~ Failor, Frank F. ~Photo

Frank F. Failor, proprietor of the Hillside Stock Farm, one mile west of Newton, has been identified with the history of Jasper County from its infancy. He was born December 26, 1858, and is the son of Andrew and Mary (Lauck) Failor, natives of Pennsylvania. His parents each became residents of Ohio in their childhood, where they were married. They reared a family of six sons and two daughters, Frank F. being the sixth child. The family came to Jasper County in 1855, and located six miles north of Newton, where Frank F. and three other children were born. Our subject received a good business education in the public schools of Jasper County, and when seventeen years of age started to learn the tinner's trade in the hardware store then operated by his father and brother in Newton. In 1882 he purchased his father's interest, and the firm became known as F. F. Failor & Co. In 1885 he became sole proprietor, and in 1889 closed out the stock to Hanke & Scharf, after which he engaged at farming and fancy stock raising six miles south of Newton. In 1893 he purchased the Colonel Ryan farm, which he still owns and to which he has added until he now possesses 365 acres, which includes the old Robert Dixon farm, where he now resides. Libbie E. Troneand and F. F. Failor were united in marriage May 12, 1897. She was a native of Rushville, Illinois. They are the parents of one child, Ella M. Socially, Mr. Failor is a member of Delta Lodge No. 53, Knights of Pythias. Mr. Failor has been financially successful in nearly every line of business he has chosen to enter. How well he has succeeded in the stock business may be judged when we state that in the fall of 1901 he sold $10,000.00 worth of stock, which was mostly raised on his farm west of Newton. Page 44

~ Fales, John M. ~Photo

John M. Fales, a prominent and well-to-do citizen, Section 15, Palo Alto Township, dates his settlement in Jasper County from the fall of 1873. Before entering the sketch of this man, however, we will give something of the tracing of his people in direct lineage, dating from 1600. At that date James Fales came from England and settled in Walpole, Massachusetts, married Anna Brock in 1635, fought in King Philip's War, which commenced in 1675, and died in 1708. There were eight children in his family, the fourth of whom was named Peter, born in 1668, and died August 10, 1725. His wife, Abigail Robbins, bore him eight children, the first a son also named Peter born April 18, 1690. He married Sarah Unity Allen July 30, 1724. Eight children came by this union, and the fourth was named Peter, born December 16, 1732. August 4, 1826, he married Avis Bicknell. Ten children were born to them, the seventh being named Peter. Thus for four generations the direct lineage of our subject, comes the name Peter. The latter was born October 14, 1778; married Hannah Shepherd. Was married the second time to Judith Pole. He was born at Attleborough, Massachusetts. He lived at different places, including Maine, Buffalo, N. Y., and died in Ohio September 20, 1857 at the advanced age of 80 years. He was the father of 15 children, the sixth being Ellis, the father of our subject. Ellis Fales was born in Union, Maine, July 9, 1809. He received a limited education in the common schools of Maine, and when he reached his majority, married Julia Ann Avery in Sheldon, N. Y. They afterward removed to Trumble County, Ohio, but in a short time pushed farther west, and located in Fon du Lac County, Wisconsin. Here his wife and three children died of typhoid fever. We next find him in Marquette County, where he married Lecta Talman, and three children were born. He afterward married in Chickasaw County, Iowa, Mary Ann Tucker. They later removed to Missouri, and again returned to Iowa, and in a short time migrated to Norton County, Kansas, where they remained until his death, September 16, 1888. Mr. Ellis was a blacksmith by trade, and although never having the advantages of a school education, by constant reading at home, became a well posted man, and was able to hold his own in debtes (debates) with men much better educated than he. Our subject, John M. Fales, is the son of Ellis and Julia Ann (Avery) Fales, is a native of Farmington, Ohio; born April 17, 1843, and with his parents, who pushed west at an early date, experienced many of the hardships coincident to pioneer life. February 12, 1862, he enlisted in Company 16th U. S. Infantry, 2d Battalion. They were sent to headquarters at Columbus, Ohio, and later to Columbus, Kentucky. Here our subject remained, doing guard duty at headquarters until February 1864, when he was ordered to join his regiment at Chattanooga, Tennessee. He participated in the battles of Buzzards Roost, Resaca, New Hope Church, Kennesaw Mountain, July 4, 1864, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, and Jonesboro, and subsequently, under the command of General Sherman, marched to the rear of Atlanta, and was under fire most of the way. When Sherman started for the sea, our subject, with his brigade, were sent back to Lookout Mountain, where he was honorably discharged, February 12, 1865. After his discharge he located in Chickasaw County, Iowa, and in September of that year married Sarah J. Sisson. Five children were born to them, four of whom are living: Anna D., wife of Henry Metz; Lorenzo A.; Cora, wife of Charles Gifford; Sidney M. In 1870 they moved to Jasper County, Missouri; later returned to northern Iowa, and in 1873 we find him in Jasper County, Iowa. May 20, 1875 he had the misfortune of losing his good wife, leaving the above named children, who were then small. April 2, 1876, he married Mrs. Betsey Barker, a native of Pennsylvania, daughter of Hiram and Ellna Gary. She was born November 16, 1848. Two children were born to them, both deceased, as is the mother, who died August 2 1895. February 26, 1896, he was again united in marriage to Miss Mary C. Anderson. Two children have been born to them John Melvin, born June 27, 1897, and the second, Peter Emery. Thus it will be seen that the name of Peter will be again taken up, Mr. Fales believing that if it was good enough for four generations in his forefathers, it should be perpetuated in the Fales family. Besides doing a general farming business, Mr. Fales is quite an extensive stock raiser and breeder of high-grade cattle. He is keen to discern an opportunity, and quick to act in all business matters, and what he has may be attributed to his good judgment and careful and close attention to business. He now possesses 235 acres of Jasper County soil, all of which is well improved. In reviewing this man's life, we can readily see the trials he has passed through, and the necessary hardships he has endured, yet he has borne it well, and has the satisfaction of knowing that he has succeeded under the worst form of reverses. He is today one of the substantial, well to do and respected citizens of the county in which he has lived for the past 28 years. Page 8

