The Tiffany Family of Jasper County, Iowa

FREMONT LINCOLN TIFFANY.

Upon the roll of representative citizens and energetic agriculturists of Clear Creek township, Jasper county, appears the name of Fremont Lincoln Tiffany, who has been a resident of this community since his advent into "the struggle which men call life," having never cared to risk the caprices of fate and fortune in other countries, well knowing that right here at home existed as good if not better opportunities than could be met with elsewhere. He has, practically unaided, M'worked his own way to a position of precedence in local affairs, Avhile his conduct has ever been such as to inspire the confidence of those who have been thrown into contact with him.

Mr. Tiffany was born in the township where he still resides on August 18, 1860, and here he grew up on the home farm and was educated in the local schools. He is the son of Sylvester and Esther (Campbell) Tiffany, the father born in Erie county. New York, March ii. 1825, and he came to Dubuque, Iowa, in 1842, and for a number of years worked in the lead mines of that place. In 1849 he came to Jasper county, but continued this journey, went to California, a member of that famous band of gold hunters, being one of thousands. He returned to Jasper county, Iowa, in 1853, and here continued to make this his home until his death, which occurred in Clear Creek township,' August 30, 1910, having reached an advanced age. He had outlived his wife over twenty years. She was born on November 21, 183 1, came to Jasper county in 1855, and her death occurred at Colfax, this county, on April 3, 1889. Their family consisted of four children, two sons and two daughters, namely: Mrs. Martha R. Tripp, born May 27, 1858, lives at Colfax; Fremont L., of this review; Franz Sigel, born July 4, 1864, lives in Clear Creek township; Mrs. Mary Eliza Leonard lives in Boulder, Colorado. These children were all born at the homestead now occupied by the subject, who owns one hundred and twenty acres of the home farm and two hundred and thirteen acres near the hamlet of Clyde, known as the R. R. Hampton place. He has kept them both under a high state of improvement and cultivation and for a long time successfully carried on general farming and stock raising on a large scale. He has a pleasant home in the midst of attractive surroundings.

On February 18, 1880, Mr. Tiffany was united in marriage with Mary Ellen Stock, who was born in Clear Creek township, this county, December 13, 1863, and here she was reared and educated, her mother and grandmother being among the earliest settlers of this vicinity, having come here in 1851. Her father, Joseph Stock, was born in Ohio, August 30, 1842, and his death occurred in Colfax, August 7, 1908. His wife was known in her maidenhood as Rachel DeWitt, and was born in Bradford county, Indiana, February 9, 1847, and she is still living at Colfax.. There were three children in this family, of which Mrs. Tiffany is the eldest; Joseph Riley Stock died in this township, October 23, 1888; Mrs. Leecy Ann Smith lives at Carpenter, Wyoming.

Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Tiffany, named as follows: Clara V., born March 23, 1882, was graduated from the high school at Colfax in the class of 1900, and she was graduated from Drake University in 1904; she is still with her parents on the farm; Carl Tiffany was born May 9, 1884 and lives on his farm in Clear Creek township; Emma Alta, born May 21, 1886, who attended the Colfax high school, was taking a training course when she died at the Methodist hospital at Des Moines, while acting as nurse; Ray was born July 31, 1888, and is living in Collins township; Joseph Sylvester, born January 25, 1897, is at home, assisting his father with the farm work. Miss Clara Tiffany is in possession of the plat of Palmyra, an embryo city to be located on the E. H. Keyes farm, south of Clyde. This instrument is signed by Elias H. Keyes, William Suthern and Emeritta Southern, and Joseph Dodd, Jr., justice of the peace. It was signed September 8, 1855. They also possess an "Arnold's Vocabulary," published in 1784.

Politically, Mr. Tiffany is a Republican, and he has been a member of the school board in his district. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Mingo.

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

This sterling young man is the owner of one of the choice farms in the locality of which this history treats and he is favorably looked upon as an upright and honest man, as well as an industrious agriculturist whose success is well deserved.

Carl Tiffany was born in Clear Creek township, Jasper county, on May 9, 1884. He grew to manhood here and has always been identified with the farming interests of the community and he received his education in the local schools. He represents one of the oldest families of the northwestern part of Jasper county, members of which have been active in the general development of the same for some three generations, the Tififanys having ever stood for progressive citizenship wherever they have located.

