revenue from his farm and is recognized as one of the substantial agriculturists of Indian Creek township.
With the passing of the years the home of Mr. and Mrs. Cleverley has been blessed with seven children: Ruth L., Flossie M., Willard J., Opal B., Wayne H., Alice and Mildred, the family circle remaining untouched by the hand of death.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Cleverley has been a loyal supporter of republican principles and has been an influential and effective worker in the ranks of that party. He served for four years as assessor of Indian Creek township and is now serving as a member of the township board of trustees. Progressive and public-spirited in his citizenship, he strongly advocates those measures and matters which have for their object the improvement and upbuilding of the community, and his devotion to the general good has ever remained an unquestioned fact. Whether in the discharge of public duties or in the management of private business affairs he has ever been actuated by those qualities which speak for good citizenship and he is held in high regard and esteem by all who have come in contact with him.
WILLIAM J. VENEMAN.
William J. Veneman, who is now living retired on a small tract of land of twenty-three acres adjoining the town of Maxwell, was long and successfully identified with general agricultural pursuits in Story county and for more than thirty years has been a prominent factor in local politics. His birth occurred in Kosciusko county, Indiana, on the 5th of June, 1844, his parents being Lemuel and Matilda (Cory) Veneman, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The father went to Kosciusko county, Indiana, in early manhood, while the mother was taken there by her parents. They were married in that county and six years later, in 1849, journeyed westward to Polk county, Iowa, Lemuel Veneman entering three hundred acres of government land in Elkhart township. He erected a log house on his farm and made his home thereon until he passed away in 1868. His wife was called to her final rest in 1897. Mr. Veneman gave his political allegiance to the republican party and served in various township offices, including those of township trustee, assessor and school director. Both he and his wife were devoted and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
William J. Veneman was reared under the parental roof, receiving such educational advantages as the log schoolhouses of those early days afforded. On the 11th of August, 1862, he enlisted for service in the Civil war as a member of Company B, Thirty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, remaining with that command until the cessation of hostilities. He was honorably discharged on the 5th of June, 1865, his twenty-first birthday and mustered