Stanley, Chauncey W.

STANLEY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/2/2021 at 20:59:36

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.690

CHAUNCEY W. STANLEY
C. W. Stanley, who is one of the prosperous and progressive farmers and stock-raisers of Warren County, owning and operating one hundred and sixty acres of land just outside the corporation limits of Lacona, has also been en­gaged in the dairy business for the past five years. Mr. Stanley is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred in Crawford County, April 12, 1839, a son of Corydon and Eliza (Van Winkle) Stanley, the latter a native of New Jersey. The father was born in New York but was reared in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, where he was also engaged in farming. He later removed to Decatur County, Iowa, where he engaged in farming and spent his remaining days, passing away at the very advanced age of ninety-three years. His wife preceded him to her final rest, and both lie buried in Decatur County. Their family numbered five sons and four daughters but two sons and one daughter are now deceased.
C. W. Stanley was reared and educated in Crawford County, Pennsylvania, and was there united in marriage to Miss Nancy B. Miller, the wedding ceremony being celebrated on the 28th of August, 1858. She was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, where she was reared and educated. Following their marriage Mr. Stanley brought his young bride to Iowa, first locating in Decatur County, where his brothers-in-law had entered a thousand acres of government land. Mr. Stanley located on a portion of this and improved a tract, there making his home for a few years. He later purchased a farm of his own and subsequently engaged in the drug business in Decatur County, so continuing for eight years. At the end of that period he disposed of his stock of drugs and once more engaged in farming, while later he was engaged in the implement business in Leon for two years. He then traded his implement business for a farm in Madison County, which he con­ducted for one year, trading that property for a stock of merchandise in Grand River. He then engaged in commercial pursuits for four years but once more engaged in farming, trading his stock of merchandise for the farm which he to­day owns, this comprising one hundred and sixty acres of rich and valuable land, situated just outside the corporation limits of Lacona. Here he located in 1890 and has since remodeled the house, erected a barn and other outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock, and has fenced the place, so that altogether it is now one of the best improved farms of this section of the County. In addi­tion to raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he is engaged quite extensively in raising stock, this including Percheron and French draft horses, Poland China hogs and Red polled cattle. He has also been engaged in the dairy business for the past five years, and this branch of his business is bringing him a good financial return.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley has been blessed with eight children but six of the number are now deceased. Those living are: Ethel, the wife of Sanford Shields, a farmer of White Breast Township, by whom she has two daughters, Amy and Esther, the former a graduate of the Lacona high school; and Julia, the wife of Charles Shupe, a business man of Lacona, by whom she has three sons, Stanley, Chauncey Leroy and Eldredge.
Politically Mr. Stanley is independent, voting for men and measures rather than for party. He was elected and served as mayor of Decatur city and served as mayor of Lacona for two terms. He has been identified with the school board both of Decatur and Warren Counties, and at the present time is acting as president of the Lacona school board. In religious faith Mr. Stanley is a Spiritualist, while his fraternal relations are with the Odd Fellows, belonging to Lacona lodge, in which he has served through all of the chairs and is now a past grand. He and his wife are also identified with the Rebekah lodge, in which his wife has filled all of the chairs and is now a past grand.
For almost a half century Mr. Stanley has made his home in this state and during that time has helped to improve several farms, so that he is numbered among the oldest settlers of Iowa. He is very prominent in Warren County, where he has many friends who hold him in high esteem.