Headington, William 1858 – 1931

HEADINGTON, POWELSON, SHARP, MCCLAIN

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 3/22/2015 at 14:05:28

WILLIAM HEADINGTON.

William Headington is the owner of a well improved farm on section 32, Canoe township, but only twenty acres of the place had been cleared when it came into his possession. Its present condition is visible evidence of his labor, untiring industry and perseverance having led to the substantial results now seen. He is quite extensively engaged in general farming, owning one hundred and forty acres in addition to which he operates two hundred and forty acres for his mother and another tract of eighty-five acres which he rents. He was born near Mount Vernon, Ohio, August 27, 1858, and is a son of Jacob and Martha Jane (Powelson) Headington, who were also natives of Knox county, Ohio. They started overland with teams for Iowa when their son William was but three weeks old. The journey progressed by slow stages until after six weeks spent upon the road they reached their destination. The family home was established in Canoe township, Winneshiek county, where the father engaged in farming for many years, or until he retired from active business life and removed to Decorah, where his death occurred July 12, 1907. He was then seventy-four years of age, for the 18th of March, 1833, was his natal day. His widow, who was born July 15, 1838, is still a resident of Decorah. Mr. Headington was the owner of two hundred and forty acres of land in Canoe township and had fifty acres in Decorah township. He made a specialty of raising horses and sold some of the best horses ever seen in the county. He was an excellent judge of horse flesh, his opinion being seldom if ever at fault concerning the good points of a horse, and his friends and neighbors often sought his counsel in regard to a purchase. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Headington were born four children: William; John, living in Canada; Frank, whose home is in Decorah; and Elizabeth, known as Dot, now the wife of A. J. Sharp, of Canoe township.

Practically throughout his entire life William Headington has been a resident of Canoe township, where he follows farming. He was reared to the occupation which he makes his life work, and as the years have gone by practical experience and his increasing knowledge have made his labors effective forces in the attainment of substantial success. Ambitious to own property, he has invested his earnings in one hundred and forty acres on sections 28 and 32, Canoe township, in addition to which he has the management of the old homestead belonging to his mother, and also cultivates eighty-five acres which he rents. He raises cattle, hogs and horses and is well known as a breeder of shorthorn cattle. His farm is today well improved. Only twenty acres were clear when it came into his possession, but he has cut down the timber, grubbed out the stumps and tilled the fields until now substantial harvests reward his labors and his farm is in excellent condition.

On the 9th of December, 1884, Mr. Headington was married to Miss Ellen Sharp, who was born in Canoe township in 1863, a daughter of William and Sarah Sharp. The four children of this marriage are: May, the wife of Theodore McClain, of Canoe township; and Bessie, Wallace and Paul, all at home.

In politics Mr. Headington is a democrat. Active in support of the party and serving at the present writing, in 1913, as one of the committeemen. He is prominent in Masonic circles, holding membership in Decorah Lodge, No. 181, A. F. & A. M., of which he is master; in King Solomon Chapter, No. 35, R. A. M., of Decorah; and in Beauseant Commandery, K. T., of Decorah. In the chapter he is high priest. He is most loyal to the teachings of the craft, exemplifying in his life its beneficent spirit and endeavoring to follow its teachings concerning mutual helpfulness and brotherly kindness.

Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913

Phelps Cemetery gravestone
 

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