WENDELL WILLER
Wendell Willer, the proprietor of the Cloverdale Stock Farm, is one of the most progressive and up-to-date agriculturists of Cedar county, his home being on section 12, Center township. He was born on the 9th of October, 1859, in Meigs county, Ohio, and is a son of George and Julia (Thress) Willer, of whom extended mention is made on another page of this volume. It was in 1865 that the family migrated to Cedar county, Iowa, and located on the present farm of our subject, where he resided continuously since.
At an early age Wendell Willer became familiar with all of the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist and as an enterprising and energetic farmer and stock-raiser he has met with far more than ordinary success during his business career, now owning a well improved place of five hundred and thirty acres, all in one body, which includes ninety acres of the old homestead. This lies on sections 11, 12 and 13, Center township, and is finely located two miles southwest of Tipton. Raising a large amount of stock, he has two hundred and forty acres in blue grass pasture and as there is considerable clover upon the place, he has given his farm the name of Cloverdale Stock Farm. He raises cattle, horses and hogs, but his specialty is Percheron horses, of which he now has a fine herd of sixty, including one imported stallion, Etonne ( 68536) 51,327, which is a drab gray of immense size, weighing at present two thousand one hundred and ten pounds. This horse is large of bone and has a certain style and action like a coach horse.
The Cloverdale Stock Farm is conspicuous for its fine new buildings. These include a modern up-to-date residence, which is one of the finest in this part of the county. It was erected in 1908, is two stories in height with a basement and contains twelve rooms. It is complete in all of its appointments, having all modern improvements. This is the third house that has stood upon the farm, a good residence having been torn down to erect the present magnificent home. The other buildings upon the farm are in perfect keeping with the residence, a fine large barn being built in 1901, forty-six by sixty-four feet in dimensions, with twenty-four foot posts, also a smaller barn and hog house, machinery house, corn cribs, etc.
On the 1st of January, 1891, Mr. Willer was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Elizabeth Moffett, whose birth occurred in Center township, this county, April 27, 1867. Her parents were Samuel and Drusey (Wilkinson) Moffett. Her father, who was born in Ohio, April 16, 1843, came to this county in early life and died in Tipton, November 8, 1906. He made farming his occupation. The mother was born in Center township and now resides with our subject. She is one of a family of three children, the others being Perry W., a resident of Center township, and James Wilkinson, deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Willer have been born three children: Russell Moffett; George Caldwell, who died at the age of four years; and Paul, who died at the age of nine months. Having lost two of their sons, they are now rearing a young man by the name of Edwin Carlson.
They hold membership in St. John’s Reformed church of Tipton, of which Mr. Willer is an elder, taking a very active and influential part in its work, and as a republican, he has been quite prominent in public affairs and is now serving his second term as township trustee. His fellow citizens recognize his worth and ability and no trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed. As a business man he stands deservedly high and in every relation of life he commands the respect and confidence of those with whom he is brought in contact.
