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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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Lee
Signs Although no section of the great Hawkeye state is richer in
opportunities or offers greater advantages to its citizens than does Jasper
County, success is not here to be obtained through desire alone, but is to be
persistently worked for, there being various obstacles to be overcome just as in
every country, so the idler or dreamer knows nothing of the rich rewards that
come to the toilers in the locality of which this history deals.
Lee Signs, of Clear Creek Township, Jasper County, is evidently entitled
to rank with that class of hardworking citizens who prefer to follow the old
maxim of go it alone, rather than depend upon others to contribute to his
support and progress. Having spent his entire, life in this Township, it is evident
that he has preferred to remain at home rather than seek some
mythical better country, and here he has not only reaped the fruitage of a well
directed energy, but has so ordered his course in all the relations of life as
to command the confidence and esteem of his fellow men. As intimated, Mr. Signs was
born in this Township, on the farm where he now resides, August 4, 1869, and
here he received his education and early in life turned his attention to
agricultural pursuits He is the son of James and Sarah (Kintz) Signs, the father
born in Wayne County, Ohio, August 18, 1831, and he is residing with his son Lee
on the old home place, he having come to Iowa in 1854 and setteled in Clear
Creek Township, this County, in 1857. The mother of the subject was born in
Summit County, Ohio, and her death occurred on October 23, 1903.
Their family consisted of four sons and
one daughter, as follows: J. Emery, born March 1, 1859, is living in Clear
Creek Township; Mrs. John W. Long lives in Eden Township, Marshall County;
Charles C., born January 8, 1862, lives in Olathe, Kansas; John, born February
14, 1864, lives at Collins, Story County, and Lee, of this review. Mr.
Signs, of this review, was married on March 15, 1892, to Clara Wiley, who was
born in Clear Creek Township, this County, February 12, 1872. Her mother having
died when she was quite young, she was taken into the home of William Parker, of
Collins, and was reared and educated there. She is the daughter of James and
Julia (Deeter) Wiley, the father born in Indiana, March 13, 1845, while the
mother's birth occurred in Ohio, and she died in April 1880, at the age of
thirty-five years. Mr. Wiley is now
living in South Dakota. Their family consisted of four daughters, namely:
Mary, who married John Signs, was born September 6, 1868, and is residing
at Collins, Iowa; Clara, wife of Mr. Signs, of this review; Mrs. Belle Dodd,
born February 12, 1874, lives in Collins Township, Story County, Iowa; Mrs.
Gertie Ferguson, born August 11, 1876, is living at Lowery City, Missouri. These
children were all born in Clear Creek Township.
To
Mr. and Mrs. Signs have been born three daughters and one son, namely:
Coral, born December 12, 1893, lives at home; Gladys died in infancy;
Floyd, born April 20, 1895, Mildred, born June 6, 1905.
These children were all born on the farm where lives their father and
grandfather. Politically,
Mr. Signs is independent and, fraternally, he belongs to Mingo Lodge No. 174,
Independent Order of Odd Fellows; also Indian Creek Camp No. 1180, Modern
Woodmen of America, at Mingo. He has been a member of the school board for a
number of years. Mr. Signs is tilling the one hundred and sixty acres of the home place and he also owns sixty acres, near his residence. He keeps his land well improved and well cultivated, as did his worthy father when he was an active farmer. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, B.F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912, p. 1098. |
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