Aaron Amey
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On
the list of Greene county’s honored dead appears the name of Aaron
Amey, who was a prosperous farmer and stockman and probably the most
popular and respected resident of Willow township. In all life’s
relations he was found true to the trust reposed in him, was active and
reliable in business and faithful in friendship and these qualities
made him one of the most highly esteemed citizens of his community. His
birth occurred in Warren county, Illinois, on the 10th of July, 1856,
his parents being James and Permelia (Charles) Amey. The father, also a
native of Illinois, was a farmer by occupation and died in early
manhood when his son Aaron was but seven years of age. The mother had
passed away four years prior to this time. She, too, was born in
Illinois.
Aaron Amey, left an orphan at an early age, was reared by an uncle upon
a farm in Illinois and in his youth was a pupil in the public schools.
His training in the work of the fields was not meager and lessons of
industry, economy, diligence and honesty were early impressed upon his
mind and in the course of years brought forth rich fruit. Having
arrived at adult age, he was married in Warren county, Illinois, on the
7th of October, 1878, to Miss Sarah Curphey, who was born on the Isle
of Man in the year 1858 and was a daughter of Richard and Sarah (Cain)
Curphey, both of whom were also natives of the Isle of Man. The father
there died in 1861, when twenty-five years of age, after which the
mother came to the new world and settled in Warren county, Illinois, in
1871, accompanied by her two children, Richard and Sarah, the former
now a resident of Oklahoma. Mrs. Curphey now resides in Bayard, Iowa,
and has attained the age of seventy-one years.
pic of home
Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Amey removed to Nebraska, where
they resided for three years, and in 1881 came to Greene county, Iowa,
where they purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, constituting
the present home of the family. At that time the farm was only
partially improved but with characteristic energy Mr. Amey began its
further development and cultivation. He broke the sod and carried on
the farm work until the place became a valuable property, his fields
being rich and productive. By additional purchase he also extended the
boundaries of the place until it comprised two hundred and forty acres.
He erected all of the buildings, made all of the modern improvements,
and developed a valuable property, upon which he made his home until
his death.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Amey were born six children: Pearl, who is now the
wife of E. R. Phelps, a resident of Salt Lake City, Utah; Mertice, the
wife of J. W. Duff, of Scranton township; W. Elbert, Oscar J., Mabel F.
and Lottie Blanche, all at home.
Mr. Amey gave his political allegiance to the republican party, being
in hearty sympathy with its principles and its purposes. He felt that
its platform was most conducive to good government and he therefore
gave to it unfaltering support. He served as justice of the peace, as
road supervisor and as school director, and in community affairs was
deeply and helpfully interested. He belonged to the Modern Woodmen of
America and to the Yeomen of America and was a devoted and worthy
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which he took
an active and helpful part, while to its support he contributed
generously of his means. He was superintendent of the Sunday school for
some years and did everything in his power to advance the cause of the
church and extend its influence. His death resulted from an accident,
he being killed at La Fox, Illinois, in a railroad wreck while taking
live-stock to Chicago over the Northwestern Railroad on the 28th of
January, 1903. He was a man of many good traits of character, devoted
to the welfare and happiness of his family, faithful in his friendships
and loyal in his citizenship. Men who had business relations with him
found him trustworthy and reliable, his word being as good as any bond
ever solemnized by signature or seal. He was but forty-six years of age
at the time of his demise and his death was the occasion of deep and
wide-spread regret throughout the community.
Mrs. Amey still survives her husband and is an earnest Christian woman,
holding membership in the Methodist church. She displays good business
ability in managing the farm and is carefully rearing her family. She
is a lady of natural refinement and culture and in the community where
she lives has many friends.
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