Melvin B. Jewett

Mr. & Mrs. Jewett

Melvin B. Jewett was for many years actively engaged in farming in Worth county but is now living retired at Northwood. Almost his entire life has been passed in Iowa, for he was a little lad of but five years when brought by his parents to this state, the family home at that time being established in Mitchell county.

He was born in Pine Grove, Wood county, Wisconsin, August 3, 1864, a son of the Hon. Charles Frederick and Cordelia A. (Bliss) Jewett. The father was a native of Sidney, Maine, where his birth occurred August 19, 1836. He was married in Rushford, Wisconsin. January 9, 1858, to Cordelia A. Bliss, who was born in Georgia, Vermont, June 20, 1839. In his boyhood days Charles F. Jewett had assisted his father upon the farm through the summer months and in the winter seasons attended the public schools until he reached the age of sixteen years, when he became a student in Lawrence University at Appleton, Wisconsin, devoting about four years to study in that institution. He then took up the profession of teaching, which he followed in the district schools through the winter months and in the summer engaged in farming. For a short time he also devoted his attention to the lumber business in connection with his father in Wisconsin and in 1869 he left that state and removed with his family to Mitchell county, Iowa, where he purchased a small farm. He then gave his attention to the de­velopment of his fields through the summer season and again devoted the winter months to teaching. In 1878 he sold that farm and took up his abode in Worth county, where he purchased a larger tract of land and thereon resided, adding to his place from time to time as his financial resources permitted until he was the owner of four hundred acres of fine farm land, which annually returned to him a gratifying income. He died upon that place in 1906, while his widow survived until 1908. He was frequently called upon to serve in township offices, was elected county supervisor in 1882 and in 1890 was called upon to represent Worth county in the Iowa legislature, in which he served for one term. He was then elected state senator for the senatorial district, comprising three counties, and served in the upper house of the general assembly during the session of 1892 and of 1894. He thus took active part in framing the legislation of the state and was connected with many progressive public measures which have been of much benefit to the commonwealth. He was also postmaster of his town for a number of years, making his home at Glade.

Melvin B. Jewett remained a resident of Wisconsin until 1869, when at the age of five years he was brought by his parents to Iowa, living in Mitchell county until 1878, when the family home was established in Worth county, where he completed his education. He assisted his father in the work of the farm through the summer months and thus gained the broad and practical experience which well qualified him for carrying on farm work on his own account at a later period. He rented the old homestead place east of Kensett for four years and then bought a part of this farm, comprising eighty-six acres and on which were the buildings. There he lived for a quarter of a century, bringing the fields under a high state of cultivation and adding many improvements to the farm. He afterward re­moved to Northwood, having determined to retire from agricultural life. In the meantime he had acquired a comfortable competency through his intelligently directed efforts and his unfaltering perseverance and he is now provided not only with all of the necessities of life, but is able to enjoy many of its comforts and luxuries. During the six years of his residence in Northwood he has been more or less engaged in dealing in real estate.

On the 25th of November, 1886, Mr. Jewett was united in marriage to Miss Lillian M. Hildreth, a native of Osage, Mitchell county, Iowa, and a daughter of William B. and Abbie Hildreth, who removed to Worth county when Mrs. Jewett was but six years of age. Her father purchased a farm of three hundred and twenty acres east of Kensett, Iowa, and at the present time is living retired in that town, enjoying good health at a ripe old age. The mother passed away while on a visit in Mitchell county. To Mr. and Mrs. Jewett have been born three children: Ross S., Gertrude L. and Gladys May.

In his political views Mr. Jewett is a republican and for twenty-one years he has been a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is interested in all that has to do with public progress and improvement and his genuine worth is recognized by his many friends. He has been a resident of this section of the state for almost a half century and has been an interested witness of the changes which have occurred and the transformation that has been wrought, while at all times he has borne his part as a progressive citizen in the work of general im­provement and advancement.

SOURCE: HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1918, VOL. II; Pages 286 & 290

Transcribed by Gordon Felland, July 15, 2006