Carroll County IAGenWeb

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY IOWA

A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement

VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912

Transcribed by Sharon Elijah November 1, 2020

Alexander Tuel, who passed away on his farm on section 20, Union township, on the 8th of December, 1908, was successfully identified with general agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career. His birth occurred in Monroe county, Ohio, on the 23d of December, 1847, his parents being William and Margaret (Knight) Tuel, both of whom were natives of West Virginia. The father was born on the 26th of September, 1823, while the mother’s natal day was February 14, 1828. They were early settlers of Ohio and came to Lee county, Iowa, about 1861, while the year 1865 witnessed their arrival in Carroll county. They took up their abode in Union township and William Tuel here followed farming until called to his final rest on the 27th of December, 1902, when seventy-eight years of age. His widow still survives him and resides with her son William at Coon Rapids. Mr. and Mrs. William Tuel had a family of thirteen children, namely: Alexander, of this review; Malissa and Eli, both of whom are deceased; Ezekiel; Mary E.; Almira, who has passed away; Brookens; Andrew, likewise deceased; Luther; Viola; Richard; Margaret, who has passed away; and William Henry.

Alexander Tuel lived in Ohio until about fourteen years of age and grew to manhood in Lee and Carroll counties of Iowa. He obtained his education in the district schools and after putting aside his text-books turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits, in which he was actively engaged throughout his entire business career. In the work of the fields he met with success, annually gathering bounteous crops which found a ready sale on the market.

Mr. Tuel was twice married, his first wife bearing the maiden name of Mattie C. Bagley. On the 23d of September, 1877, he wedded Miss Amira Chevalier, who was born in Mahaska county, Iowa, on the 4th of August, 1858, her parents being John F. and Elizabeth (Hetzer) Chevalier, natives of Meigs county, Ohio. They became early settlers of Mahaska county, Iowa, and subsequently removed to Colfax, Washington. John F. Chavalier, who has now attained the age of eighty years, still resides at Mount Hope, Washington, where he passed away in November, 1910, when seventy-six years old. They were the parents of twelve children, as follows: Cyrinthia; Mrs. Almira Tuel; Philena and Philura, twins; Elizabeth; Arizona; John Franklin; Vernile; Martha Belle, Homer; and Minnie and Seldon, who are deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Tuel were born thirteen children, as follows: Leonard, who wedded Miss Muzetta House and has two children, Reginald Clayton and Howard Arnold; Geneva, who died when about nine years of age; Oscar, who married Miss Ethel Bell, by whom he has one child, Hildah; Anna, who died when but six years old; Ottie, who died at the age of four; Eugene, who married Miss Elsie Knight and has three children—Kenneth, Velma and Beulah; Ina May, who gave her hand in marriage to Earl Johnson, by whom she has two children, Gerald and Clara; Nellie Fay, who is the wife of Albert Carpenter; and Reece, Edna Opal and Venus, all at home; Hildah Ethel, who died in childhood; and Charles, also at home.

Mr. Tuel gave his political allegiance to the democracy for many years but subsequently became a republican. He was a stanch friend of the cause of education and served as school director for a number of years. Fraternally he was identified with the Masons, belonging to Charity Lodge, A.F. & A.M. His demise, which occurred on the 8th of December, 1908, when he had attained the age of sixty-one years, was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, for he had won an extensive circle of friends throughout the community. His widow is also widely and favorably known here, her many excellent traits of heart and mind having endeared her to all with whom she has come in contact.

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