Wadsworth, Robert B.

WADSWORTH

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/2/2021 at 21:12:42

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.986

ROBERT B. WADSWORTH
The agricultural interests of this county find a worthy representative in R.B. Wadsworth, who is on e of the prominent and extensive farmers, stock-raisers and feeders of this part of the state. His home is on section 25, Greenfield Township, where he has two hundred and twenty acres of rich land, constituting a well improved and valuable farm. In addition he also controls and operates other properties, having charge of about one thousand acres in all. Throughout his entire life he has been connected with agricultural pursuits. His birth occurred upon a farm in Warren County, July 12, 1857. His father, Benjamin F. Wadsworth, was a native of Maryland and after residing for a time in Ohio removed to Kentucky, whence he afterward came to Iowa as a young man. Choosing Warren County as a place of location he became a factor in the pioneer development of this portion of the state. Much of the land was still in the possession of the government and he entered a claim in Linn Township of three hundred and twenty acres. This was entirely destitute of improvements, but with characteristic energy he began to break the sod and till the fields. Later, however, he purchased the farm whereon his son R.B. Wadsworth now resides.
It was after his arrival in Warren County that Benjamin F. Wadsworth was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Elizabeth Thompson, a native of Kentucky. He lost his first wife and on the 10th of January 1869 was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Beck, nee Elliott, who still survives her husband and is now a resident of California. Mr. Wadsworth continued his farming operations in Warren County up to the time of his death and was very successful in his undertakings. As his financial resources increased he added to his property until he had eight hundred acres and was regarded as one of the leading and prosperous farmers of his community. He never sought to figure in public life, but did well whatever he undertook and secured a measure of success which was enviable. He died June 22, 1902, at the age of seventy-one years, the county thereby losing one of its pioneer settlers and respected citizens. His family numbered two sons and three daughters, but R.B. Wadsworth is the only surviving son. His brother, Thomas Wadsworth, was reared in this county and afterward went to Texas. He died in Fort Worth in 1892. The elder sister, Margaret, was educated in Indianola and is residing in that city. Elizabeth, who acquired a good education in Des Moines and Indianola, was for four years principal of the high school at Chariton, and is now principal of the Irving building, Indianola. Another sister, Nannie, died at the age of fifteen years.
R.B. Wadsworth spent his boyhood days on the farm and in early life began assisting in the work of the home place. He attended school through the winter months until fifteen years of age and afterward gave his undivided attention to the duties of the fields. As the years have passed he has done an extensive business in general farming and in feeding and fattening cattle and other stock, turning off annually from four hundred to five hundred head of cattle and about six hundred head of hogs. He is the most extensive feeder in the county.
Politically, Mr. Wadsworth has been a lifelong Democrat, but has never sought nor desired office, preferring to give his attention to his business affairs. He belongs to the Masonic Lodge at Indianola, is also a chapter Mason and has taken the degrees in the consistory at Des Moines, belonging also to the Mystic Shrine. He holds membership in the Methodist church at Indianola and is well known in that city, Des Moines, and in fact throughout this part of the state as a man of strict integrity and business ability and worth, who is public spirited in his support of progressive measures for the general good, and at the same time is a most enterprising and progressive business man.