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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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Joseph
B. Lister Joseph
B. Lister, a prominent and successful businessman of Newton, was born in
Yorkshire, England, near the village of Bradford, April 30, 1855.
He is the son of William Lister, who was also born in Yorkshire and was
an operator in a woolen mill there. The family immigrated to America in l864 and
settled in Philadelphia, PA, where the father engaged in the manufacturing
business. In 1870 be came to Iowa
and soon afterward opened a coalmine near Newton, in which be met with such
success that he has since become one of the wealthiest mea in the city.
He and the subject of our sketch are the owners of the Lister Opera
House, as well as other valuable property in and about Newton.
A man of enterprise, push and excellent judgment, the success which has
rewarded his efforts is not the result of fortuitous circumstances, but has been
attained solely through his unaided shrewdness and ability. A
mere child at the time of coming to America, our subject is thoroughly
identified with the progressive interests of the United States and is especially
interested in the development of' the wonderful resources of the State of Iowa.
Coming to Newton at the age fifteen years, he grew to manhood here and
has since made it his home, with the exception of nine years, during which time
he occupied a large farm in Franklin County, clearing the land and tilling the
soil of the estate with flattering success.
Other than that, he has been
engaged in business in Newton, being interested in a grocery here, and for
several years the manager and proprietor of a meat market. In
1878 Mr. Lister was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Lowery, who was born in
Illinois and accompanied her parents to Iowa in 1868.
Her father was a farmer by occupation and in connection therewith he also
engaged in milling. Mr. Lister is
one of a family of eleven children. He
and his wife are the parents of four children, James J., William H., Hattie and
Lottie. Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, IA, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, IL, 1894, p. 194. |
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