Johnson County >> 1912 Index

Leading Events in Johnson County, Iowa
by Charles R. Aurner. 2 vols. Cedar Rapids: Western Hist. Pr., 1912-13.

C

Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.

JACKSON CORBETT is an Irishman who has thrived in the congenial atmosphere of American institutions. Like multitudes of his countrymen, he only needed the boon of civil and religious liberty and the virgin soil of opportunity to enable him to reach the terminal of success. His life, since he landed in Johnson county in 1875, then a lad of eight years, has been spent in the neighborhood of Lone Tree, and is an open book. The fact that he numbers his friends by scores and that his reputation for integrity in every walk of life is unimpeachable, tells the story of the progress of the Irish lad in Iowa.

Robert Corbett, the father of Jackson, came to America in 1865 and settled in Johnson county upon a farm. When he had gotten the enterprise well under way, he sent for his family, and in 1873 his wife, Jane McMullin, and our subject came over and joined the father in the new home. There the family has continued to reside until the present. Father Corbett died in 1896, but the mother is still living.

Jackson Corbett is a republican; a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Odd Fellows of Lone Tree. His church membership is with the Reformed congregation of Lone Tree.

JOSEPH R. CORBETT

Old Ireland has laid Iowa under indebtedness in her contribution of the Corbett family to Johnson county. Both parents of Joseph R. were natives of the Emerald Isle. Reference is made to Alexander Corbett and Henrietta Hanley, who were married in their native land and came to Johnson county, Iowa, in 1862, with their growing family. Nine children were born to this estimable couple, now deceased, of whom seven are living. Joseph was the sixth child, being born in Johnson county August 21, 1865. The other children, in the order of their birth, are as follows: Elizabeth, now Mrs. Fred Palmer, residing at Lyons, Iowa; Edith, now Mrs. Minor Swink, living in Calhoun county, Iowa; John a., married to Miss Anna McKain, died in September, 1896, being the father of two children, Guy and Grace; Anna, now Mrs. Jake Hildebrand, living at Manhattan, Kansas; Belle, who died at the age of ten years; Margaret, now Mrs. William Wolford, living in Louisa county, Iowa; Mary, now Mrs. J. M. McClennan, living in Oskaloosa, Iowa, Mr. McClennan being a Methodist minister; Sarah, now Mrs. Clarence Forbes, residing in Louisa county, Iowa.

Alexander Corbett was a farmer. He lived until his death, October 4, 1908, on the farm which he purchased in Fremont township. His wife's death took place June 21, 1898.
Joseph R. Corbett lived upon a farm until he was twenty-seven years of age. Having been well educated, he took up the profession of a school master, and in this work, coupled with the business of carpentering and contracting, he engaged from 1892 to 1902, when he entered the lumber business and established the enterprise in which he is engaged at present, at Lone Tree, Iowa. He has demonstrated his ability as a business man, and is accounted one of the wealthiest men of Fremont township.

Miss Dora Wolford, a native of Louisa county, Iowa, captured the heart of this mature Irish-American, and the couple were married January 1, 1901, Mr. Corbett being at that time thirty-six years of age. a girl and a boy have been born into the home: Irene, aged nine, and Bernard, aged five years. No couple could be more happily mated. Their home, one of the most modern and attractive in Lone Tree, is made wholesome by the presence and ministrations of a queenly wife and the strong, inspiring companionship of a manly, successful husband.

Mr. Corbett is a republican. He is a member of the local lodge A. F. & A. M. of Lone Tree, of the I. O. O. F., M. W. A., and the K. of P. of the same place. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Lone Tree.