John Paddelford, a native of Chenango County, N.Y., was born May 22, 1815, and came to Iowa in April, 1840. He had visited the State in 1839, and being pleased with the outlook, resolved to make it his home. He settled first in Delaware County, and four years later in Sperry Township, Clayton County. He bought 160 acres, to which he has since added, until he now owns 120 acres in this township, 720 in Highland Township, and 700 acres in other parts of the county, making 1,540 acres in all. He also owns land in Minnesota, Wisconsin and New York. Upon coming to Clayton County he erected a log cabin, this being the first one built in the township. He returned to Delaware county after his household goods, and during his absence the cabin was destroyed by fire. He resided in a haymow the remainder of that winter, and in the spring built another cabin, eighteen and a half feet square and one story in height. This was his home until he built the large and commodious mansion, which he now occupies. He ws married in July, 1858, to Elizabeth Humphrey;
his wife was born in the County of Cornwall, England,
Apr. 6, 1824. Mr. Paddelford has held various offices of
trust in the township, among them that of Township
Trustee for the past fourteen years, School Treasurer and
Supervisor. He has ever been an active member of the Old
Settlers' Association, and served as its Vice- President
the first year of the its existence. In political views
he is a Greenbacker. He is one of the largest land-owners
in the county, and numbers his broad acres by the
thousand. source: History of Clayton County, Iowa, 1882, p. 1103 |
