C. A. Clute is not only a resident of Honey Creek township but also one of its native citizens, his birth having there occurred on the 29th of August, 1864. His parents were L. G. and Melissa (Roe) Clute, the former a native of New York and the latter of Indiana. On leaving the east L. G. Clute journeyed across the country to Delaware county, Iowa, and cast in his lot with its pioneer settlers of 1848, at which period the work of development and progress seemed scarcely begun in this section of the state. Most of the homes were log cabins and these were widely scattered. The timber was uncut, the prairies uncultivated, the streams unbridged and there was little to indicate that a rapid change was soon to take place which would make this a well developed and prosperous section of the state. Mr. Clute took up his abode in

 Honey Creek township, where he developed and improved a farm. He was for many years actively identified with general agricultural interests and died in this county in 1910. He was prominent throughout the state in agricultural affairs and had charge of Iowa's agricultural exhibits at the fair in New Orleans, the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 and the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis in 1904. His widow is now living in Honey Creek township on the home farm, at the age of seventy three years, and is today one of the oldest pioneer settlers of the county in years of continuous residence here. In their family were three sons, W. H., C. A. and L. A. Clute.
     Through the period of his boyhood and youth C. A. Clute divided his time between work upon the home farm and attendance at the public schools, He found delight, pleasure and profit in farm work and felt no wish to change his occupation when he reached man's estate. He has always remained in Honey Creek township and is today the owner of valuable farm property, comprising three hundred and ten acres on sections 35 and 36. He makes a specialty of stock raising and handles good grades of cattle and hogs. Moreover, he cares for his farm in a most progressive manner, rotates his crops and tills his fields according to modern scientific methods. His labors are, therefore, attended with substantial results and he is now numbered among the men of affluence in his part of the county.
     On the 18th of December, 1889, Mr. Clute was united in marriage to Miss Nellie K. Blaisdell, who was born in Illinois and is a daughter of George and Katherine (Prunk) Blaisdell, the former a native of New Hampshire and the latter of Illinois. In early life they resided in Illinois and in 1867 removed to Iowa. The father has now passed away, but the mother makes her home in Manchester. They had a family of four children, all of whom are yet living, and unto Mr. and Mrs. Clute have been born six children. They can proudly and thankfully boast that their family circle yet remains unbroken. Their children are: Estella, the wife of Roy Ferguson, living in Clinton, Iowa; Roe B., now in the employ of the government in connection with the fish hatcheries; Claud C.; Dale A.; George L.; and Lawrence B.
     Mr. Clute votes with the republican party, but has never been an aspirant for office. He has served for several years on the school board and is interested in that which affects the intellectual, material, and moral progress of the community. He holds membership in Greeley Lodge, No. 418, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all of the chairs, and he likewise has member ship in the Modern Woodmen camp at Greeley, while both he and his wife are members of the Christian church and guide their lives according to its teachings and its precepts.
     C. N. Clute, who is engaged in stock raising and dairying in Honey Creek township, is a native of Wisconsin, born January 16, 1856, his parents being R. S. H. Clute and Sarah Jane (Buckalue) Clute. The father was born in the state of New York, while the mother’s birth occurred in New Jersey. Removing westward in 1856, they lived for a year in Wisconsin, during which time the birth of C. N. Clute occurred. In 1857 they continued their westward way to Iowa and established their home in Delaware county, where R. S. H. Clute purchased the farm upon which his son C. N. Clute now resides. The place is located on section 5, Honey Creek township, and comprises one hundred and twenty acres of land that is naturally rich and arable, while cultivation and improvement have added much to its value. For an extended period the father carried on general agricultural pursuits upon that place and there passed away when in his eighty   seventh year. The mother also reached a very advanced age, having passed the ninetieth milestone on life's journey when called to her final rest. In their family were eleven children, of whom six are yet living.
      C. N. Clute was reared on the old home farm. As soon as old enough to handle the plow he took his place in the fields and there worked through the summer months, while in the winter seasons he attended the public schools and acquainted himself with those branches of learning which are of value as a preparation for the duties, labors and responsibilities of later life. He remained with his parents until they were called from this life, after which he purchased the old homestead property. He has since erected good buildings upon the place and his practical and progressive management is evidenced in the well kept appearance of his farm. The fields respond in golden harvests to the care and labor which he bestows upon them and in his pastures are found good grades of stock. He keeps a number of milk cows for dairy purposes, and the products of his dairy find a ready sale on the market.
     On the 15th of October, 1896, Mr. Clute was united in marriage to Miss Nellie E. Evert, a native of this county and a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth A. (Bray) Evert, the former a native of Germany, whence he was brought to America when about eight years of age by his parents, who, crossing the continent, first settled in Illinois. There Henry Evert was reared and married, and with his family he came to Iowa in the '60s, establishing his home upon a farm in this county. He has now passed away, but his widow survives and makes her home in Manchester. Mr. and Mrs. Clute have become parents of four children: Howard D., who was born September 8, 1899; Charles E., May 18, 1901; Alva L., April 23, 1905; and Olaf M., November 24, 1908.
     The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church and they are people of sterling worth, as is attested by the large circle of friends which they have in the community. Mr. Clute is a republican and, while he has never sought nor desired political office, he has served as school director for five years and he indorses many measures which he believes will prove of benefit to the public.