JAMES SAFLEY

From many sections of both the new and the old world came the pioneers of Iowa, but none possessed in greater degree the sturdy qualities necessary for life on the frontier or required in the substantial and permanent upbuilding of such a commonwealth than did James Safley, whose name now appears on the list of Cedar county’s honored dead. He was one of Scotland’s contribution to the citizenship of this state, his birth occurring in Dalhousie, that country, near Edinburgh, on the 24th of October, 1812. He was the third in order of birth in a family of five children born to John and Agnes (Hunter) Safley, the others being John, George, Robert, and Mrs. Frances Tryon, who went to Oregon in 1850. The father, a weaver by trade, spent his entire life in the land of hills and heather, passing away in 1832 from the effects of cholera. Later, however, the family became established in the United States, various members arriving in the new world at different periods. James, the subject of this review, was the first to cross the water, while a year later, in 1836, the mother and eldest son John, and daughter, in company with John Ferguson, his wife and two children, and Charles Dallas and his two children, came to Iowa. They made their way to Illinois, where the winter of that year was spent, and in 1837 came to Cedar county, where they made permanent settlement, the party being the first to arrive in Red Oak township. The year 1842 witnessed the arrival of the sons George and Robert in the United States. The mother passed away in Linn county, Iowa, in 1842.

In his native land James Safley spent the period of his boyhoodand youth, and in the schools of that country acquired his education. He early began assisting his father in the weaving mill and was thus engaged until twenty-three years of age, when, believing that the new world held better opportunities for business advancement, he joined some relatives who were making the journey to the United States. They located in Waterford, New York, and in the following year Mr. Safley, with friends, went to LaGrange county, Indiana, as one of the pioneers of that district. Becoming badly afflicted with rheumatism, however, he was obliged to return to New York, and he made his home in Cohoes, that state, until 1839, when he was again attracted by the advantages of the rapidly growing west. He arrived in Linn county, Iowa, in November of that year, making the journey from Chicago by team. He continued his residence in that county for three years, and then, in the spring of 1843, he came to Cedar county, which remained the scene of his activities throughout the remainder of his life. He had become identified with agricultural interests upon his arrival in the United States, and upon coming to Cedar county he bought from the government three hundred and twenty acres of land about two miles north of Tipton, which still remains the family homestead. This farm lies partly in Red Oak and partly in Center township, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres on section 24 of the former township and one hundred and sixty acres on section 25 of the latter.

At the time Mr. Safley located here in Iowa was still known as the “far west,” her lands remaining largely unclaimed and uncultivated, and with the early pioneers who had braved the dangers of frontier life he cast in his lot, enduring all the hardships and privations incident to openinig up a new farm. He possessed, however, in large measure those qualities of thrift and perseverance which seem to be characteristic of the Scotch race, and these proved potent forces in the success which came to him as year by year he carried on his agricultural pursuits, bending every energy to the further development and improvement of his farm. During his early residence in Cedar county few roads had been laid out and railroads had not yet been built, and he was compelled to haul his wheat to Muscatine, thirty miles away, or to Davenport, forty miles away, where he sold it at forty cents per bushel. Money was scarce in those days, and only part of his payment was received in cash, the other part being taken out in trade. He sold dressed pork in Iowa City for one dollar and twenty-five cents per hundred pounds, and also hauled it to Galena, Illinois, where he sold it at the mines, receiving gold in payment. But in spite of primitive conditions Mr. Safley prospered from year to year, and as success came to him in his undertaking he invested in real estate, so that at the time of his death, which occurred on the 9th of January, 1880, he was the owner of fifteen hundred acres of valuable Iowa land, constituting him one of the extensive property owners of this locality. For almost four decades he was identified with the history of this state, witnessing the wonderful transformation from a wild tract into a splendid commonwealth, and at all times bore his full share in the work of development and improvement. Death came to him ere he had reached the Psalmist’s allotted span of three score years and ten, and cut off a life that had been characterized by untiring industry and unfaltering perseverance, and crowned by well merited success.