~ Fitzgarrald, Elmer J. ~Photo

Elmer J. Fitzgarrald, grocer in Newton, was born in Sherman Township, Jasper County, January 3, 1865. He is the son of Jeremiah and Cynthia (Parks) Fitzgarrald, natives of Illinois and Indiana, respectively. His father left Illinois when about 17 years of age, and came to Lynn County, Iowa, and to Jasper County in 1863. His mother came to Dubuque with her parents when about seven years of age. Later the family located near Cedar Rapids, and became residents of Newton in about 1854. Our subject received his education in the district schools of Sherman Township, and Hazel Dell Academy, Newton. He remained on the old homestead until 1895. He then moved to Cedar Rapids and engaged with the Loyal Mystic Legion of America of Hastings, Nebraska, as their solicitor. Six months later he was obliged to resign on account of cancer, which he afterward had removed. While he was recruiting, he was in Canada. We next find him with the Rex Stock Food people of Omaha. May 28, 1900, he purchased O. E. Wynn's interest in his present grocery, and July 23, 1900, purchased the other partner's interest. February 25, 1901, he associated with him Wilbur F. Bigelow. Dora E. Rorabaugh became his wife in 1888. One child was born to them. It died at the age of three years. His wife died October 2, 1894. April 15, 1897, he married Triphena J. Campbell. Socially, he is a member of L. M. L. of A. and the K. of P.'s. Page 31

