Bales, Caleb L.

BALES

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/26/2021 at 14:59:08

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.485

CALEB L. BALES
Caleb L. Bales is living on section 19, Lincoln Township, where he is engaged in general farming and in the raising and feeding of stock. The opportunity for his activity in these connections is afforded through his ownership of a well improved and valuable tract of land of one hundred and eighteen acres. He has made his home in the county for forty-four years and is one of the native sons of Iowa, his birth having occurred in Jefferson County in June 1860, so that he was but four years of age at the time of the removal of the family to Warren County. His father, Caleb Bales, was a native of Indiana and was there reared. In that county he married Ebbie Brey, also a native of Indiana, and in 1859 they became residents of Jefferson County, Iowa where Mr. Bales followed farming for four years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Warren County, settling at Palmyra. He spent his last years on a farm near Ackworth, where his death occurred about 1892. He had long survived his wife who died in Jefferson County in 1864.
C.L. Bales was reared to manhood in Warren County, upon the home farm, and assisted his father until he had attained his majority, when thinking that he might find other pursuits more congenial and profitable he learned the painter’s trade.
Mr. Bales made arrangements for having a home of his own by his marriage in Lincoln Township, on the 15th of February 1882, to Miss Lydia Eicher, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of George Eicher, who removed from the Buckeye state to Iowa. In 1898 Mr. Bales had charge of the county farm as its superintendent and there remained for nine years. He repaired and improved the buildings on the place and greatly enhanced the value of the farm. His father-in-law, Mr. Eicher, was the former superintendent. Mr. Bales married his wife there when Mr. Eicher had charge and twenty-five years later celebrated his silver wedding there, while two of his children were also married on the county farm. While acting as superintendent there Mr. Bales purchased the farm where he now resides, but rented it out for a few years. He took up his abode thereon in March 1907 and has since added to and remodeled the house, but in April 1908 his residence was completely destroyed by fire, causing a total loss. He has since built another nice home and a good barn on the place, has enclosed the fields with well kept fences and has put out much fruit. He cultivates corn and other cereals best adapted to the soil and climate and in addition to general farming he raises good stock, fattens them for the market and annually sells a large number of hogs, his stock-raising interest proving a profitable branch of his business.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bales have been born four children: George Bert, who was married while on the poor farm and is a resident farmer of this county; Nellie Flotilla, the wife of Merrill Smith, a ranchman of Idaho; Alta Bonnie, a young lady at home, and Harold N., who completes his family.
In his political views, Mr. Bales has been a lifelong Republican and although he has never sought nor held office up to the present time, he was a candidate for sheriff in 1902. He has been identified with the schools for a number of years and staunchly supports every measure to improve the system of public education here. He and his daughter and son, George, are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and he belongs to the Masonic lodge at Spring Hill and to the Modern Woodmen camp. His life has been well spent and the sterling traits of honorable manhood are his. He has never depended upon friends nor influences to aid him in his business career, but has, through persistent efforts overcome many difficulties and obstacles and by unfaltering perseverance has won a place among the men of affluence in Lincoln Township.