ell, the deceased wife of J. J. Wiltse; Dr. H. M., of Ames; Ella A., also of Ames ; Milton W.; Henrietta F., who became the wife of O. T. Hill and died May 21, 1889; P. J., of Washington township; and W. F., who is living in the same township.
Milton W. Templeton was but four years of age when his parents arrived in Story county and since that time he has lived in the western tier of townships and has been closely associated with the development of that section. He continued with his parents until his marriage in 1878 and then began farming on his own account. That he has prospered as the years have gone by is indicated in the fact that he is now the owner of three hundred and two acres of rich land in two adjoining farms in Franklin and Milford townships, having one hundred and forty-two acres in the latter and one hundred and sixty acres in the former. He has lived upon his present farm for twenty-one years, devoting his energies toward the cultivation of the fields and to stock-raising. He is a breeder of Percheron horses and registered, high grade stock, including shorthorn cattle. All of the modern improvements upon his farm have been placed there by him and two years ago he erected a pleasant residence of attractive style of architecture and supplied with all of the conveniences and comforts of the present day. In addition to his farming interests he is a director of the Farmers Fire and Lightning Mutual Insurance Company and a director of the Gilbert Grain Company. He is also president of the West Milford Telephone Company, of which he was one of the organizers, and is vice president of the Story County Insurance Company, being acting president at the present time.
On the 31st of October, 1878, Mr. Templeton was married to Miss Helen M. Lewis, who was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, July 6, 1855, and the following year was taken to Buchanan county, Iowa, by her parents, Henry T. and Sarah A. (Johnson) Lewis, who removed thence to Story county in 1876. Her father was a soldier of the Civil war, serving in Company G, Twenty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Mrs. Templeton engaged in teaching school for a number of terms prior to her marriage. She pursued a normal course at Cornell College and was the first teacher at Kelley, Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Templeton were born three children, but Charles H., who was born July 25, 1879, died July 21, 1880. Milton Elroy was married June 7, 1905, to Mabel Sawyer and they have one child, Le Roy, born July 31, 1907. William Bennett is at home with his parents.
In politics Mr. Templeton has always been an earnest republican. His father took an active part in conducting the underground railroad in Ohio in ante-bellum days and when the republican party was organized to prevent the further extension of slavery joined its ranks, so that Milton W. Templeton was reared in that faith. His mature judgment has sanctioned its policy and its purposes and he has remained a strict adherent of its principles. His fellow townsmen, appreciating his public spirit and personal worth, have elected him to the positions of trustee and assessor, and he has also served as justice of the peace. Fraternally he is connected with the