JAMES NEWTON JEFFRIES
James Newton Jeffries has been a resident of Wayne county since 1866 and since that time has been accounted one of the greatest forces in promoting progress, having made substantial contributions to the development of farming and stock-raising interests. He is today a large buyer, seller and shipper of live stock and is in addition president of the Russell State Bank, holding a position of precedence in financial circles. He was born in Montgomery county, Kentucky, April 10, 1847, a son of John and Elizabeth J. (McCormick) Jeffries, the former born near Nicholasville, Kentucky, and the latter in Montgomery county. The father died September 20, 1861, at the hands of the bushwhackers. He was an ardent northern sympathizer and was recruiting for the Twenty-fourth Kentucky Infantry when he was killed. His wife passed away in Wayne county, Iowa. Six children were born to their union, as follows: Mrs. Mary Frame, deceased; Mrs. Nancy Willoughby, who died at Mount Sterling, Kentucky, in 1912; W. T., who passed away in Los Angeles, California; James N., of this review; Mrs. Ruth Adcock, of Confidence, Wayne county; and Mrs. Margaret Bowie, of Corydon. These children were all born and reared in Kentucky.
James
Newton Jeffries acquired his education in the public schools
of Montgomery county and there remained until 1865. In that year he
moved to Wright township, this county, where he remained for a
short time, returning to Kentucky and remaining one year. At the end of that
time he came again to Wayne county and he has been a
continuous resident of this locality since. During the
intervening years he has engaged in farming, stock-raising and
stock buying and shipping, but he now concentrates his
attention upon the latter line of work, controlling a large
and important patronage.
On the 1st of April, 1908, he became
connected with financial interests of Russell when he was
elected president of the Russell State Bank, a position which
he occupies at the present time. This is one of the strongest moneyed
institutions in this part of Iowa, capitalized at twenty-five
thousand dollars and doing a general banking business. P. A. Rockey is
cashier and Mr. Jeffries’ son Homer assistant casher. As its president
Mr. Jeffries occupies a responsible and important position and
one which makes continual demands upon his energy,
resourcefulness and judgment.
He has proved eminently well qualified for its duties
and has already accomplished a great deal of farsighted and
capable work.
In
Wayne county Mr. Jeffries married Miss Ethelinda Reynolds, who
was born in Oquawka, Henderson county, Illinois, the only
daughter of Thomas Reynolds, of that locality. Mrs. Jeffries
passed away in Wayne county, October 25, 1898, leaving the
following children: Edward,
who was born August 23, 1878, and who resides in Wright
township, on the old Reynolds homestead; Roy, born the 23d of
October, 1880, who resides near Russell; John, of Wright
township; Mrs. Leora Van Benthusan, who was born August 3,
1884, and who resides on the home farm on section 10, Wright
township; Thomas, who was born July 31, 1886, and who resides
in Cedar township; and Homer, who was born August 9, 1889, and
who is now assistant cashier of the Russell State Bank. All of these
children were born in Wayne county. Edward and John took a commercial course
in Quincy, Illinois, and Homer was graduated from the Russell
high school in 1908. He
is a member of Russell Lodge, No. 337, I. O. O. F. In November, 1900,
Mr. Jeffries was again married, his second wife being Mrs.
Elzina G. McKinley, a native of Ohio who came to Iowa with her
parents in early times.
She had three children by her former marriage, as
follows: Mrs.
Bertha Johnson, born in January, 1874, residing on the home
farm in Washington township; Ernest, born December 22, 1877,
who lives in Kansas; and Alva, born December 26, 1884, who
died in Quincy, Illinois.
Mr. Jeffries is a member of the Masonic lodge of Promise City. He is a democrat in his political beliefs and has served as assessor of Wright township, being at all times interested in public affairs, and cooperating heartily in movements to advance general progress and growth. During the many years he has lived in this section of the state he has accumulated valuable property interests, owning eighty acres of choice land in Wright township, Wayne county, and two hundred thirteen and a half acres in Cedar township, Lucas county, besides a well furnished home in Russell. A resident of Wayne county since 1866, he has become widely and favorably known and his enviable standing in the community is the direct result of his unquestioned integrity and his honorable business methods.