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Jasper County
>> 1894 Index Portrait
and Biographical Records of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa N Unless noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton. GEORGE
W. NEWELL Mr. Newell is a native of the Buckeye State. He was born in Knox County, April 28, 1845, and is a son of Hugh and Sarah (Loveridge) Newell, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of New Jersey. Our subject is the eldest surviving child. He was reared to manhood in his parents' home in the county of his nativity, and is a representative of two early families of Knox County, for his grandparents on both sides there located in pioneer days. He was reared amid the wild scenes of the frontier and aided in the development of the farm, hauling saw logs to the mill with two yoke of oxen and performing such other work as fell to the lot of the son in a pioneer home. His education was acquired in the public schools, and by reading and observation he has ever kept well informed on topics of general interest. Throughout his entire life he has carried on agricultural pursuits, with the exception of a year and a half when he was engaged in operating a portable sawmill. On the 12th of October, 1875, Mr. Newell was married to Miss Amanda Brown, also a native of Knox County, Ohio, born in 1847, and a daughter of Garrett Brown, of that county. Their union has been blessed with a family of six children, as follows: Nora, Clifton D., Clayton E., George M., Bessie and Bertha E. In the spring of 1876, Mr. Newell came with his family to Jasper County and spent the year after his arrival in Newton. Since that time he has engaged in farming. For several years he operated rented land in Sherman Township, and then removed to Mariposa Township, where he continued farming for a number of years. In 1890 he came to Palo Alto Township, where he has since made his home upon the farm described at the beginning of this notice. We find in Mr. Newell a self-made man who started out in life empty- handed, with no capital save a young man's bright hope of the future and a determination to succeed. He possesses energy and industry, and by his well directed efforts he has carried out his determination and won prosperity. In politics he is independent, supporting the man whom he thinks best qualified for the office, regardless of party affiliations. He and his wife both belong to the Methodist Protestant Church of Hixon Grove, and Mr. Newell is now serving as Trustee of the same. HUGH NEWELL, one of the self-made men and wealthy citizens of Grundy County, Iowa, residing on section 11, Melrose Township, where he owns and operates a farm, is one of the sons of Erin. He was born August 1, 1833, in County Down, Ireland. His father, William Newell, was a land-owner of that country, where he made his home until 1838, when he crossed the broad Atlantic to Canada, locating near Hamilton City. He there purchased land and engaged in farming, making his home in that locality until his death. His wife bore the maiden name of Agnes Magill. They became the parents of thirteen children, eleven of whom reached adult age, while six of the number are still living. Our subject was a lad of only five summers when his parents left the Emerald Isle for the New World. He was reared to manhood in Canada and acquired his education in the country schools. After he had attained his majority, he chose as a companion and helpmate on life's journey Miss Mary Stewart, who was born and reared in Canada. Their marriage was celebrated June 12, 1859, and a year and a half later, in the autumn of 1860, they emigrated to Iowa, locating in Benton County. Mr. Newell there engaged in farming for eight years, when, in 1868, he came to Grundy County. He first purchased two hundred and forty acres of land on sections 10 and 11, Melrose Township, of which one hundred acres had been placed under the plow, but the remainder was still unbroken. There were no buildings upon the place, and all the improvements have been put there through the labors of the owner. Mr. Newell is an industrious and diligent man, and through good business ability he has won success. As his financial resources have increased he has made additional purchases, until his landed possessions now aggregate six hundred and forty acres, including one hundred and sixty acres on section 2, one hundred and sixty acres on section 3, a like amount on section 10, and a tract similar in size on section 11. He also owns some property in Eldora. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Newell have been born eleven children, and the family circle yet remains unbroken. They are as follows: Melia, wife of George Blewett, a resident of Hancock County, Iowa; Marguerite, now Mrs. W. A. Draper, who resides in the same county; Agnes, wife of Alfred Reynolds, a farmer of Melrose Township; Theresa, wife of Charles Lillibridge, who is living near Grundy Centre; Ella, Stella, Joseph, Edward, James, Frank and Maud. The Newell household is a hospitable one, and the members of the family rank high in social circles. Their residence, an eight-room dwelling, was erected in 1893, at a cost of $3,000, and is one of the fine country homes of the county. Underneath the house is a cellar containing five rooms. When Mr. Newell came to Iowa he had no capital save an industrious disposition and a determination to succeed. He has made the most of his opportunities, and by his diligence and well directed efforts he has steadily worked his way upward to a position of wealth and affluence.
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