Mr. Safley had been married three times. On the 7th of January, 1837, he wedded Janet Safley, a cousin, who passed away in Red Oak township on the 8th of March, 1847. Unto this union were born five children. The eldest son, John G. Safley, was a graduate of Cornell College, Mount Vernon, with the class of 1859, and later pursued a law course at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. In 1866 he was called to represent Cedar county in the legislature. After his graduation from the institution he located for practice at Toledo, Iowa, and there followed the legal profession for several years as junior member of the firm of Stivers & Safley. His health failing, however, he was later compelled to reside on a large farm south of Traer, Iowa, where he spent his remaining days, passing away on the 12th of July, 1879. He had been a soldier in the Civil war, enlisting as a private in Company K, Eleventh Iowa Regiment, and before receiving his discharge had been promoted to captain of Company E, that regiment. He participated in many hotly contested engagements of the war and was wounded at the battle of Atlanta on the 22d of July, 1864. He married Jennie Fraseur of Tipton and left one son and two daughters. Robert Lowe, the second son, now deceased, was also a soldier in the Union army, enlisting on the 8th of August, 1862, as a member of Company C, Twenty-fourth Iowa infantry. His death occurred on the 19th of April, 1863, as a result of sickness contracted at Milliken’s Bend, and his remains were laid to rest in the National cemetery at Vicksburg. Socrates Tryon, likewise a soldier in the Civil war, enlisted in Company K, Eleventh Iowa Volunteers and was killed at the battle of Atlanta, July 22, 1864. Isabelle, a twin sister of Socrates, passed away in infancy. Janet, the youngest member of the family, died in Indiana when but two years of age.

After the death of his first wife Mr. Safley was united in marriage on the 26th of July, 1848, to Mrs. Eliza Tryon Peet, the widow of Marlin Peet, of Jones county, who was a native of Poultney, Vermont. Unto that union were born four children, as follows: Mary, who passed away at the age on one and half years; Hulda, the wife of Marion R. McCaulley, of Eugene , Oregon; George William, of Calhoun county, Iowa, who is married and has nine sons and two daughters; and Laura, the wife of Amos M. Hawley, a resident of Scranton, Green county, Iowa. Mrs. Safley passed to her final rest on the 25th of July, 1859.

On the 18th of September, 1860, Mr. Safley wedded Margaret Ritchie, who was born in Scotland on the 3d of July, 1838. When twelve years old she lost her mother, after which she was reared by an aunt, with whom she came to the United States in 1851. They located first in Knox county, Illinois, and later, in May, 1853, came to Iowa, where she resided in Linn county until her marriage. Since that time, or for a period of nearly fifty years, she has made her home on the old Safley homestead, upon which her husband had located in early pioneer times. A remarkable business woman, she has shown excellent ability in the management of the large estate left to her at her husband’s death, and also in the capable way in which she has reared and educated her family. Well read, she is a lady of broad general knowledge, and her strength of character and many fine traits of heart and mind have won her the respect and good will of a large circle of warm friends.

By her marriage to Mr. Safley she became the mother of seven children. Clarence, the eldest, was born August 9, 1862, and was a student at the high school in Tipton. He followed the occupation of farming and stock-raising for many years but is now living retired in Tipton. He married Minerva Wisener, and unto them have been born two children: James Clifford, whose birth occurred on the 25th of April, 1894; and May Elizabeth, born August 10, 1905. Nellie, born in1865, married Walter J. Bray, of Arlington Heights, Illinois, and they have two children: Margaret Jean, born May 2, 1900; and Helen Safley, born January 18, 1903. James Arthur, who was born March 17, 1867, is a farmer by occupation, residing on a tract of land adjoining the old homestead in Red Oak township. He was married on the 17th of March, 1896, to Margaret Phelps, and they have five children: Henrietta, born March 17, 1897; Effie, born March 12, 1899; Ritchie, born September 4, 1901; Emily Louise, born May 30, 1903; and Maurice Phelps, born July 6, 1905. Effie, born March 12, 1869, passed away on the 4th of December, 1879. Archibald Lester, born December 9, 1871, was married April 18, 1905 to Miss Lucy Walenta, by whom he has three children: Jessie E., born February 25, 1906; James Lester, born December 18, 1907; and Florence, born January 5, 1910. He also follows agriculture as an occupation, owning and operating the old home farm. Agnes Isabelle, who was born May 14, 1875, was graduated from the State University of Iowa in 1899 with the B. S. degree, and also pursued a medical course in that institution. Upon her graduation from that department in 1904 she located for practice in Cedar Rapids and has since remained in that city. Margaret James, named for her father and mother, was born upon the day her father passed away, January 9, 1880. She won her B. A. degree upon her graduation from the State University of Iowa in 1900 and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa sorority. Following her graduation she taught history in Washington, Iowa, for six years, and on the 15th of September, 1909, was united in marriage to Rev. R. D. Echlin, pastor of the Second Presbyterian church of Sioux City, Iowa.