The Paul Families of Linn County, Iowa

JONATHAN PAUL, of Bertram Township, one of the large land owners of Linn County, and a progressive, successful and well-to-do farmer, is residing on his fine farm on section 22, where he may be found day after day engaged in the general routine of a farmer's life. He is one of the pioneers of Linn County, having come here in the spring of 1843. and since that time has been almost exclusively engaged in agricultural pursuits..Mr. Paul came from Greene County, Pa., and on arriving here settled in what is now known as Linn Grove, Linn Township, this county. His first purchase of land consisted of 120 acres near where Springville now stands. He continued to live on this tract for about eight years, when he sold it and removed to Dubuque County, and after a residence there of eight and a half 3'ears, came back to this county and purchased 240 acres in Bertram and Marion Townships, making his home in the former township. He has added to his landed interests in this county until he is f JCXX.TJTITf *t* _T.XtT7.1X7XTTT nan at present the proprietor of 749 acres of land, the major portion of which is in a good tillable condition.

Mr. Paul was married in Greene County, Pa., Dec. 20, 1845, to Miss Dorcas Wilson, a native of that county, born Sept. 20, 1817. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Paul seven children have been born. They are Margaret, William S., George, Wilson, Rachel M., Alex II. and Jonathan T. Margaret is the wife of Lewis B. Cramer, and they are living in Bertram Township; William S. married Susan Campbell, and they live in Greene County, this State; George was united in marriage with Miss Anna Ford, and they are residents of this county; Wilson and Miss Leah Durr were united in marriage, and now reside in Pennsylvania; Rachael is the wife of Preston S. Dean, and they are living in this county; Jonathan selected Miss Susan Daniels as his life companion, and they also live in this county; Alex is still an inmate of the parental household.

In politics Mr. Paul is a Democrat. His parents were George and Sarah (Tipton) Paul, natives of Pennsylvania, in which State they both died. Mrs. Paul's parents were Isaac and Rachael (Mason) Wilson, natives of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, respectively; they departed this life in Greene County, Pa.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Prominent among the citizens of Linn county who have witnessed the marvelous development of this section of the state in the past sixty years, and who have, by honest toil and industry, succeeded in acquiring a competence, and are now able to spend the sunset of life in quiet and retirement, is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He is now living retired at his pleasant home on the corner of Eighth street and Sixth avenue, Marion.

Mr. Paul was born June 15, 1823, in Greene county, Pennsylvania, of which his parents, George and Sarah (Tipton) Paul, were also natives. The father taught school for a time, but was principally engaged in agricultural pursuits, and spent his entire life on one farm, dying there at the age of seventy-two years. He was a very worthy and active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belonged. She departed this life in 1852, at the age of sixty-three years. Her father was Jonathan Tipton and her step-father was Matthew Hannan, who served as a private in the Revolutionary war and died at the advanced age of ninety years. He was a most worthy Pennsylvania pioneer. Our subject's paternal grandfather, William I'aul, was a farmer of that state.

Alexander Paul is the fifth in order of birth in a family of nine children, the others being Mary, wife of Edmond Phillips; William S., who died young while on business in Ohio; Jonathan Tipton, deceased, was a resident of Linn county; Thomas, who died at the age of twenty-six unmarried; David H., the only member of the family now living in Pennsylvania; Enoch, who died in Iowa at the age of forty-five years; Nathaniel, a resident of Lisbon, Iowa; and Wesley S., who died at the age of twenty-seven years.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

In 1855 Mr. Paul led U< the marriage altar Miss Justin Taylor, who was born in North Carolina, and in 1836 came to Cedar county, Iowa, with Iier parents, Goodwin and Jane (Taylor) Panl, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respectively. By this union were born eight children, namely: (1) Goodwin T., a furniture dealer of Dillon, Montana, wedded Mary Bureay, and they have three children, Hortense M., Lucile J. and Goodwin B. (2) William T., a real estate and stock dealer of Horton, Kansas, married Ruth Campbell, and they have two children, Blanche and Aernon. (3) I. N., a physician of Perry, Iowa, married Elva Freeman and they have one child, Ruth. (4) Jane is the wife of J. F. Jenal, of Nebraska. (5) Oscar K., who is connected with a store in Lima, IMontana, wedded Mary Hammond and they have one child, Erwin. (6) Frank died in California at the age of twenty-three years. (7) Charles E., a fine pharmacist, is now studying medicine in St. Louis. (S) Bert H. conducts a store and hotel in Montana, and has entrance to Yellow Stone Park. The mother of these children, who was a life-long member of the Methodist church, died May

1, 1876, at the age of forty-three years.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

George Paul is one of the most active, energetic and successful agriculturists of Ihiiwn township, where he owns a valuable and highly improved farm of nearly two hundred acres on section 30. within one mile of Springville. A native of this county, he was born in Linn township November 3, 1845, is a worthy representative of one of its old and honored families. His father, Jonathan Paul, was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1817. and (jii reaching manhood was there united in marriage with Miss Dorcas Wilson, a native of Virginia and a daughter of Isaac Wilson, who had removed from the Old Dominion to Pennsylvania. Jonathan Paul followed farming in his native state until April, 1843, when he came west and located in Linn county, Iowa, pre-tempting a claim of one hundred and twenty acres, but after residing here for two or three years he removed to Dubuque county, where the following nine years were passed. At the end of that period he sold his property there and returned to this county and purchased a tract of over three hundred acres of land in Bertram township, where he successfully engaged in farming and stock raising throughout the remainder of his life, becoming one of its prosperous citizens. There he died January 12, 1901, honored and respected by all whom knew him. His wife survived him and continues to reside on the old homestead.

The subject of this sketch grew to manhood on the home farm and remained under the parental roof until twenty-six years of age, aiding his father in the development and cultivation of the farm. His father gave him forty acres of land, wh.ere he now resides, and he has since added to it until he now has two hundred acres, which he has converted into a highly cultivated and well-improved farm, lie has a good, neat residence and substantial outbuildings, and also has a good orchard. He has always given considerable attention to the raising; and feeding of cattle and horses for make, and is accounted one of the most thrifty farmers and successful stock raisers in his section of the county.

On the 4th of January, 1877, Mr. Paul was married in this county to Miss Anna Ford, a native of Schenectady county, New York, and a daughter of B. S. Ford, who brought his family to Iowa in 1854 and took up his residence in Linn county, where Mrs. Paul was reared. By this union were born four children, namely: Charles, now a student at Cornell College, ]Mt. X'vernon; Effie, at home; Francis, who died at the age of eight years; and margaret, who is attending the home school.

Politically Mr. Paul has been a life-long Democrat, always supporting that party on national issues, but at local elections he is independent and votes for the men whom he believes best qualified for office, regardless of party lines. His wife is a member of the Alethodist Episcopal Church, and he attends its services with her and gives to its support, although not a member. They are widely and favorably known and enjoy the hospitality of the best homes in their part iif the county.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.