~ Fleming, William S. ~

William S. Fleming, residing on section 28, Des Moines Township, is one of the early pioneers of Jasper County. He was born in Pennsylvania, July 27, 1836. He is the son of John and Martha (Stewart) Fleming, and is the sixth child of a family of 10 children, and came to Jasper County with his parents in the spring of 1847. They made the trip from Pittsburg to Keokuk by water, and with horse and ox teams from there to Jasper County, a distance of over 50 miles. His father entered several hundred acres of land in this section, and at the time of his death in 1869 he had in his possession about one thousand acres. He died in his 76th year. The land was divided among his children, which made them comfortable homes, our subject now living on part of the original homestead. Jasper County has been his home since he was 11 years of age. He has received his education in Jasper County, and is today counted among its most respected citizens. May 8, 1859, Sarah E. Hilton and our subject were united in marriage. She was the daughter of James and Frances (Spurgen) Hilton. By this union eight children have been born, four of whom are living, Viola Ellen, Albert, Henry and Clara. Politically, Mr. Fleming up to 1896 had been a supporter of the Republican Party. Since that date, however, he has been a stanch Bryan Democrat. As a matter of history it should be recorded that his father, John Fleming, was in the War of 1812. In those days their services were proffered. No back pensions were paid. No bounties were offered. Page 51

~ Florer, W. C. ~

W. C. Florer, a pioneer of Jasper County of 1853, residing on Section 27, Kellogg Township, was born in Greene County, Indiana, September 15, 1827. He is the son of John and Nancy (Ritter) Florer, who were natives of Kentucky and Indiana, respectively, the father being born in 1800 and the mother in 1804. She died in Hendricks County, Indiana, the father coming to Jasper County, and died near Mitchellville August 8, 1868. W. C. Florer was married in 1847 to Miss Nancy Hadley. She died in Kellogg in 1868. Mrs. Hannah Smith became his wife in July 1871. Mr. Florer's family consists of eight children by his first marriage and two by his second, three of whom are deceased. The trip from Indiana to Iowa, made by our subject and family in 1853, made in a canvas top wagon hauled by a team of horses, will be remembered as an eventful one. On their arrival here, they first located in what is now Buena Vista Township, where they remained until after the close of the war. In 1866 our subject removed to Kellogg and engaged in the boot and shoe business, at which he remained for some 12 years, and was the first man to engage in that line in the town. He erected the first good house in Kellogg. Mr. Florer has had several reverses, one of which occurred in 1861, when his son Ellis was thrown from a load of rails, and was so injured that he was under the doctor's care for many months. His doctor bill in this case was something over $900.00, but he had the satisfaction of seeing his son recover, and is now working at the boot and shoe business in Kellogg. Our subject removed to his present farm when it was covered with timber. This he has grubbed and cleared almost entirely himself. He has been a man of strong constitution, and is well preserved for a man performing the amount of labor he has. While in the boot and shoe business in Kellogg, he cut up over $9,000 worth of leather, and in the year 1900, on his little farm, made over 1,000 posts, 36 cords of wood, and enough of saw log cuts for 1,500 feet of lumber. Mr. Florer is a strict Methodist, and aided very materially in establishing the first Methodist Sunday school in Kellogg. Page 24

~ Forbes, Erwin ~Photo

Erwin Forbes, who carries on general farming as an extensive landowner of Palo Alto Township, dates his settlement in Jasper County from 1866. His residence is situated on Section 17, where he has provided himself with comfortable buildings. He was born in Steuben County, New York, October 3, 1844, and is the son of Moses and Abigail M. (Redfield) Forbes, who were also natives of the Empire State. When Erwin was a lad of six summers, he removed with his parents to Bureau County, Illinois, locating nine miles south of Princeton. The family were early settlers of that community, where our subject was there reared to manhood, amid the scenes of pioneer life, and assisted in developing a new farm. He received his education in the common schools of that neighborhood. In February 1865, he left home to enter the service of his country, becoming a member of Company K, 148th Illinois Infantry. He was at once sent to middle Tennessee, where he was engaged principally in patrolling railroads. He was honorably discharged in October 1865, and returned to his Illinois home. The following winter Mr. Forbes attended school, and in the spring of 1866, he came to Iowa, locating in Jasper County. At that time he settled upon his present farm, and has made it his home continuously since, devoting his time and attention to its cultivation and to stock, of which he is an extensive raiser. He has been very successful in his operation, and now owns several hundred acres, the greater part of which is now under a high state of cultivation. He began life empty-handed, possessing about $1,000.00 when he came to Jasper County. February 22, 1872, he married Alwilda McDonald. She was born in southern Iowa, and is the daughter of Wm. J. McDonald. Mr. and Mrs. Forbes are the parents of six children: Pearl, Eugene, Jay, Lee, Don and Ida. The children have been provided with good educational advantages, Mr. Forbes being a staunch friend of the public schools. Part III, page 4

