named as follows: Wesley, William (resides in Story County, Iowa), Leanah (now Mrs. Stanley, of Jasper County, Mo.), Sally (now Mrs. Zenor, of Jasper County, Mo.), Nancy (now Mrs. Alfred, of Milford Township), Abner (was taken sick and died at Cape Girardeau, Mo., during the late war), Mary A. (now Mrs. Blunk, of Labette County, Kas.), James D. (married and resides in Story County, Iowa; he was in the late war, enlisting in 1862, in the Eighth Iowa Cavalry), Joseph (married and resides in Washington ), and John N. (who is also married and resides in Jasper County, Mo.). Wesley Arrasmith divided his time in youth in assisting on the farm and attending the subscription schools of Indiana. He was married, September 14, 1851, in Indiana, to Miss Catherine Grove, a native of Ohio and the daughter of Adam L. and Rachel (Antrum) Grove. The father was born in Virginia and of German descent, but the mother was born in Ohio, whither the father had moved at an early day. The latter remained there for some time and then moved to Indiana. In June, 1854, he came to Story County, Iowa, settled in Franklin Township, and here his death occurred on May 29, 1869. The mother is still living, and resides in Ames. After his marriage Mr. Arrasmith settled in Indiana, but moved to Story County, Iowa, in 1853. He entered 120 acres of land, improved it, but later sold out and in 1854 entered eighty acres of his present farm. This he has improved and added to until he now has 240 acres of land in a good state of cultivation. He also, in connection with his farming interest, is engaged in raising a good grade of stock. He votes with the Republican party, but is not active in politics. He is a member of the Co-operative Club. Mr. and Mrs. Arrasmith are members of the Baptist Church, and are much esteemed citizens. To their marriage were born the following children: Thomas J. (born in Indiana and died in 1854), Frances Rachel (now Mrs. Noble), William H. (married and resides in Plymouth County, Iowa), Lucy M. (died June 3, 1859), John M. (married and resides in Franklin Township), George A. (teaching the Gilbert school), James L. (died December 10, 1881, at the age of over sixteen years), Emma May (died September 15, 1885, at the age of seventeen years and ten months), Oliver F. (in Plymouth County, Iowa), Elijah G. and Charles A. Mr. Arrasmith has given his children good educations and is interested in all school matters. He is the earliest settler now living in Milford Township, and has been a witness to the rapid development of the country. When he first came to Story County there was not a house in Nevada, and they had to do their marketing and go to mill at Des Moines. Mr. Arrasmith has been a school director, township trustee and justice of the peace.
William Arrasmith, one of the early pioneers of this county, Owes his nativity to Kentucky, where his birth occurred on November 30, 1828, being the son of Massey and Lucy (Morgan) Arrasmith, both natives of Kentucky, of which State their parents were early pioneers, coming originally from Virginia. They reared a family of ten children--six sons and four daughters—all of whom are still living with the exception of one son who died in the army, and three of the sons and one daughter are residents of Iowa. The father was a farmer by occupation, and pursued that calling in Kentucky until 1831 or 1832, when lie went to Indiana, and there carried on farming operations until 1853. He then moved to Story County, and chose a home in Milford Township, but shortly after settling here he departed this life, dying in 1856. His widow survived him until 1862. When his parents removed