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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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John
W. Southern One
of the businessmen of Clear Creek Township, Jasper County, who has been content
to spend his life in his native community, is John W. Southern, at present
conducting a restaurant at Collins, but most of his life has been spent in
connection with agricultural pursuits. Here
he was born on December 29, 1874, and here he grew to manhood and was educated.
After engaging in railroad work for some time he returned to the farm, where he
remained until November 21, 1908, when he, with his family, began the restaurant
business in which they have met with a large measure of success all along the
line. He owns a good stock and
modern restaurant fixtures, and his place has become popular with the local and
traveling public. Mr.
Southern is the son of David H. and Melissa C. (Penquite) Southern, the father
born in Logan County, Illinois, January 23, 1849, and the mother was born in
Ohio, April 29, 1852. They are both
living on the old homestead in Clear Creek Township.
The Southern family was among the earliest arrivals in Jasper County,
having come here in the fall of 1853 and in the spring of 1854 they moved to
Clear Creek Township. The subject's
paternal grandfather was born in Virginia, the Southern family having been one
of the first of the Old Dominion. Seven
children were born to David H. Southern and wife, all of whom are living, named
as follows: John W., of this review, being the eldest; Mrs. Eva Tilton, of
Collins; Mrs. Bertha Osborne; Mrs. Jessie Atwood; Harvey E., who lives at
Collins; Mary is living at home; Mrs. Lena Renfelt is a resident of Galva, Iowa. John
W. Southern was united in the bonds of marriage to Ida Oswalt, who was born in
Clear Creek Township, this County, September 17, 1876, and here she grew to
womanhood and was educated. She
is the daughter of Edward and Martha Jane (Tripp) Oswalt, the father born in
Stark County, Ohio, July 28, 1835, and the mother in Lee County, Iowa, June 21,
1841; the latter's death occurred in Collins, Iowa, February 2, 1903. Edward
Oswalt spent his early youth in his native state, coming to Des Moines, Iowa, in
1846, thence to Clear Creek Township, Jasper County, in 1847, thus making him
one of the earliest settlers in this locality.
He conducted the Oswalt mill on Indian Creek for eighteen years. He is making his residence at Collins at this writing.
Mrs. Southern's paternal grandmother, Rachael Grimes, was a sister of one
of Iowa's earliest governors. There were eight children in the Oswalt family,
seven of whom are living, namely: Jacob died in infancy; John Andrew lives in
Emmet County, Iowa; Mrs. Edna Dennison lives in Collins; Mrs. Robert Elzy, of
Marshalltown; James lives in New Albany Township, Story County, Iowa; Ida, wife
of Mr. Southern of this review. To
Mr. and Mrs. Southern two sons have been born, namely: Leroy, born in Clear
Creek Township, this County, November 6, 1898; Edward Harold, born near Nevada,
Story County, January 18, 1903. They
are both attending the public schools in Collins. Politically, Mr. Southern is independent, voting for the man whom he deems best qualified for the office sought. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Crescent Camp No. 2358, of Collins, and he also holds membership in the Mystic Workers No. 181, of that place. The Past and Present of Jasper County, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, 1912 B.F. Bowen Co., Indianapolis, IN, p. 1337. |
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