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Jasper County, Iowa
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Bert A. Romans One of the most active, enterprising and thoroughgoing young farmers of Elk Creek Township, Jasper County, is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. Bert A. Romans comes of a family that settled on the wild Iowa plains when the Indians still roamed at will and the howl of the wolf and scream of the wild fowl were still heard. Members of both sides of the house were adventurous and enterprising and cared little for hardships, at least they did not permit obstacles to thwart them in their efforts at establishing new homes in new countries. Thus persevering, they succeeded where the less courageous failed and became well established and useful citizens. Many of their praiseworthy traits seem to have been inherited by the subject, for he has met with success in material things and has at the same time won a reputation for fair dealing and straightforward, honest relations with all the world. Mr. Romans was born in Elk Creek Township, this County, on January 16, 1878. He is the son of Asbury D. and Mary A. (Wood) Romans, the father born in Illinois on December 30, 1839, and the mother in Kosciusko County, Indiana, on February 2, 1841. The maternal grandparents of subject were Eli and Elizabeth (Carr) Wood, both natives of Ohio, where they grew up and were married, and from that state they moved to Indiana soon after their marriage, locating in Kosciusko County, where Mr. Wood became owner of a farm. It was in 1856 that the mother of the subject and her parents drove overland from Indiana to Jasper County, Iowa, with horses and wagons, arriving here in June of that year, their trip having been much pleasanter than those of other eastern pioneers to this country. There were several families in the party and a number of young people. The weather was most propitious and they all enjoyed the camping out. Grandfather Wood bought one hundred and sixty acres in Fairview Township, this County and there he lived until his death, having developed a good farm. He and his wife were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They were the parents of twelve children, five sons and seven daughters, the mother of the subject of this sketch having been the tenth in order of birth. She attended school in Indiana and grew to girlhood there. Her mother being in poor health, Mary A. took charge of the household work when but a child, her older sisters having left home upon their marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Asbury D. Romans were married on February 5, 1865, and they moved on the farm where the mother of the subject now lives in Elk Creek Township, in 1869. Eight children were born to them, Bert A., of this sketch, being the sixth in order of birth, the others being named follows: Mrs. Mehala Carney; Wallace lives in Mitchellville, Iowa; Frank, who was next in order; Mrs. Jessie Butin, living in South Dakota; Mrs. Laura Efnor lives in Newton, Iowa; Mrs. Edna Whiteman lives in South Dakota; Ora is deceased. Bert A. Romans grew up on the home farm and when but a small lad assisted with the work during the crop seasons, attending school in the Pleasant View district. When twenty-one years old he began renting farms in Elk Creek Township, thereby getting a start. In 1907 he rented land of Morris Gating in this Township, and this he still operates, in connection with eighty acres which he owns near by, just north of Galesburg. He is an extensive hog feeder. Politically, he is a Republican and he belongs to the blue lodge of Masons. Mr. Romans was married on September 21, 1906, to Yetta Terpstra, who was born and reared in this County. She is the daughter of Dow W. and Rosa (Napjus) Terpstra, both natives of Friesland, Holland, the father born June 11, 1842, and the latter on September 23, 1848, and when eight years of age the latter emigrated to the United States with her parents, John and Rosa (Plantenga) Napjus, who located in Marion County, Iowa, where the mother of Mrs. Romans grew up and went to school, and in 1869 she and Mr. Terpstra were married. Dow W. Terpstra was the son of Watson and Sietska (Zuidma) Terpstra, natives of Holland, from which country they emigrated to the state of New York in 1850, where they lived five years, then came to Marion County, Iowa, obtained raw land and on this Dow W. grew up and worked hard. After his marriage he came to Jasper County and bought eighty acres, which he later traded for one hundred and twenty acres in Elk Creek Township and here became a substantial, well known citizen, owning four hundred and fifty acres, and for years he was one of the largest cattle feeders on the County. Retiring from active life in 1905, he moved to Sully, this County, and there his death occurred on July 11, 1906. His widow is now living on a part of the old homestead. Mrs. Romans is one of a family of eight children, the others being, Watson Valentine; Mrs. Sietska George, of North Dakota; Harry D., of Elk Creek Township; Albert L., Mrs. Rose Dick and Martin. The Past and Present of Jasper County, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, 1912 B.F. Bowen Co., Indianapolis, IN, p. 694. |
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