Marion County

Souvenir History of Pella, Iowa [1847-1922]
Pella: Booster Press, [1922]

P

Cornelius Ver Ploeg – page 167

Born in the Netherlands December 7, 1832. He came to America in 1853 and located in Pella with his parents and one sister and four brothers. It took them 53 days to make the trip across the ocean and during this time he lost his father and one sister by death. A contagious disease broke out on the boat and it became necessary to leave an uncle on an island. The family landed at New Orleans and from there they traveled up the Mississippi river to Keokuk and thence by team and covered wagon to Pella, their future home. They landed here July 1, 1853. On March 8, 1858, he was united in marriage to Miss Pearl Van Zee, daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. Koenrad Van Zee. To this union were born two sons and seven daughters. The mother died on February 3, 1890. Mr. Ver Ploeg passed away July 26, 1904, at the ripe old age of seventy-two. He was considered to be one of the most prosperous farmers in this community. His son, C. R. Ver Ploeg, lives on the old homestead, Henry having died several years ago.

Joseph Porter – page 23

Joseph Porter. The maxim, “Through struggle to triumph,” might well be applied to the life history of Mr. Porter. He was born in Kent county, Delaware, August 10, 1818, and spent his youth on a farm with his father until nineteen years of age. Then walked to Lafayette, Ind., a distance of 900 miles, and made the trip in twenty-six days. In 1847 he emigrated to this county and purchased a claim and engaged in farming for about five years, when he moved to Pella and built a sawmill and brought the first steam engine into Marion county. This mill was located on the lot now occupied by the C. Rhysnburger home. After two years he built another sawmill on East Third street, about two blocks east of where the Washington mill was formerly located. Here he also added a flour mill to his establishment. In 1857 he trades his mills to John B. Hamilton for part of the land which was afterwards well known as the Porterville farm. Here he lived for many years and became known as one of Marion county’s most progressive and successful farmers and stock raisers. He married Miss Mary A. Chezum, December 31, 1840. By this union there were thirteen children, four of whom died in early infancy. The others were James, Elisabeth (Mrs. Wm. Millison), Marion, Nancy (Mrs. N. Wray), William, Charles, Mary F. and Joseph F. (twins), and Margaret Catherine. Mr. Porter owned the first reaper in the county and also operated one of the first threshing machines.

M. H. Post – page 29

Was born in St. Francisville, Mo., August 16, 1840. He was the son of Rev. M. J. Post, who advised the Hollanders to locate in Marion county and led them to the present location of Lake Prairie township, where the family remained as honored citizens of Pella. Mr. Post, Sr., died in 1848, and the subject of our sketch remained here for many years, receiving his education, and later successfully conducting the leading hotel for a long time. Later he moved to a farm just east of Pella. He married Miss Nancy Mortimer in 1862. She was born in Indiana and died in Pella in 1869, leaving one daughter, Nancy. In 1871 he married Miss Nellie Vander Linden. She was born in the Netherlands. There were two children by this union, Helen and Julia. Lost one daughter, Hattie. Mrs. Post and her daughter, Julia, still reside in Pella.

S. F. Prouty – page 24

S. F. Prouty was born January 17, 1854, at Delaware, Ohio. He came with his father to Knoxville, Iowa, in 1855 and moved with his father to a farm in Clay township in 1858. After completing the public schools he entered the Central University in 1870 and graduated in 1877 as the valedictorian of his class. In 1876 he took the first prize in oratory in the college. He took the first prize in oratory in the State Oratorical Contest held in Cedar Rapids in the fall of 1876. He represented the state of Iowa in the Interstate Oratorical Contest held at Madison, Wis., in 1877, and won second prize. Immediately after his graduation in 1877 he was elected to the chair of Latin in the Central University of Iowa and continued to occupy that position for four years.

In 1879 he was elected a member of the State Legislature and served in the Eighteenth General Assembly. He was the youngest member that ever served in the State Legislature with one exception; John P. Irish was of the same age at the time of service. He was admitted to the practice of law in 1881. He resigned his position as professor of Latin in the Central University and went into the practice of law in this city in partnership with N. J. Gesman. He practiced law in Pella for ten years. He was for several years treasurer of the university. After he began practicing law he was elected city attorney, during which time he codified and indexed the confused city ordinances. This compilation is still in use. In 1891 he moved to Des Moines and formed a partnership with the late I. M. Earle. This partnership was continued until Mr. Prouty was elected judge of the District Court of Polk County, Iowa, in 1900. He was afterwards elected a member of Congress from the Seventh Congressional District. Since he retired from Congress he has practiced law in Des Moines, Iowa, where he still resides.