IAGenWeb Project - Clayton co.

Lewis A. Zearley

Lewis A. Zearley is senior member of the firm of Gifford & Zearley, which has a well appointed undertaking establishment in the village of Garber and which has high reputation in the effective and consistent handling of the funeral-directing business for which it provides the most approved facilities and service. Mr. Zearley has been a resident of Clayton county, Iowa, from the time of his birth, which here occurred on the 28th of January, 1870. He is one of six surviving children of John H., and Mary (Hansel) Zearley, whose marriage was solemnized in this county, the father having been born in Pennsylvania and the mother in West Virginia and both having become residents of Clayton county in the early '50's. Here they passed the residue of their lives, and their names merit enduring place on the list of the honored pioneers of Clayton county.

Lewis A. Zearley continued his studies in the public schools until he had duly availed himself of the advantages of the high school, and he remained at the parental home until he had attained to his legal majority, when he became a clerk in the mercantile establishment of C. Schmeff, at Garber. Later he devoted three years to successful work as a teacher in the district schools, and in 1911 he engaged in the undertaking business at Garber, where he has since remained one of the principals in the representative firm of Gifford & Zearley, and where also he has served as postmaster since September, 1914. By virtue of his incumbency of this official position it is virtually unnecessary to state he is one of the prominent and influential workers in the local ranks of the Democratic party, and his civic loyalty and stewardship have further been shown by his services as a member of the village council, as a member of the board of education, and as county coroner, of which last mentioned office he was in tenure for four years. He attends and supports the United Brethren church, of which his wife is an active member.

In the year 1902 Mr. Zearley wedded Miss Alta Bowman, who was born and reared in this county and who is a daughter of James and Rebecca (Hansel) Bowman, who are sterling pioneer citizens of the county, where they established their home many years ago, both being natives of the historic old state of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Zearley have two sons: Ray, who was born on July 28th, 1895, is now holding a position in connection with a business establishment in the city of Dubuque; and James, who was born June 12th, 1904, is still attending school.

source: History of Clayton County, Iowa; From The Earliest Historical Times Down to the Present; by Realto E. Price, Vol. II; pg. 455-456

-OCR scanned by S. Ferrall

 

Return to 1916 Biographies Index