JAMES R. MUNDELL
Having
passed the eightieth milestone on life’s journey, James R.
Mundell enjoys the respect and esteem due to one of his
age—one who has spent a life rich in labor, rich in hardships
and obstacles but also rich in achievements and results in
planting civilization on a stretch of land which was but
prairie when he came here.
But few settlements were made in Lucas county and but
one log house was built at Chariton when Mr. Mundell, in the
fall of 1849, built his first shack in Jackson township. He was born in
Clinton county, Indiana, on March 20, 1833, a son of Joseph
Mundell, who was born in Kentucky in April, 1802, and who,
having long been prominent as an agriculturist in Lucas
county, died in Union township on February 8, 1885.
In the fall of 1849 James R. Mundell, with his father, came to Jackson township, Lucas county, and built a shack and then returned to his native county, but in the spring came back to his new settlement and has been a resident of Lucas county ever since. The family moved to Union township in 1856, after the first stages of hard pioneer life had been overcome, and Mr. Mundell of this review still makes his home in this township, where he has followed agricultural pursuits during his long, active and useful life. When he came here but few settlements were made and the rolling prairie extended unbroken in all directions. In Chariton one log house was the only sign of civilization; but with the undaunted spirit of the pioneer Mr. Mundell set himself to the task to wrest a farm from the wilderness, and to what extent he has succeeded is evidenced by the many acres which bring him gratifying returns today. He owns one hundred acres of land in Jackson township and forty acres in Union township, highly cultivated and well improved. His buildings are substantial and modernly equipped, modern machinery is employed in keeping the land at its highest state of fertility, and his stock gives the appearance of the best of care. A venerable pioneer, James R. Mundell is still active in looking after his interests and, rugged type of man that he is, he still operates his fields and can daily be found upon his acres.
James
R. Mundell was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Tilford, a
native of Round Prairie, Jefferson county, Iowa, where she was
born on June 25, 1840. Her
parents were among the earlier settlers in this state. Mr. and Mrs.
Mundell became the parents of twelve children, all of whom
were born in Union township:
Sarah Belinda, who died at the age of five years;
Celesta Jane, who died at the age of three years; J. P., born
December 17, 1861, a resident of Lucas; R. T., born March 24,
1864, who makes his home in Jackson township; Mrs. Mary I.
Leach, born February 20, 1866, of Jackson township; William
J., whose natal day was April 9, 1868, of Jackson township;
Mrs. Ida V. Stumbaugh, born March 20, 1870, who resides at
Reedpoint, Montana; James A., of Jackson township, who was
born April 14, 1872; Lucy E., born August 23, 1874, who died
July 16, 1975; C. E., of Jackson township, who was born August
6, 1876; Olive L., born July 1, 1879, who resides with her
father in Union township; and Mrs. Nora Etta Hamilton, born
April 14, 1881, of Jackson township. Mrs. Mundell passed away in Union
township on March 2, 1896, and Mr. Mundell subsequently
married a sister of his former wife.
It
is to pioneers of the type of Mr. Mundell that America is
indebted for its enormous agricultural development, and as
such recognition is due him in this volume. Having led a long,
active and useful life, to which indolence and idleness have
ever been foreign, he has not only achieved individual success
and has not only witnessed the onward march of civilization
but has largely contributed to the development of Lucas
county, always glad to bear his share in the work of making
this one of the most prosperous sections of the country. His life work has
been a serviceable factor in the growth of the county and
there is no one more loyal to its interests than he. Although so deeply
interested in development, he has never been active in
politics, caring not for public honors or emoluments derived
from public sources. He
allies himself with the democratic party and has ever
staunchly upheld its principles. Nature has been kind to him, for he has
never abused her laws. One
usually thinks of old age as a period when mental as well as
physical powers weaken, but there is an old age which grows
stronger and brighter mentally and morally as the years go by
and gives out of its rich stores of wisdom and experience for
the benefit of others. Such
has been the life of Mr. Mundell, who is not only one of the
most venerable but also one of the most honored citizens of
Lucas county, respected wherever known and most of all where
best known.