WILLIAM S. NEWELL.

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         William S. Newell, who owns a homestead of ninety acres in Wapello township and in the cultivation of which he is engaged, was born in the township where he is now residing on the 4th of July, 1867. He is a son of the late Thomas and Sarah J. (Mock) Newell, the father a native of Ohio and the mother of Pennsylvania. Of this union there were born ten children, all but one of whom are surviving: Elizabeth, the deceased wife of George Hansley, also deceased; Josephine, the wife of Thomas Wiser, of Adair county, Iowa; Hugh T., also a resident of Adair county; Samuel P., living in the vicinity of Denver, Colorado; Robert W., of Wapello township; Benjamin, residing near Denver; Ida M.; William, our subject; Vira; and Abe, a resident of Denver, Colorado. The father passed away on the 27th of September, 1899, at the age of seventy-six, but the mother survived until the 24th of April, 1905, her demise occurring at the age of seventy-two.

         After he had acquired sufficient knowledge of the common branches to enable him to begin his agricultural pursuits William S. Newell ceased to attend the district schools, and devoted his entire attention to the work of the home farm, remaining a member of the paternal household until he had passed his thirtieth anniversary. He subsequently bought eighty acres of land in Wapello township, where he has ever since made his home. All of the improvements upon his place have been made during the period of his ownership, and it is one of the well kept, attractive and highly cultivated farms of the township. . . .

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. . . Mr. Newell devotes his attention to general farming and stock-raising, making a specialty of the latter, and has found both to be quite lucrative under his capable direction. He has extended the boundaries of his original tract and now owns ninety acres of land, all of which is under cultivation.

         On the 16th of November, 1898, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Newell and Miss Carrie Kennedy, a daughter of Joseph C. and Martha (Kennedy) Kennedy, who were residents of this county. Seven children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy, all but one of whom are living. The order of their birth is as follows: William, who is a resident of Humboldt county, Iowa; Minnie, who married Herbert McCormick, of Louisa county; Annie, the wife of John Berg, of Olds, Iowa; Carrie, now Mrs. Newell; Maggie, who is deceased; Sadie, who is living in Glenwood, Iowa; and Clarence, who is a draughtsman with the Illinois Steel Company, Chicago. Mrs. Newell’s mother died in 1890, and her father passed away in 1901. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Newell have been born two children: Blanche Eliza, who was born on the 9th of December, 1899; and Dorothy Mabel, whose birth occurred on the 5th of October, 1902.

         Mrs. Newell holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Newell’s political allegiance is given to the republican party, but never having been an office seeker he does not actively participate in township affairs, always having preferred to give his undivided attention to the direction of his personal interests.