WALTER P. WOLVERTON
Walter
P. Wolverton, a successful and representative citizen of
Derby, is actively engaged in the real-estate and insurance
business and also superintends the operation of his farm of
four hundred and eighty acres in Franklin township, Clarke
county. His
birth occurred in that township on the 14th of
December, 1876, his parents being John and Rebecca Jane
(Swinehart) Wolverton, both natives of Ohio. The father was born
in Sycamore on the 14th of February, 1829, while
the mother’s natal day was June 29, 1833. In 1853 they took
up their abode among the pioneer residents of Decatur county,
Iowa, settling on a farm three miles west of Garden Grove,
where John Wolverton followed general agricultural pursuits
for one season. They
then resided on a farm northeast of Garden Grove for four
years and then purchased a tract of land in Clarke county
which is still in possession of the family. They made their
home thereon until 1896 and next removed to Le Roy, where they
remained until 1904. In
that year they took up their abode in Derby, where John
Wolverton passed away December 17, 1907. His widow now makes
her home with her son Walter.
They were the parents of six children, as follows: Mrs. Margaret Jane
Canfield, who was born on the 10th of May, 1853,
and passed away in 1878; Louise, born January 7, 1855, whose
demise occurred on the 9th of January of that year;
Mrs. Dora E. Wyatt, who was born on the 4th of May,
1856, and resides in Derby; Samuel Byron, born June 30, 1859,
who is deceased; John K., whose birth occurred April 15, 1870,
and whose residence is at Stoutsville, Missouri; and Walter
P., of this review. The
above named were all born and reared in Iowa.
Walter P. Wolverton grew to manhood in Clarke county, attending the common schools in the acquirement of an education and also pursuing his studies in Simpson College for a year. He was a young man of twenty years when the family home was established in Le Roy, and in 1899 he came to Derby, here being engaged in the mercantile business for five years. Subsequently he spent a year on the old homestead in Clarke county and then returned to Derby to embark in the real-estate and insurance business, in which he has been successfully engaged to the present time. In addition to his modern and commodious residence at Derby he owns a well improved farm of four hundred and eighty acres of rich and productive land in Franklin township, Clarke county, superintending its operation in connection with his other business interests.
On
the 7th of June, 1898, at Derby, Iowa, Mr.
Wolverton was united in marriage to Miss Anna O. Johnson, who
was born in that town on the 25th of June, 1879,
grew to womanhood in Union township and acquired her education
in the public schools here.
Her parents, A. G. and Gustave (Brown) Johnson, are
natives of Sweden, the former born on the 29th of
September, 1848, and the latter on the 30th of
September, 1847. A.
G. Johnson crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1869
and from May until November of that year resided in Chicago. He then took up his
abode in Lucas county, Iowa, and has remained within its
borders continuously since, having been engaged in the
shoemaking and harness-making business at Derby to the present
time. Unto him
and his wife were born the following children: Mrs. Ellen Marie
Wyatt, who is deceased; Mrs. F. C. Wyatt, of Derby; Charles
J., who was born in 1876 and resides in Derby; Mrs. Anna
Wolverton; one who has passed away; and David E., who makes
his home in Derby. All
of these children were born and reared in Lucas county. Mr. and Mrs.
Wolverton have three children, namely: Mona Marie, whose
birth occurred on the 3d of September, 1899; Thurman J., born
July 28, 1902; and Pauline, whose natal day was December 1,
1904. All are
natives of Derby and are now attending the public schools of
that town.
Mr. Wolverton is a stanch republican in politics and has served as a member of the town council and in the capacity of town clerk for a number of years. He has been a member of the school board for four terms and is serving thereon at the present time. Mr. Wolverton and his family belong to the Presbyterian church at Derby. Both he and his wife have spent their entire lives in this section of the state and have a circle of friends which is also coextensive with the circle of their acquaintances.