JAMES PEMBLE.

View Portrait of Mr. & Mrs. James Pemble
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         The greatest factor in the progress and development of the American nation has been its self-made men, whose determination of purpose and perseverance is seemingly nourished by each obstacle which arises to thwart their purposes, their natures acknowledging no defeat but dominating the conditions which surround them. Among such as there is numbered James Pemble, who at the tender age of ten years was thrown upon his own resources but is now living retired, enjoying the ease and comfort which were denied him in his childhood and youth. He was born in the town of Biddenden, Kent county, England, on the 5th of November, 1831, and is a son of Daniel and Anna (Breakfield) Pemble, both natives of England, who emigrated to the United States in 1840, locating in the state of New York. There the father passed away a year later but the mother survived until she had attained the venerable age of eighty-two. They were the parents of eight children, only three of whom are now living.

         James Pemble was a lad of nine years when the family came to the United States, his education being acquired in the common schools of his native country and those of the state of New York. When he was ten he was compelled to leave school and commence his battle with the world. His first position was as a farm hand, with which occupation he continued to be identified for four years. At the expiration of that period he rented a small farm, in the cultivation of which he engaged for several years. In 1850 he came west and settled in Peoria county, Illinois, where he rented a farm, in the operation of which he was engaged until 1860, when he located in Louisa county, Iowa. He continued to farm as a renter for several years and then purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Port Louisa township, where he resided for thirty years. Disposing of his farm at the end of that time he subsequently purchased his present homestead which contains a little more than seven hundred acres of land on sections 3 and 4, Jefferson township. Although he has always engaged in general farming, he has made a specialty of raising and feeding cattle for the market.

         Mr. Pemble was married at the age of twenty-three to Miss Marian Wyman, who was born in Peru, Vermont, on the 5th of June, 1838. She is a daughter of Oliver and Sallie (Aldrich) Wyman, also natives of Vermont, who removed to Peoria county, Illinois, in 1852 and there spent the remainder of their days. They were the parents of six children, three of whom are deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Pemble were born nine, six sons and three daughters, as follows: . . .

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. . . Charles E., who is residing in Peoria, Illinois; Frank D., of Wapello, Iowa; Fannie M., the wife of F. L. Kennedy, of Peoria; James G., who died infancy; J. D. and Erminie, twins, the former a resident of Idaho and the latter the wife of William Lieberknecht, of this county; Ada L., who married C. W. Johann, of Wapello; Ray H., a resident of Lillian, Idaho; and Earl M., who was born on the 14th of April, 1874, and died on the 15th of January, 1894. There are now twenty-three grand-children and five great-grandchildren.

         The political views of Mr. Pemble are in accord with the principles of the democratic party, but he has never filled any office save that of school director. He was master of the Grange for several years and both he and his wife affiliate with the Methodist Episcopal church, with which they united many years ago and among whose members they have many friends. Mr. Pemble encountered many hardships and misfortunes in his pathway but energy and perseverance such as his are not easily conquered, and he plodded steadily onward until he attained a position which caused him to be recognized as one of the capable and substantial agriculturists of his township, his efforts at all times being aided through Mrs. Pemble’s capable supervision of the household affairs.