THOMAS JEFFERSON GIPPLE.

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Mr. & Mrs. John S. Gipple         Mrs. Mary B. Auracher        Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Gipple

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         The cultivation of his home farm consisting of two hundred and eighteen acres engages the attention of Thomas Jefferson Gipple, who was born in Louisa county, Iowa, on the 15th of July, 1859. He is a son of J. S. and Margaret (Hoover) Gipple, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to Louisa county, Iowa, in 1850, and located in Port Louisa township, where for many years the father was engaged in farming. The mother passed away on the 3d of February, 1897, at the age of sixty-nine years, but the father still survives and continues to make his home in Letts. Of the eleven children born of their union only five are living.

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         Thomas J. Gipple was reared like the majority of farm lads, acquiring his education in the common schools and assisting in the work of the fields. He remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-five years of age and then farmed as a renter for three years. At the expiration of that period he bought the Auracher homestead located on section 23, Elm Grove township, where he is making a specialty of the feeding and raising of stock. His is one of the well improved and highly cultivated properties of the township.

         On the 24th of April, 1884, Mr. Gipple was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Auracher, who was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania. She is a daughter of Christian and Mary (Buzzard) Auracher, the father a native of Germany and the mother of Pennsylvania. Mr. Auracher emigrated to the United States with his parents when a lad of two years and was reared and educated in the Keystone state, where he was married. Accompanied by his wife and family he removed to Iowa in 1868, locating on the farm now belonging to his son-in-law, Mr. Gipple. Here Mr. Auracher passed away on the 23d of September, 1879, and his wife on the 21st of July, 1901. They were the parents of six children. To Mr. and Mrs. Gipple have been born three sons and a daughter, in the following order: Frank V., who is a resident of this township; Joseph H., a farmer of Louisa county; Winnie, the wife of L. B. Hall, also of this county; and Taylor J., who is attending the Winfield high school.

         The family attend the Evangelical church, in which the parents hold membership, and Mr. Gipple affiliates with the Modern Woodmen of America, being identified with Camp No. 3145, Columbus Junction. He gives his political support to the candidates of the republican party, but, never having been an aspirant for official honors, he does not actively participate in township affairs. Mr. Gipple has met with good success in his ventures and is regarded as one of the substantial and capable agriculturists of Elm Grove township.