Marion County >> 1915 Index

The History of Marion County, Iowa
John W. Wright and W. A. Young, supervising eds. 2 vols. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1915.

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John Adam Neal - page 412

John Adam Neal, who is a well known farmer of Knoxville township, was born in Adams county, Ohio, April 7, 1867, a son of George G. and Mary Frances (Stumm) Neal, both natives of Fayette county, Pennsylvania. The father, who was of German descent, was born in November, 1816, and the mother's birth occurred on the 4th of March, 1827. The maternal grandfather was a native of Germany.

Mr. and Mrs. George G. Neal were married in their native county but later removed to Adams county, Ohio, where they lived for three and one-half years. At the end of that time they came to Marion county, Iowa, arriving here in the fall of 1867. They went from Pella to Knoxville by stage and remained in the latter city for a few months, after which the father purchased seventy-two acres of land on section 6, Knoxville township. His farm was covered with brush which it was necessary to clear before crops could be planted, but Mr. Neal set himself resolutely to work to develop his farm and became the owner of a valuable property. He subsequently bought forty acres more and continued to follow agricultural pursuits until his death. He became well-to-do but was without capital when he started upon his independent career and the hard work by means of which he gained material prosperity undermined his health and perhaps hastened his death, which occurred on the 5th of May, 1880, when he was sixty-four years of age. He was a republican in politics and his religious affiliation was with the Presbyterian church of Knoxville. His wife survives and resides at her old home. They had three children, as follows: Sylvanus S. is a farmer and stockman of Knoxville township and has traveled extensively. He is married and has several children. Sarah Isabelle, who was familiarly known as Sallie, was born December 6, 1853, and married William I. Morris. She died March 17, 1892, and left three children. Her husband survives and is a retired farmer living at Indianola, Iowa. John Adam of this review is the youngest of the family.

The last mentioned grew to manhood in this county and was a student in the public schools, thus acquiring a serviceable education. When thirteen years of age his father died and from that time on he has depended upon his own resources for his livelihood. He has devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits and has been very successful, especially in the line of stock-raising. He is now operating his mother's farm of one hundred and twelve acres on section 6, Knoxville township, an eighty acre tract on section 5, which he owns, and one hundred and sixty acres, known as the Joe Fisher farm, which he bought in the fall of 1896. Altogether he operates three hundred and fifty-two acres, devoting his time chiefly to the raising of stock. He understands the care and feeding of live stock and as he also studies the markets carefully he is able to secure good prices.

On the 27th of December, 1893, Mr. Neal was united in marriage to Miss Dora Marsh, a daughter of William J. Marsh, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. To Mr. and Mrs. Neal have been born four children, George G., Ethel Marie, Harry M. and Florence, all at home. Mr. Neal attends the Eden Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife and son are members. Politically he supports the republican party and for six years served as township assessor. He is much interested in the cause of education and is a director of the Lincoln school district. His fraternal affiliations are with the Masonic order, in which he has attained the Knight Templar degree, being a charter member of Knoxville Commandery, and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is highly spoken of in his locality and is a valued and useful citizen.

Sylvanus S. Neal - page 196

Sylvanus S. Neal, who owns and operates a finely improved farm of thirty and one-fourth acres one mile from Knoxville, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, on the 16th of July, 1856, a son of George G. Neal, and received but a limited education as far as book knowledge is concerned but was given a practical training in agriculture which has been of much benefit to him in later years. He has mainly followed the occupation to which he was reared and has found it both congenial and profitable. In March, 1886, when about thirty years of age, he went to Kansas and homesteaded land in Hodgeman county, proving up on his claim. He improved his land and resided there until the fall of 1893, when he returned to this county, where he rented land for some time. Desiring to investigate conditions in the west, he then went to Boise, Idaho, where he remained for six months, but in the fall of 1911 he returned to Iowa, locating in Greene county, where he purchased a farm, upon which he resided for a year, when he sold it. In the spring of 1913 he returned to Marion county and located upon his present farm, which he had previously purchased. It was formerly known as the McCoy place and had been used for a nursery. It comprises thirty and one-quarter acres of very productive land and is situated on section 2, Knoxville township. He cultivates it intensively and his unremitting industry and progressive methods enable him to secure a gratifying income from his land.

Mr. Neal was united in marriage on the 27th of November, 1875, to Miss Arah V. Hardin, who was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, July 6, 1854, her parents being C. C. and Lucretia (Morris) Hardin. Her father was a native of Kentucky. He removed to Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and later to Greene county, that state, where he was married and where he lived until 1875, in which year he came with his family to this county, locating at Pella. He taught school for many years in both Pennsylvania and Iowa but eventually purchased a farm west of Donnelly, in Knoxville township, and made his home there in his later years. His wife was born and reared at Mount Morris, Greene county, Pennsylvania, her birth occurring on the 8th of August, 1833. Her father, Levi Morris, was a pioneer of that county, and Mount Morris was named in his honor. Mrs. Hardin passed away in this county on the 13th of October, 1887. Mrs. Neal has two brothers, B. A. and E. S., both farmers of Knoxville township. Previous to her marriage she taught school for several terms in Pennsylvania, Kansas and Iowa and was very successful in that profession.

