Although he was unfamiliar with the language and the customs of the people when he arrived in the United States he had an abundance of courage, which was always sustained by unwearied energy, perseverance and a definite purpose, and never at any time did he lose sight of the goal toward which he aspired, so that today he is regarded as one of the progressive and substantial citizens of the community where he resides and has made and retained the friendship of many of its best people. He owns one of the valuable farms of his township, which is well stocked, contains good improvements and its fields yield large and profitable harvests.
CHARLES M. SOPER.
Charles M. Soper, of Nevada, now serving as clerk of the district court and who for a number of years has been actively identified with public affairs, was born in Delaware county, New York, January 17, 1856. He is a son of James H. and Martha M. (Hobbs) Soper, both of whom were of English descent. His grandfather, Nelson Soper, belonged to the second generation of the family in the United States and was a soldier in the war of 1812. James H. Soper, the father, came to Boone county, Iowa, about 1873, where he purchased a farm, which he later sold, engaging in the mercantile business at Ames for several years. He departed this life at Legrand, Iowa, in 1892, at the age of sixty-five years. He was a member of the Christian church and was a stanch supporter of the republican party. The mother of our subject was also a native of New York state. She died at the age of about twenty-two years, leaving one child that grew to maturity–the subject of this review.
Charles M. Soper received his preliminary education in the district schools, subsequently becoming a student at the State Agricultural College of Iowa, where he continued for eighteen months. He taught school one winter but, not being attracted to that vocation, was employed as book-keeper in various stores at Ames and also engaged in the general mercantile business, concluding his experience along this line by maintaining a men's furnishing goods store for three years. In 1898, having become well acquainted throughout the county, he was elected clerk of the district court and acceptably served in that capacity for four years. On retiring from that position he was appointed deputy clerk under C. P. McCord for a term of four years and then again became clerk of the district court; with Mr. McCord as his deputy. In the fall of 1910 he was reelected to the office for another period of four years. He has shown rare adaptability for a position which calls for good judgment and special training and is one of the most popular public officials in this part of the state.
On September 16, 1879, Mr. Soper was united in marriage to Miss Ella M. Underwood, who was born in Kane county, Illinois, in 1861, and four