James Abiah TRUMBELL

TRUMBELL, SMITH, ELDER, CHRISTIE, MCNUTT

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 3/19/2017 at 21:52:14

James A. Trumbell, a general farmer of Avery township, Hancock county, living on section 29, was born in Pennsylvania on the 28th of January 1867, a son of Cornelius and Adeline (Smith) Trumbell, natives of Pennsylvania, who became early residents of Belmond, Iowa. Both are still living, the father having reached the age of seventy-four years, while the mother is now eighty-one years of age.

James A. Trumbell acquired his early education in the district schools of Pennsylvania, which he attended until he reached the age of seventeen years, and then accompanied his parents on their removal westward to this state. He assisted his father in the development and further improvement of the home farm for five years and when twenty-two years of age started out on his own account.

account. He has since been dependent entirely upon his own resources, so that whatever success he has achieved is the direct result and reward of his labor. For four years he cultivated a rented farm and then purchased two hundred and forty acres of land in Palo Alto county, Iowa. Some time afterward he sold that property and came to Hancock county, where he rented land for two years. He next purchased two hundred and thirty acres on section 29, Avery township, constituting his present farm, which is today one of the excellent farm properties of the district. His first trading point was at Belmond, which at that time was a little village containing four or five stores. There was also one store at Amsterdam conducted by G. N. Elder, the eldest brother of Mrs. Trumbell. There was much wheat and flax produced in those days, but all around were evidences of the fact that the work of development and improvement was still in its initial stage. The original courthouse of Hancock county now stands on the Hetland farm and at the time of the arrival of the Trumbell family M. P. Rosecrans was county judge, with Reuben Church as county treasurer, George Louppe as county clerk, C. M. Church as county sheriff and John Porter as district judge. Mr. Trumbell has devoted his entire life to general farming and his place of two hundred and thirty acres is now a valuable tract, which has been most carefully and systematically developed and improved until it forms one of the most pleasing features of the landscape. Its fields annually yield rich harvests and good grades of stock are seen upon the farm, while the latest improved machinery facilitates the work of the fields.

On the 11th of August, 1891, Mr. Trumbell was married to Miss Carrie K. Elder, a daughter of George and Margaret (McNutt) Elder, who were natives of Pennsylvania but came to Hancock county in 1865. Both have long since passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Trumbell are now the parents of three children, James S., Harry E. and Florence Mabel. The elder son was married March 8, 1916, to Miss Frances Christie, a daughter of Archie and Delia Christie, natives of Wisconsin.

Mrs. Trumbell belongs to the United Brethren church and he has membership relations with the Modern Woodmen of America, while his political endorsement is given to the democratic party. While interested in its success because of his firm belief in its principles, he has never sought nor desired political office, always preferring to concentrate his energies and attention upon his business affairs, which have been wisely directed and have made him one of the substantial farmers of Avery township.

HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY AND HANCOCK COUNTY IOWA -- A RECORD OF SETTLEMENT, ORGANIZATION PROGRESS AND ACHIEVEMENT, Pioneer Publishing, Chicago, IL, 1917, pages 217-218.