Putnam, Asa L.

PUTNAM

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/29/2021 at 23:52:39

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.652

ASA L. PUTNAM
Asa L. Putnam, a well-known farmer of Richland Township, owns and occupies a well improved farm of seventy acres adjoining the village of Hart­ford. He is a native of Iowa, born in Dubuque County, on the 6th of April 1854, and is a son of Rufus Putnam, whose birth occurred in Indiana, 1822. His paternal grandfather was Howard Putnam, who was a soldier of the Revolu­tionary War and was with General Washington at Valley Forge. The father grew to manhood in his native state and there married Miss Cynthia Bradley, a native of Virginia, and soon afterward they came to Iowa, locating in Dubuque County, where he entered land and improved a farm. In 1865 he removed to Marion County and later came to Warren County where he secured a tract of wild land, which he broke and placed under cultivation, rearing his family thereon. Subsequently he went to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and died at Oakland in 1898. His first wife, who was the mother of our subject, departed this life of Dubuque County, July 13, 1862. By that union there were six sons and two daughters, all of whom are still living with the exception of one daughter.
Asa L. Putnam accompanied his father on his removal to this county and remained at home until his marriage, which was celebrated in Hartford, De­cember 25, 1872, Miss Sarah E. Pyle becoming his wife. She is a native of Martinsville, Indiana, and a daughter of G. W. Pyle. They have one son, Charles E., who is married and follows farming in Palmyra Township.
For two years after his marriage Asa L. Putnam operated rented land and then purchased a farm in Richland Township. It was in March 1892, that he bought his present farm of seventy acres, and to its improvement and cultivation he has since devoted his time and energies, his labors being rewarded with good harvests. He has erected a good house and otherwise improved the place and follows both farming and stock-raising.
Politically Mr. Putnam has been a life-long Republican and has taken quite an active part in public affairs, serving as a delegate to county conven­tions and filling various township offices in a creditable and satisfactory manner. He has been justice of the peace two terms, township trustee three terms, road supervisor for several years, and has also been officially connected with the schools. He is an elder in the Christian Church of Hartford, to which he and his wife belong, and he is also a prominent Mason, being past master of Hartford lodge, which he has represented in the Grand Lodge of the state. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows lodge at the same place and has filled all the offices in that society and has represented the lodge in the Grand Lodge. Both he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star and Daughters of Rebekah, and she has served as treasurer in the former organiza­tion and also an officer in the latter.