were changed so that he has lived in two counties and five townships, yet has never moved until coming to Indianola in 1893. He continued his residence upon his farm for many years, and his home was blessed with two children born of the first marriage: Este Fidelia, the eldest, is now the wife of I. L. Harvey, who resides upon land in Warren county, which her father entered in 1848; she was born in Terre Haute, Indiana; John W. is also engaged in farming on the old homestead. He was born in Polk, now Warren county, in 1848, and is probably one of the oldest native born persons in the county. The mother of this family died in March ,1879 and on the 26th of December, following, Mr. Laverty was united in marriage with Mrs. Lydia Clough, whose maiden name was Rice. She is a native of Meigs county, Ohio.
Among the honored pioneers of Iowa, James Laverty well deserves mention. He emigrated to this State not only in an early day, but also laid land warrants for parties and was thus instrumental in bringing many of his former neighbors to this locality. His own farm he entered the Government and with characteristic energy began the improvement of the tract of wild land which he transformed into rich fertile fields, making it one of the valued properties of the county. When not employed official work he continued its operation 1893, when he removed to Indianola. His worth and ability are recognized by those who know him and he has therefore been called to several public offices. He served for two terms as a member of the Board of Supervisors of Warren county, was County Surveyor of Polk county in 1849 and 1850, and is now serving his third term as County Surveyor of Warren county. His life has been very closely identified with the growth and progress of this locality and he is widely recognized as an honored and useful citizen. He was a member of the building committee which erected the Warren county courthouse and has given his support to many interests and enterprises calculated to promote the general welfare. He can relate many amusing and interesting incidents of pioneer life in this locality concerning the time when it was a sparsely settled region and gave little promise of rapidly developing civilization. Socially, Mr Laverty is connected the Masonic fraternity, having been into the mysteries of the order in 1860. In early life he usually supported the Whig party, and in 1856 voted the American ticket. He has since been a stanch Republican, giving his undivided support to the men and measures of that party. He has done his duty by his neighbor, his country and himself, and his honorable, upright life, filled with many good deeds, is deserving of emulation. Source: A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1896, vol.1, p.413

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.708
JAMES LAVERTY
James Laverty is now numbered among Warren County's honored dead but no history of this district would be complete without mention of his life, for he was one of the honored pioneer settlers of Iowa and was closely associated with the work of development in material and political lines. He served for many years as county surveyor here and in his trade relations was known for his unfaltering integrity. He lived to the ripe old age of eighty-four years, passing away on the 26th of December, 1906 . He was born in Parke county, Indiana, on the 17th of March, 1822 , and was a son of John M. and Nancy (McNutt) Laverty. His paternal grandparents were Isaac and Jane (Martin) Laverty and the latter was a native of Ireland . The maternal grandparents were both born on the Emerald Isle, whence they crossed the Atlantic to the new world, settling in Virginia . The grandfather, James McNutt, received a tract of land in Ohio from the state of Virginia in reward for his services as a soldier of the Revolutionary war.
The father's birth occurred in Pennsylvania in 1792, while the mother first opened her eyes to the light of day in Ohio in February, 1803. In 1848, they became residents of Warren county, Iowa, where they lived until called to the home beyond, Mrs. Laverty passing away in 1859, while the father's death occurred February 1, 1872. They were the parents of several children but all died in infancy with the exception of James Laverty of this review. The father, John M. Laverty, did military service in defense of his country in the second war with England and made a creditable and brilliant military record. He, too, was granted a land warrant, which he located in the west. A man of liberal education and broad general culture, he became a leading and influential resident of Iowa and left the impress of his individuality upon the history of its upbuilding and progress. He took an active part in transforming it from a pioneer district into a region of advanced civilization and served as the first surveyor of Warren county, in which capacity he laid out the town of Indianola . In many other ways he contributed to the general improvement here, being untiring and unfaltering in his efforts to promote the public welfare. His life was actuated by Christian principles and he was at all times loyal to the faith which he professed. His sterling traits of character were so excellent that he gained the unqualified regard of all with whom he came in contact and won many warm friendships. In the year 1860 he lost his first wife and the following year was married again, his second union being with Miss Electa Miller, of Palmyra , Iowa.
