Jasper County >> 1894 Index
Grundy County
Marshall County

Portrait and Biographical Records of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
Chicago: Biographical Pub. Co., 1894.

F

Unless noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.

David Fletcher

Among the mew who have devoted their energies to the occupation of agriculture, prominent mention belongs to the gentleman whose name introduces this brief sketch. He is thoroughly efficient in every department of farm work, has made of his chosen occupation a science, and through the proper rotation of crops and fertilization of the soil has been enabled to secure the very greatest results from every acre of the property. His landed possessions aggregate two hundred acres, and are located on section 35, Black Hawk Township, Grundy County.

Our subject was born in Cambridgeshire, England, in 1834, and is the son of John and Mary (Darkin) Fletcher. His paternal grandparents were Thomas and Sarah Fletcher, natives of the above county in England. Thomas Fletcher and his wife were members of the Church of England. They reared a family of twelve children, of whom the eldest son, William, died November 30, 1893, in Whiteside County, Ill., at the advanced age of ninety-three years. The grandmother of our subject lived to the advanced age of ninety-nine years.

John Fletcher, the father of our subject, was born in England in 1805, and in his native land was given a good education. His wife was the daughter of John and Mary Darkin, and they became the parents of fifteen children, ten of whom reached mature years. They bear the respective names of William, Esther, John, Robert, David, Darkin, Sophia, George, Alfred and Anna. He emigrated to the United States in 1855, accompanied by his family, and finding a suitable location in Clinton County, this state, there made his home, and departed this life the following year.

David Fletcher began life in America by working in a brick-yard, and later, on removing to Illinois, was employed as a farm hand for about ten years. In 1880 he was married in Grundy County to Mrs. Agnes Campbell, widow of Daniel Campbell, and the daughter of John and Jane (Stewart) Watson. By her first marriage Mrs. Fletcher became the mother of four children: John, Alexander, William and Daniel. Her marriage with our subject has been blessed by the firth of two children, Fred and Ray.

Mr. Fletcher has made Black Hawk Township his home since 1880, and he here owns a very valuable property, and throughout the community he is held in the highest regard. Himself and wife are members of the Congregational Church at Reinbeck. He manifests a commendable interest in everything that pertains to the welfare of the community, and in politics is a Republican.

Erwin Forbes, who carries on general farming on section 17, Palo Alto Township, is numbered among the early settlers of Jasper County of 1866, his residence therefore covering a period of twenty-seven years. He was born in Steuben County, N. Y., October 3, 1844, and is the son of Moses and Abigail M. (Redfield) Forbes, who were also natives of the Empire State. The paternal grandfather was probably a soldier in the Revolutionary War. When Erwin was a lad of six summers he removed with his parents to Bureau County, Ill., locating about nine miles south of Princeton. The family were early settlers of that community. Our subject was there reared to manhood amid the scenes of pioneer life, and was early inured to the arduous task of developing a new farm. His educational privileges were those afforded by the common schools of the neighborhood. To his father he gave the benefit of his services until twenty years of age, when in February, 1865, he left home to enter the services of his country, becoming a member of Company K, One Hundred and Forty-eighth Illinois Infantry. He was at once sent to Middle Tennessee, where he was engaged principally in patrolling railroads. After the war was over he was honorably discharged, in October, 1865, and immediately returned to his Illinois home.

The following winter Mr. Forbes attended school, and in the spring of 1866 he came to Iowa, locating in Jasper County. Here he settled upon his present farm and has made it his home continuously since, devoting his time and attention entirely to its cultivation. He has been very successful in his operation, and has made additional purchases of land until he now owns six hundred and eighty acres, the greater part of which is under a high state of cultivation and yields to the owner a golden tribute. He began life empty handed, and when he came to Jasper County he had only $1,000, but by industry, enterprise and good management he has steadily increased his property until he is now one of the wealthy citizens of the community. He engages quite extensively in raising fine stock, making a specialty of good grades of cattle. He also raises Poland-China hogs and a good grade of horses.

The lady who now bears the name of Mrs. Forbes was in her maidenhood Alwilda McDonald. She was born in southern Iowa, and is a daughter of William J. McDonald. Their union was celebrated February 22, 1872, and unto them have been born six children: Pearl, Eugene, Jay, Lee, Don and Ida. The children have been provided with good educational advantages, for Mr. Forbes is a stanch friend of the public schools, and in fact gives his support and co-operation to whatever enterprise he believes is calculated to prove of public benefit. Politically our subject is connected with the People's party, but is not an office-seeker. Socially, he is connected with the Grand Army post of Newton, and in religious belief both he and his wife are Baptists, belonging to the church at Newton. His possessions stand as monuments to his enterprise and labor and are the reward of a useful and well spent life.