HON. HIRAM DEWELL

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Hon. Hiram Dewell is pleasantly situated on section 2, Dayton township, his attention being given to the raising of grain and stock. The qualities essential to success are his and through the careful conduct of his business affairs he has met with well merited prosperity. Cedar county has claimed him as one of its citizens since 1855 and its history, therefore, is largely familiar to him. He can relate as the result of his personal observation the story of its growth and development and in as far as possible he has borne his share in the work of public progress.

He was born in Kosciusko county, Indiana, May 30, 1849, a son of Nathaniel and Winnie (McClure) Dewell. The father was born in Wayne county, Ohio, and when a lad of ten years accompanied his parents to Indiana, where his youthful days were passed. His wife was born in Henry county of the latter state, and on coming to Iowa in 1855 they made their permanent location in Cedar county, where the father rented land that he cultivated for two years. It was a wild tract but he at once began to till the fields, from which he soon gathered rich harvests. As he prospered in his undertaking he made judicious investments in property until he became the owner of six hundred and forty acres. In 1865 he lost his wife and, surviving her for thirty-five years, passed away March 13, 1900.

The usual experiences of the farm boy came to Hiram Dewell. In his youthful days he lived with his father in Dayton township and his school privileges were somewhat limited, so that he is largely a self-educated man, adding materially to his knowledge since he has attained his majority. He is today well informed and keeps in touch with the trend of modern thought. He remained with his father until he had reached his majority and later he cultivated a part of his father’s farm for twelve years. He laid the foundation for a pleasant home life in his marriage in Jones county, Iowa, on the 26th of May, 1870, to Miss Martha E. Ireland, who was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, but was reared and educated in Jones county, Iowa, her father removing from the Hoosier state to that county in pioneer times.

After his marriage Mr. Dewell rented land in Dayton township, where he lived for a number of years. Subsequently he purchased the farm whereon he now resides and at once began its cultivation and improvement. His place comprises one hundred and sixty acres and the soil is rich and alluvial, responding readily to the care and labor which he bestows upon it. The promise of spring materializes in good crops in the autumn and in the care of his fields he utilizes the latest improved machinery. He has provided ample shelter for his stock and for his agricultural implements in well built sheds and barns, and he also has a good residence upon his place. One of the profitable features is the raising of high grade stock and his judgment is seldom if ever at fault in determining the value of farm animals.

As the years have gone by the home of Mr. and Mrs. Dewell has been blessed with four children, namely: Gertrude, now the wife of Harry Freeman, a resident farmer of Jones county; Mabel, the wife of G. W. Baird, who is a mechanic in Dayton township, this county; Howard, who is successfully carrying on general agricultural pursuits in Dayton township; and Nellie, a well educated young lady, at home.

The parents hold membership in a Freewill Baptist church in Jones county. When age conferred upon Mr. Dewell the right of franchise he proudly cast his first presidential vote for General U. S. Grant and the republican party has since found in him a stalwart supporter who has loyally advocated the cause of every presidential nominee since that time. He has served in various local offices, the duties of which he has discharged with conscientious obligation. He filled the office of assessor for six consecutive years, has been township school treasurer, was township school secretary for eight years, then called to higher office was chosen to represent Cedar county in the state legislature in 1906. That his first term received uniform endorsement is indicated by the fact that he was reelected in1908, serving through two full terms and one special session of the Iowa legislature. He was made a member of a number of important committees and took an active part in shaping the legislation enacted during the period of his connection with the general assembly. Over the record of his public life there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. He has a wide acquaintance among the prominent political leaders of the state and in his home locality he enjoys a warm personal regard that indicates that the friendship has taken deep root.