Champlin, P. L.,
farmer, Section 27 (Jefferson township), PO Oelwein; born in Madison Co., NY, December 7, 1827; located in Buffalo, NY, in 1863, as superintendent and manager of the traveling agents in the United States, of the house of D. Ransom & Co., for the sale of patent medicines; previous to locating in Buffalo, he traveled for the same house for eight years, as traveling salesman over all of the Western States. He married Miss Phebe MILLER January 24, 1864; she was born in Chenango Co., NY, 1830; had six children, two living ---- Almon H., born June 14, 1866; Carolton E., born May 20, 1871. He and his family are members of the First Universalist Church in Oelwein; he is Trustee of the Church and Mr. C. is Clerk of it. He was Road Supervisor in 1867, Township Trustee 1869, and member of the Board of Supervisors of the county three years, ending January 1, 1878, and Chairman of the Board last year. From his extensive traveling, he had an opportunity of seeing the Western country, and selected Iowa and Fayette Co. as the best for general agricultural purposes. He owns 300 acres of land in this county, worth $30 per acre; 100 acres in Wisconsin, worth $10 per acre; also a house and lot in Oelwein, and stock in the Oelwein Elevator Co., of which he is Secretary.

Page 646, 1878 History of Fayette County, Iowa

Contributed by Dorothy Gosse