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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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John
S. Paul Mr. John S. Paul was born in County
Antrim, Ireland. November 20, 1862. He is the son of William John Paul and
Martha (Buick) Paul, both natives of County Antrim, the father born on July
101832, and the mother on July 13, 1824, the latter dying at an advanced age on
January 2, 1905. They grew to
maturity and were married in Ireland and there became owners of a small farm,
and there James Paul, paternal grandfather of the subject, became the owner of
one hundred acres, which is a large amount of land for one not an English lord
of lands to own in that country. It
was in 1866 that the father of the subject and his family immigrated to the
United States and located in Scott County, Iowa, where he purchased eighty acres
and there he continued to reside five years, then moved to the farm of one
hundred and sixty acres where his son, John S., of this review, now resides, in
Mariposa Township, Jasper County, Iowa. The
father became well fixed here, owning a good farm and he was an extensive cattle
feeder in his day. Prospering by
hard work and good management, he added to his original purchase until he owned
nine hundred acres of valuable land in Hickory Grove and Mariposa Townships.
He was long regarded as one of the substantial and public-spirited men of
the County and he was influential in public affairs.
He was a Republican and he served as Township trustee for some time. Religiously, he belonged to the Presbyterian Church.
In 1888 he left his home place and moved to Hickory Grove Township on a
farm, remaining there seven years, then moved to Gilman, Iowa, and retired,
living at that place for a period of seven years, having accumulated a
competency and enjoying the fruits of his earlier years of toil.
After the death of his wife he went to live with a daughter in Hickory
Grove Township. His death occurred
on April 8, 1910, after an honored and successful career. William J. Paul and wife were
married on February 20, 1852, and to this union two sons and four daughters were
born, named in order of birth as follows: Mrs.
Matilda Parker, who lives in Hickory Grove Township; James; Mrs. Nancy Clark, of
Jefferson County, Nebraska; John S., of this review; Mrs. Margaret Jane McIlrath
lives in Tama County, Iowa; Mary died when fifteen months old. John S. Paul was four years old when he
accompanied his parents to America and he grew up and was educated in the
schools of Iowa, attending district school No. 1, Mariposa Township, Jasper
County. He was but a small lad when
he began helping his father on the home place, having begun herding cattle when
he was seven years old; in fact, he spent the major part of several years on the
open prairie about the homestead. When
twenty-four years of age he began renting one of his father's farms.
Then he purchased eighty acres of his father.
To this he continued to add land from time to time until he became the
owner of four hundred and eighty acres in sections 1 and 2, Mariposa Township.
He has placed his land under a high state of improvement and cultivation
and here has met with a large measure of success as a general farmer and stock
raiser. He pays much attention to
the raising of full-blooded shorthorn cattle and Percheron horses, and he feeds
annually a few carloads of hogs and cattle. In 1910 he built what is generally
conceded to be the finest residence in Mariposa Township.
It is modern in every appointment, attractive, convenient and commodious
and is neatly furnished. He has substantial outbuildings and up-to-date farming
machinery, in fact, everything about his place indicates thrift, prosperity: and
good management. He has kept well abreast of the times in all matters pertaining
to modern agriculture and stock raising. Politically, Mr. Paul is a Democrat and manifests
considerable interest in public affairs. He
is at present very worthily discharging the duties of Township trustee.
In religious matters he is a member and liberal supporter of the
Presbyterian Church. On April 21, 1886, was performed the
ceremony which united in marriage John S. Paul and Mary Jane Green, a lady of
many praiseworthy personal traits. She
was born in Hickory Grove Township, this County, on August 12, 1867, and she is
the daughter of William Alonzo and Catherine (Taylor) Green, a highly respected
and influential early family of this County.
Here Mrs. Paul grew to womanhood and received her education. Ten children have been born
to Mr. and Mrs. Paul named as follows: Ralph Edwin, born July 10, 1887; Harvey
John, born April 7, 1889; Seymour Roscoe, born April 5, 1891; Roy Leslie, born
June 16, 1892; Elmer Elgin, born July 29, 1894; George Warren, born July 13,
1896; Marion Harlow, born November 9, 1899; Perry Donald, born February 17,
1902; Myron Hazen, born January 30,1904; Mary Evelyn, born March 3, 1907. Personally Mr. Paul is a
pleasant gentleman to know, genial, hospitable and
honorable in all the relations of life. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, B.F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912, p. 1104. |
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