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1907 Past and Present Biographies
Issac Clopton Clickk photo to enlarge Among the honored pioneer residents of Greene county none are more worthy of mention than Isaac Clopton, now living in Jackson township. He arrived in the county on the 15th of May, 1851, making the journey in a wagon drawn by an ox team. He was at that time a young man of twenty-two years, energetic, of strong constitution, so that he was well equipped to meet the conditions of pioneer life. He broke the first furrows in the township and from that day to the present has been connected with the substantial development and improvement of this part of the state. He was born in Cass county, Illinois in 1829. a son of David Clopton who, after some years’ residence in Missouri, came to Iowa, settling in Greene county. At the same time the subject of this review came with his wife. They journeyed, as stated. after the primitive manner of the times. their wagons being drawn by ox teams. They were about two weeks on the road and there were no bridges all the way, so that all streams had to be forded. Adel was at that time a little hamlet and Des Moines but a village. David Clopton had previously visited the county in 1850 and had entered a claim on section 16. Jackson township. After removing his family to the county he broke some of this and planted corn, which was used later in the manufacture of meal, which became one of the principal articles in the culinary department of his home. He marketed his wheat at Des Moines, which was the nearest trading post of any importance. There were about one dozen families settled in this locality along the river. The father did not remain in Iowa long, however, but returned to Missouri in 1855, his death there occurring when he had reached the venerable age of seventy-eight years. His wife bore the maiden name of Lavina Cogdill, and they became the parents of nine children, of whom four are yet living.  Click photo to enlarge Isaac Clopton was reared in Illinois and Missouri, and having arrived at years of maturity, he was married in the latter state on the 28th of November, 1850, to Miss Nancy Ann Salmon, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of William Salmon, who removed westward to Missouri, where he spent his remaining days. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Clopton have been born twelve children, of whom eleven reached years of maturity. William and Mary are deceased. Those living are: Marshall, a resident of Nebraska; Edward, who lives in Kansas; Mrs. Minnie Stevens; Isaac, of this review; David, a resident of Nebraska; Mrs. Sabra Terrill; Mrs. Martha Lyons; Mrs. Cynthia Vader; and Robert, a resident of Idaho. Throughout his business career Mr. Clopton has carried on general farming and in early days he met with all the difliculties incident to the development of a new farm. Arduous labor was his lot, for he secured a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, from the government, on which not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made. He soon broke the sod, however, and in course of time set out fruit trees, which have long been in good hearing. He also erected substantial buildings upon his place and continued actively in farming until about six years ago. To his one hundred and sixty acres he added from time to time until he became the owner of four hundred acres. He has since, however, disposed of a portion of this. The traveler today can scarcely realize the condition which existed in the county at the time of his arrival. He went to Winterset and Des Moines to mill, traveling with an ox team, the trip requiring eight days. Farm machinery was very crude and much of the labor was done by hand. However, the soil was rich and productive, respondirig readily to the care and labor bestowed upon it and as the years passed Mr. Clopton made his place a very fertile and valuable farm. He now rents this property to Mr. Stevens, a son-in-law, while he is living retired. Mr. Clopton is closely associated with many events which have left their impress upon the history of the county. He helped to lay out Jackson township and built the first schoolhouse in the county. For a quarter of a century he served in school oflices. In politics he has always been a stalwart republican, casting his vote for Fremont in 1856, and he belongs to the Baptist church, with which he has been connected since its organization. His life has ever been honorable and upright and his many excellent qualities have made him one of the respected citizens of the community. He has now reached the age of seventy-eight years and receives the veneration and esteem which should ever be accorded to one who has reached the evening of life, and whose record in the years that have come and gone is in harmony with upright principles. |
Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead," by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver, Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.  Site Terms, Conditions & Disclaimer |