James Laverty, a son of the father's first marriage, was reared to manhood in his native county and through the medium of its public schools acquired his preliminary education but later was afforded the advantage of collegiate training in Asbury (now De Pauw) University of Greencastle , Indiana . He entered that institution at the age of seventeen years and at his graduation in 1844 won the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Three years later the degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by the same institution. He was ever a man of strong intellect, whose extensive reading and study continually broadened his mind and qualified him for the duties that devolved upon him in the varied relations of life. In early manhood he gave his attention to teaching, following that pursuit in his native state.
Mr. Laverty was married in 1845, when a young man of twenty-three years the lady of his choice being Miss Mary A. Peck, a native of Putnam county, Indiana, born in 1823. At the time of their marriage Mr. Laverty was a teacher in the schools of Terre Haute , Indiana , and in that city they began their domestic life. Two years later, however, they became residents of Iowa and Mr. Laverty turned his attention to general farming in Polk county. A peculiar feature of the settlement of Iowa is the fact that the boundaries of the county and township have been so changed that he lived in two counties and five townships, yet never changed his place of residence until he became a citizen of Indianola in 1893. There were few residents in this section of the state when James Laverty cast in his lot with its pioneers. With the work of improvement he was closely associated for many years and was instrumental in the upbuilding of the county by bringing many of his former neighbors to this locality after laying their land warrants for them. He secured his own farm as a claim from the government and at once began converting the raw prairie into productive fields, his labors being carried steadily forward until in the course of time the wild prairie grasses were replaced by crops of corn, wheat and other grain which found a ready sale on the market. Year by year he successfully cultivated his place and made his property a very valuable one.
While living upon the farm Mr. and Mrs. Laverty reared their two children. Este Fidelia, who was born in Terre Haute , Indiana , is now the wife of I. L. Harvey, who resides upon land in this county, which her father entered in 1848. The son, John W., who is also engaged in the operation of the old homestead farm, was born in Polk, now Warren county, in 1848 and is probably one of the oldest native residents of the county. The wife and mother died in March,, 1879, and on the 26th of December following Mr. Laverty wedded Mrs. Lydia Clough nee Rice, who is a native of Meigs county, Ohio.
In his political views Mr. Laverty was a whig in early life and in 1856 voted the American ticket. At the succeeding election he supported Abraham Lincoln and from that time forward gave stalwart support to the men and measures of the republican party until called to his final rest. In public office he made a most creditable record. He served for two terms as a member of the board of supervisors of Warren county, was county surveyor of Polk county in 1849 and 1850 and later served as county surveyor of Warren county for several years. He was a member of the building committee which erected the county courthouse in Indianola and his endorsement could always be counted upon to further any movement or plan that had for its object the welfare and substantial upbuilding of this part of the state. In 1860 he became a member of the Masonic fraternity and was a faithful follower of the craft until his demise. He lived in the county for fifty-eight years, honored and respected by all who knew him by reason of an upright life and fidelity to every manly principle. He felt great pleasure in what was accomplished and took great pride in what was done in Warren county as it emerged from pioneer conditions and took on all of the evidences of an advanced and progressive civilization. His public-spirited citizenship was manifest in many tangible ways, his principles of integrity and honor were evidenced in his relations with his neighbors, his friends and his business associates, and his high ideals of domestic life were seen in his devotion to the welfare of his family. On the 26th of December, 1906, he passed away at the age of eighty-four years. His was indeed a long, useful, busy and honorable life and no history would be complete without extended mention of him. His memory is yet enshrined in the hearts of those who knew him and will be sacredly cherished for years to come. Mrs. Laverty still resides in Indianola and is a lady greatly admired for her many estimable qualities of heart and mind.