JUSTIN WESTFALL
Justin
Westfall has made himself felt in the development of Lucas
county in a twofold capacity, for he followed farming until
1900, since which year he has turned his attention to
commercial interests, being now the manager of the lumber yard
of G. J. Stewart & Company of Chariton at Derby, the
business having largely increased under his able direction. He is a son of
Granville and Jeannette (Teal) Westfall, both natives of
Virginia, the father born in Jackson county on March 3, 1829,
and the latter in Rockbridge county, October 26, 1830. Mr. and Mrs.
Granville Westfall came as pioneers to Union township by the
overland route in the fall of 1849, and here they made their
home until their demise, the father passing away in Jackson
county, West Virginia, on December 17, 1891, and the mother in
Union township, this county, on November 25, 1885. Justin Westfall was
the eleventh in order of birth in a family of fourteen
children, his brothers and sisters being: Mrs. Martha
Troutman, a resident of Union township; Clark, Deceased;
David, a resident of Indianola, this state; Franklin, who
passed away in Walla Walla, Washington; Alfred, who died in
infancy; John P., a resident of Le Roy, Iowa; George, of
Derby, this state; Mrs. Flora Kyner, of Humeston, Iowa; Mrs.
Victoria Kyner, also of that city; Henry, a prominent farmer
of Union township; Lucinda, who died at the age of fifteen, on
December 26, 1885; Jo Ann, who died in infancy; and Charles,
also deceased.
Justin Westfall, in the acquirement of his education attended school near his father’s farm, upon which he grew to manhood. Being early trained to that vocation, he followed farming until 1900, when he entered financial circles, becoming a member of the staff of the Merchants & Farmers Bank of Derby, with which institution he remained for two and a half years, gaining valuable commercial experience. He then entered the employ of G. J. Stewart & Company, of Chariton, as manager of their lumber yard at Derby, in which position he continues today. Energetic and active, he has displayed remarkable business ability in the discharge of his duties and has extended the trade connections of his firm in a conspicuously successful way. He is considered one of the forceful factors in commercial expansion in Derby, and while he himself has attained an important position among the merchants of the city, he has been instrumental in promoting the interests of his community along various lines.
On
March 9, 1892, Mr. Westfall was united in marriage to Miss
Belle Blizzard, a native of Union township, Lucas county, born
August 2, 1868. Here
she attended the common schools and grew to womanhood,
complementing her education by a course at the State Normal
School of Stanberry, Missouri, and Drake University of Des
Moines, Iowa. Being
well prepared for the teaching profession, she then so engaged
in Union township for about five years before her marriage. Her parents are E.
M. and Amanda (Mitchell) Blizzard, who became early settlers
of Lucas county. They
now reside near Derby, the father having practically retired
after a successful farming career in this locality. In their family are
four children: Mrs.
Ada Grimes, of Union township; Mrs. Justin Westfall; Mrs.
Dorothy B. Irvin, of Florence, Arizona; and T. M., who resides
in Union township. All
were born and reared here.
In his political affiliations Mr. Westfall is a democrat, keeping well informed as to the state of governmental affairs and taking interest in all issues that affect his locality, his county, state or the nation. He has the distinction of having served as the first town clerk of Derby while his father served on the first grand jury of this county. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church of this town, in the work of which they take an active and helpful interest. Mr. and Mrs. Westfall reside in a well appointed home in Derby and he still owns his old homestead, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of choice land in Union township, highly improved, from which he derives a gratifying income. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, belonging to the Derby camp. His career is proof of the fact that industry and honesty are yet the paramount qualities that lead to success and he is esteemed and respected as much for these characteristics, which have made his prosperity possible, as for the substantial position which he has reached in the community.