~ William Neasham ~

William Neasham, an influential citizen of Jasper County, owning a farm on section 5, Palo Alto Township, is a native of Durham County, England, and was born January 9, 1832. His parents, William and Ann Neasham, were likewise natives of England, as were his ancestors for many generations. His parents being poor he was obliged in boyhood to depend upon his own exertions for a livelihood. Before he was nine years old he became an employee in the coal mines near his home, and he continued thus engaged until he was about twenty. In the meantime his education was neglected, owing to the necessity for constant labor on his part. In childhood he was a student in the pay schools for a brief time, but after he was nine years old he was unable to attend school.

From this it will be seen that Mr. Neasham had few advantages in his youth. At an age, when boys are usually prosecuting their studies in the schools, he was working from early morning until late at night in order to support himself and aid in the maintenance of the family. His was not a nature, however, content to struggle continuously in this manner, and upon arriving at man's estate, he determined to seek a home in America, of which he had heard so much. In 1852 he took passage at Liverpool on the sailing vessel "John Howell," an American ship, and after an uneventful voyage of forty days landed at Quebec, Canada. Thence he proceeded direct to Missouri, and for about two years resided in St. Louis County, where he engaged in mining.

From Missouri Mr. Neasham went to Pennsylvania, where he was employed in the mines of Schuylkill County for several years. Subsequently, he removed to Michigan and spent several years near Jackson. In the spring of 1869 he settled on the farm where he has since resided. The place was then unimproved, the land being covered with a dense growth of hazel brush and trees, and it required years of untiring exertion in order to bring the soil under good cultivation. He now owns seventy-six acres, upon which he engages in general farming.

In Pennsylvania, November 12, 1855, Mr. Neasham was united in marriage with Miss Jane Robson, who was born in England, September 12, 1826. Her parents, Charles and Mary Robson, were also natives of that country. When she was four years old, the family came to America and settled in Schuylkill County, Pa., where Mr. Robson followed the trade of a blacksmith until his death. He and his wife both died in the Keystone State, and there Mrs. Neasham was reared and married. She had one surviving brother and sister, John and Mary A., the latter being the wife of Griffith Williams. Her eldest brother, William (now deceased), was a soldier in the Mexican War under the command of General Scott, and her brothers, Edward and John, participated in the Civil War.

Of the children born to Mrs. Neasham, the following survive: Jennie, who is the wife of Joseph Whittaker, an engineer of the Rock Island Railroad, Lizzie, wife of Joseph Reed, of Oregon, William; and Sarah F., wife of James Snook. The eldest daughter, Anne, is deceased. Politically independent, Mr. Neasham votes to sustain principles and not party. For two terms he served as Trustee of Palo Alto Township, and has filled other positions of trust. He has always been stanch advocate of public schools, and is in favor of every measure calculated to promote the welfare his fellow-citizens. Socially he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Newton. Page290.

~ George W. Newell ~

George W. Newell is a representative and prosperous farmer and stock-raiser of Palo Alto Township. He owns one hundred and eighty-five acres of rich and valuable land on section 1. All is under a high state of cultivation and yields to the owner a golden tribute. There are also good improvements upon the place, every thing is neat and orderly, and the well-tilled fields and thrift appearance indicate the careful supervision of the owner.

Mr. Newell is a native of the Buckeye State. He was born in Knox County, April 28, 1845, and is a son of Hugh and Sarah (Loveridge) Newell, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of New Jersey. Our subject is the eldest surviving child. He was reared to manhood in his parents' home in the county of his nativity, and is a representative of two early families of Knox County, for his grandparents on both sides there located in pioneer days. He was reared amid the wild scenes of the frontier and aided in the development of the farm, hauling saw logs to the mill with two yoke of oxen and performing such other work as fell to the lot of their being a pioneer home. His education was acquired in the public schools, and by reading and observation he has ever kept well informed on topics of general interest. Throughout his entire life he has carried on agricultural pursuits, with the exception of a year and a half, when he was engaged in operating a portable sawmill.

On the 12th of October 1875, Mr. Newell was married to Miss Amanda Brown, also a native of Knox County, Ohio, born in 1847 and a daughter of Garrett Brown of that county. Their union has been blessed with a family of six children, as follows: Nora, Clifton D., Clayton E., George M., Bessie and Bertha E.

In the spring of 1876, Mr. Newell came with his family to Jasper County and spent the year after his arrival in Newton. Since that time he has engaged in farming. For several years he operated rented land in Sherman Township, and then removed to Mariposa Township, where he continued farming for a number of years. In 1890 he came to Palo Alto Township, where he has once made his home upon the farm described at the beginning of this notice.

We find in Mr. Newell a self-made man who started out in life empty-handed, with no capital save a young man's bright hope of the future and a determination to succeed. He possesses energy and industry, and by his well-directed efforts he has carried out his determination and won prosperity. In polities he is independent, supporting the man whom be thinks best qualified for the office, regardless of party affiliations. He and his wife both belong to the Methodist Protestant Church of Hixon Grove, and Mr. Newell is now serving as Trustee of the same. P. 181

~ Albert J. Nutt ~

This honored agriculturist is a resident of Richland Township, Jasper County, where he resides on a well-regulated farm. He is a native of Delaware County, Ohio, the date of his birth being February 5, 1855. His father, Walker L., came to Iowa in l856, settling in Marion County, on one hundred and twenty acres of wild land. He died on this place when fifty-seven years old. His father was a native of Scotland. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Mary Thompson and is a native of New Jersey; she lives in this county with her son, Warren C.

Receiving but a meager education in the district schools, our subject was early compelled to assist on the farm. When old enough to start out on his own account, he located on a farm in Marion County, but in the spring of 1881 removed to this county, locating in Palo Alto Township on a rented farm. Four years later he was enabled to buy his present property, which consisted of eighty acres, but not being satisfied with that small amount bought as he could afford, and now has in his possession two hundred acres of as fine land as is to be found in the county. Timber is in abundance on the place, and he is engaged in mixed farming, being very prosperous in every way.

The marriage of Albert Nutt and Anna Doyle was blessed by the birth of one child, Joseph W. This wife died when only twenty-one years old. Two years later our subject was married to Mary E. Boat, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of Ira and Margaret Boat, natives of Holland and Pennsylvania respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Boat still live in this county on a farm.

In politics our subject is a stanch Republican. Three years ago be was elected to the office of Trustee of his township, and has filled other positions. He and his good wife are members and liberal supporters of the Methodist. Episcopal Church. The Masonic order claims him as one of its members, ho belonging to Lebanon Lodge No. 227 at Lynnville. He is an intelligent and kindly Christian man and has won many warm friends. p. 221.