~ French, John C. ~Photo

John C. French, who is now living a retired life in Prairie City, was born in Indiana August 6, 1824. In 1852 he went to Knox County, Illinois, and engaged at farming on rented land, later purchasing land where he resided, until coming to Jasper County in 1869. The property accumulated by our subject is the result of his own efforts. He started for himself when 21 years of age, empty-handed, and when a dollar was earned in those days he knew how many cents it contained. He proved to be a successful businessman, and before he came to Jasper County had succeeded in accumulating about $3,500.00. In 1892 he retired to Prairie City, where he now resides. Mr. French has been twice married. The first marriage was in 1845, to Susanna Bruner. Six children were born to them, five of whom are living: Saro, in Guthrie County; Mary A., in Polk County; Edwin C., in Wapello County, Iowa; Rheuben H. and John T., in Jasper County, and James M., died at the age of six years. His second marriage was in 1859, to Susan Peckinpaugh, who bore him seven children, five of whom are living: Emma J. and Susanna, in Polk County; Julia, Ida Belle, and Olive, in Jasper County. Page 15

~ Frizzell, George ~

George Frizzell was born in Knox County, Ohio, October 28, 1840. In 1861 he was united in marriage to Sarah Howard, a native of Ohio. Three children were born to them: Flora, Alva G., and Mary E.; the latter died in infancy. Flora resides in Colorado, Alva G. in Ohio. The family came west in 1865 and located in Cedar County, Iowa. They came overland, and were three weeks and four days on the road. His earthly effects at that time were about $125.00 and a good team. During his stay in Cedar County he rented land and only added about $300.00 to his wealth. He became a resident of Jasper County in 1869. That fall his wife died. He took the two children and went to Ohio, returning to Jasper County the following year. On his return he purchased his first piece of real estate, consisting of 40 acres, for which he paid $3,000.00. This was in Buena Vista Township. January 19, 1871, Louisa L. Trevitts became his wife. Three children were born to them: Minie A., W. E. and Inez N. His wife passed from the scenes of this earth February 14, 1900. Our subject relates that the hardest ten years of his life were the first ten years in Jasper County, but he has the satisfaction of knowing that he succeeded. He now has 200 acres of Jasper County soil, which is well improved. Socially, our subject is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which organization he has been a member of for ten years, and of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Page 20

~ Frost, James O. ~Photo

James O. Frost, residing on Section 28, Rock Creek Township, was born in Pennsylvania April 11, 1863, and became a resident of Jasper County in the spring of 1879. His parents are Stephen and Mary (Hiers) Frost, natives of New York and Pennsylvania. There were nine children in his father's family, six sons and three daughters, our subject being the youngest child. When James O. started for himself, he commenced by working out by the month and day, and in this manner earned a sufficient amount, so that in 1896 he purchased his present farm, consisting of 123 acres. Carrie Balliet is the daughter of Cornelius and Susan (McKinney) Balliet, and became the wife of our subject February 14, 1885. Five children have been born to them: Lewis P., Freddy C., James O., Clifford R., and Carrie M. Politically, our subject affiliates with the Republican Party. Page 35