Pilgrim, Charles W. 1845 – 1936
PILGRIM, CROFT, BOYER, TURBIT
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/23/2015 at 08:48:47
CHARLES W. PILGRIM.
Winneshiek county numbers among her most valued and worthy citizens, Charles W. Pilgrim, whose fine farm of one hundred acres on section 14, Madison township, is visible evidence of his life of industry and thrift. He has been a resident of Iowa since 1870 and has consequently witnessed a great deal of the later growth and development of the state, the years bringing him success, prominence and a comfortable fortune. He was born in England, December 14, 1845, and is the son of John and Elizabeth (Croft) Pilgrim, the former a native of England and the latter of Wales. The father came to America and settled in French Grove, Peoria county, Illinois, in 1851 and he remained there two years, moving at the end of that time to Knox county in the same state. He rented a farm, but one year later his wife died of cholera and the father moved from that property to another in Knox county. He afterwards married again and went to Henry county. Illinois, where he purchased land in the vicinity of Galva, operating this for a number of years. Eventually, however, he retired from active life and moved into Galva where he resided until his death in July, 1882.
Charles W. Pilgrim was only six years of age when his parents came to America and he acquired his education in the district schools of Illinois. After his mother's death he made his home with his sister until he was eighteen years of age, after which he worked out by the month as a farm laborer for five years. At the end of that time he married and rented a farm near French Grove. This property he operated for two years and then moved to Buena Vista county, Iowa, making his first location in that state in 1870. After a short time he moved into Clay county and there took up a homestead claim of eighty acres which he improved and operated for seven years. A more than usually destructive grasshopper invasion, however, at length caused him to sell his farm and move into Winneshiek county where he had previously spent one season operating a threshing outfit and a clover huller for W. C. Cook of Hesper. When he returned after disposing of his property in Clay county, he settled in Hesper, bought property there and turned his attention to the teaming business. After nine years he hired out to William Beard & Sons as a cream hauler and thus began a connection with creamery interests of this vicinity which extended over a number of years. After two years and a half as hauler he was made cream inspector and overseer of all the routes controlled by his employers and during this period superintended the erection of a creamery at Galeville, Wisconsin, and established the interests of William Beard & Sons in that city. Tiring of outside work. Mr. Pilgrim was transferred to Ridgeway, where he superintended the erection of the creamery there and after its completion took full charge of the plant, acting also as buttermaker. At the end of three years he formed an association with H. and L. W. Beard, and the partners bought land, Mr. Pilgrim taking charge of the property in which he owned a half interest. At the end of seven years during which he brought this farm to a high state of cultivation, he purchased four hundred acres on section 14, Madison township, and began its improvement and development. The farm upon which he now resides is a portion of this property and reflects everywhere the many years of careful supervision and practical labor that have been bestowed upon it. As his sons married he gave each one hundred acres, but one son sold to his two brothers, who now control tracts one hundred and fifty acres in extent. Mr. Pilgrim has retained one hundred acres and makes his home upon it, being numbered today among the men whose well directed labors have been forces in the agricultural development of this part of the state.
On the 3d of November, 1868, Mr. Pilgrim was united in marriage to Miss Nancy E. Boyer, a daughter of Levi and Mary A. (Turbit) Boyer, natives of Pennsylvania. The father went to Illinois at an early date and turned his attention to farming, operating a fine property in that state until his death which occurred in 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Pilgrim became the parents of four children: John Edward, who resides in Marshalltown, Iowa; Charles C. and William Franklin, engaged in farming on properties adjoining their father's; and Walter B., a farmer in Frankville township.
Mr. Pilgrim is a member of the Methodist church and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. He is not active as an office seeker, but during the many years of his residence in Winneshiek has been always interested in public affairs, and has borne an active and honorable part in the work of development. He is widely known and favorably regarded among the people of this locality, who respect his success and honor the methods by which it was attained.
Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913
Phelps Cemetery gravestone
Winneshiek Biographies maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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