Portraits of Grundy County

This page is a result of the volunteer information from a wonderful person, Barbara . She has graciously offered to share this story and others with those of you who are researching the IAGenWeb Project for Grundy County, IA.

Charles Severance

Charles Severance, who resides on Section 1, Palermo Township, is one of Grundy County's leading farmers. He owns one hundred and eighty acres of arable and valuable land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation. The fields are well tilled, and the many improvements upon the farm attest the thrift and enterprise of the owner, who is regarded as one of the leading and successful farmers and stock-raisers of the county. He makes a specialty of breeding thoroughbred Short-horn cattle, keeping on hand registered stock.

Mr. Severance was born in Greenfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts, September 5, 1838. His father, Pliny Severance, was born in the Bay State, and after arriving at years of maturity, wedded Sophia Risley. Her father was a soldier in the Revolution. The father of our subject was a hatter by trade, and followed that business until thirty years of age, when he turned his attention to farming, continuing in that work until 1856. That year witnessed his arrival in Grundy Co, where he resumed farming.

Charles Severance was reared in Franklin County, Mass., and attended school until seventeen years of age. With his mother and two sisters he then removed to Grundy Centre. There were only three families living in this place at that time, and we see that our subject is one of the oldest citizens in years of continued residence in the county seat. Their home was erected in the autumn of 1856, and the lumber for that purpose was hauled from Dubuque, a distance of one hundred and twenty-five miles. Mr. Severance continued to make his home in Grundy Centre until about the close of the war (Civil), when he removed to the farm upon which he yet resides. There were no improvements upon the place, it being still in its primitive condition. The land, a tract of two hundred and forty acres, was entered by his brother, Henry Severance, who mysteriously disappeared some years ago and has never been heard from since.

On the 28th of May, 1880, the subject of this sketch was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth E. Robson, who came to Grundy County at a very early day. Three children have been born of their union, a son and two daughters: Gertie, Bertha and Frank. All are still with their parents.

In his political views Mr. Severance is a Republican, but has never been an aspirant for official honors, preferring to devote his entire time and attention to his business interests, in which he has met with success. He is numbered among the honored pioneers of the county, and his name is inseparably connected with the history of this community. He has watched its growth and upbuilding, has aided its development, and has ever borne his part in the work of public advancement. He is enterprising, public-spirited and progressive, and the best interests of the community find in him a friend. He has a wide acquaintance through-out the county, and by all who know him is held in high regard."
p. 388-389

.

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
OF JASPER, MARSHALL AND GRUNDY COUNTIES, IOWA,
CONTAINING BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS,
Chicago, Biographical Publishing Co, 1894.

Charles was born in Greenfield, Franklin Co, MA on 9-15-1838. [MAVR] He died 9-15-1888 in Grundy, IA. In 1856, he moved to Grundy Center, IA with his mother and two sisters to where his father and the rest of the family had settled a short time earlier. At that time there were only three families living in Grundy. Charles7 spent the rest of his life in that area. On 5-28-1880 Charles married Miss Elizabeth E. Robson, a daughter of Thomas Robson of NY state.

Charles (7) was a Republican but never aspired to official office. He was held in high regard by all who knew him. He was enterprising, public spirited and progressive.

He made a specialty of breeding thoroughbred short-horn cattle, keeping on hand registered stock. He was one of the leading farmers in Grundy County with his 180 acres under a high state of cultivation. (3)

NEXT

Grundy Co. Home Page

*** The background is an image from the Library of Congress which we have lightened to use.

Fred Coulter, Iowa farmer, Grundy County.
Vachon, John, 1914-1975, photographer.
CREATED/PUBLISHED
1940 Apr.
CALL NUMBER
LC-USF33- 001806-M4
REPRODUCTION NUMBER
LC-USF33-T01-001806-M4 DLC (b&w film dup. neg.)
DIGITAL ID
(b&w film copy interpositive) fsa 8a05973

©IAGenWeb 2002