To Mr. and Mrs. Neal were born ten children, namely: Charles S., born February 25, 1877, married Miss Myrtle Swaim and is a farmer of this county; L. Myrtle, born October 24, 1878, resides at Des Moines; Nora E., born February 17, 1882, is the wife of H. H. Budka, a commercial traveler of Des Moines; Herbert L., born October 28, 1883, and who married Miss Edith Wilson, by whom he has one child, and is now a farmer of Meridian, Idaho; Maie Morris, born November 2, 1885, is at home; Frances Edna, born October 21, 1889, is now the wife of Harry E. Roberts, of Boone, Iowa; John Byron, whose birth occurred March 29, 1891, is at home; Archie M., born August 21, 1892, is at home; Laura Isadora, born March 29, 1895, died March 22, 1896; and Blanche Irene, born February 16, 1898, is at home.

Mrs. Neal is a member of the Eden Methodist Episcopal church of Knoxville township. Mr. Neal is a republican and stanchly supports the policies of that party. He has served in a number of local offices and has at all times discharged his duties with circumspection and ability. His life is guided by high and honorable principles of conduct and in all relations he has proven himself a man whom to know is to respect.

Thomas J. Neiswanger is the secretary and treasurer of the Harvey Brick & Tile Company, doing business at Harvey, and as such occupies a leading position in business circles. He is a native of this state, his birth having occurred Aug. 18, 1873, upon a farm near Washington. He was one of nine children, six of whom are living, while three have passed away. Their parents were Samuel and Margaret (Thompson) Neiswanger, who were of German and Scotch descent, respectively. The mother has been called to her final rest but the father survives and makes his home with his son Thomas.

The last named started out in life on his own account when comparatively young. At the age of nineteen years he left home and learned the baker's trade, which he followed for a time but subsequently began dealing in building materials at Washington, Iowa. In April, 1904, he came to Marion county and organized the company and established the business now conducted under the name of Harvey Brick & Tile Company. This concern has built up quite a wide and enviable reputation because of the quality of the "Harvey Block" and its products are shipped extensively over Iowa and nearby states. The business has been incorporated and is capitalized for twenty-one thousand dollars. It is today recognized as one of the substantial manufacturing concerns of the county and its patronage is growing year by year.

Mr. Neiswanger was married in Washington county, Iowa, January 17, 1894, to Miss Estella W. England, who was also born in Washington county, Iowa. She is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. England and her father is a retired farmer and an early settler of that county. She was graduated from the Washington high school and taught for a year before her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Neiswanger are the parents of five children: Richard E., Samuel O., Gladys M., Everett A., and Thomas H. Politically Mr. Neiswanger is republican, though progressive. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic chapter and commandery at Knoxville and of the shrine at Des Moines, and Mrs. Neiswanger belongs to the Order of the Eastern Star. He has also been a member of various other social orders. He is interested in public affairs and is one of the progressive men of his community. He stands at all times for advancement and improvement and his efforts have been an element in promoting public progress.

The fine condition of his farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 11, Union township, indicates the energy and good management of James W. Norris, a well known agriculturist of this county. He pays considerable attention to the raising of stock and has registered animals at the head of his herd. He was born in Delaware county, Ohio, on the 13th of August, 1872, a son of Charles T. and Minnie (McMaster) Norris. The father was born in Delaware county in 1841 and the mother, who was a native of the same county, was born in 1846. They were married in the Buckeye state and came to Iowa in 1874, settling in Harrison county. They subsequently removed to Oklahoma and thence to the state of Washington, where they now live. To their union were born eight children, the subject of this review being the fourth in order of birth. All are living save one. The father fought for two or three years in the Civil war as a member of the Sixty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and was honorably discharged at the end of that time as he had been crippled in the service.

James W. Norris was brought to Iowa by his parents when but two and one-half years old and was educated in Monona county, first attending the country schools and later the Onawa high school. At the age of twenty-one his father admitted him to partnership in the operation of the home farm and when twenty-six years of age he was married to Miss Wanda Teter, a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Harriett) Teter, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Her father was born in Union township, this county, in October, 1855, and her mother in Ohio. They were married in Iowa and all of their children were born in the same house in this county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Teter are still living. Mrs. Norris is the second in order of birth in their family of eight and her natal day was June 1, 1881. The family subsequently removed to Kansas, where she was educated. She was married to Mr. Norris in Oklahoma in 1899 and they resided there for four years and for two years made their home in Kansas.

In 1905 they came to this county and Mr. Norris purchased the farm which he now owns and operates. He has made all of the improvements upon the place and it is one of the well developed and valuable farms of the county. He follows general farming and raises a high grade of stock, having registered animals at the head of his herd. He is a democrat in his political belief and is much interested in all that pertains to the public welfare. The sincerity of his life and the uprightness of his purpose have gained him the respect and esteem of all who have been brought in contact with him.