The subject is the son of Fremont L. and Mary Ella (Stock) Tiffany, both natives of Clear Creek township, this county, each representatives of early families. The paternal grandfather, Sylvester Tiffany, emigrated to Jasper county in 1849 and that year joined the famous band of gold seekers in California, returning here in 1855, where he remained until his death, in 1910, at an advanced age, having outlived his wife, Esther Campbell, twenty years and more, her death having occurred at Colfax in 1889. The father of the subject grew up on the farm here and worked hard when a boy in the new country. He married Mary E. Stock upon reaching manhood and to them five children were born, namely: Clara V., who was born in 1882, received an excellent education at the Colfax high school and Drake University and is living at home with her parents on the farm; Emma Alta, born in 1886, became a professional nurse and died in the Methodist hospital in Des Moines, in which she was employed; Ray is living in Collins township, Story county; Joseph Sylvester, born in 1897, is at home; Carl, of this review.

Fremont L. Tiffany owns the old homestead in Clear Creek township, consisting of one hundred and twenty acres; the place originally consisted of three hundred and sixty acres. He has been successful as a general farmer, and is one of the influential men of his community. For a full history of the Tiffany family the reader is referred to the sketch of the subject's father appearing elsewhere in this work.

Carl Tiffany was married March 9, 1904, to Susan Mae Patterson, who was born in Jasper c'county, Iowa, on December 21, 1879. Her parents, Gillian F. and Sarah Ann (Logsdon) Patterson, were early settlers of Jasper county; they were both natives of Kentucky, in which state they spent their early lives. The father enlisted for service in the Union army from Illinois. These parents now reside in Sherman township, Jasper county.

The Patterson family consisted of twelve children, eleven of whom are living, namely: Edward lives near Baxter; Mrs. Arminda Spencer lives at Weeping Water, Nebraska; William also lives in Nebraska; Leander lives in Delta, Iowa; John lives near Newton, this state; James lives in Newton; Thomas lives in South Dakota; David lives in Weeping Water, Nebraska; Susan Mae, wife of Mr. Tiffany, of this sketch; George lives at home with his parents in Sherman township; Mrs. Julia Hurst is deceased; Alexander lives at Clyde, Iowa.

To Mr. and Mrs. Carl Tiffany have been born one son and one daughter, [name withheld], born April 17, 1907, and [name withheld], born February 23, 1910, They were both born in Clear Creek township, Jasper county.

Politically, Mr. Tiffany is a Republican. He is secretary of the board of education in his home district. He is the owner of an excellent farm in Clear Creek township, which he has placed under good improvements and by thrift and good management has secured a competency. He has many of the modern conveniences and luxuries, including an automobile.

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

One of the industrious and promising young men of the locality of which this history deals is Ray Tiffany, who has fully appreciated present-day conditions and has profited by his ingenuity and persistency in the business to which he has given his close attention, as a result of the favorable agricultural and stock raising conditions existing in this favored section of the great Hawkeye commonwealth. He is a successful breeder of shire draft horses and Duroc Jersey hogs. Ray and Clara Tiffany are the owners of a fine five-passenger touring car, which they and their daughter, Myrtle May, greatly enjoy.

Mr, Tiffany was born in Clear Creek township, Jasper county, on July 31, 1888. There he grew to manhood, received his education in the common schools and has always identified himself with the agricultural interests of his home community. He is the son of Fremont L. and Mary Ella (Stock) Tiffany, both natives of this township and each representing old and highly honored families of the county, the Tiffanys and Stocks having come here when this was a wild, uncultivated prairie, overrun by coyotes, wolves and other kindred of the wild. The subject's paternal grandparents were Sylvester and Esther (Campbell) Tiffany, who emigrated here from the East in

1849, he going on to the Pacific coast gold fields soon afterwards, but returned in about five years and.spent the balance of his life here, dying at a very advanced age. His wife also died in this community.

Fremont L. Tiffany spent his youth on the home farm and still lives on a portion of the same, which he has kept well cultivated "and is one of the best known farmers of Clear Creek township.

There were five children in the Tiffany family, named as follows: Clara v., born March 23, 1882, was graduated from the high school at Colfax, later from Drake University at Des Moines, and she is now at home with her parents; Carl, born May 9, 1884, is living on a farm near the village of Clvde, this county; Emma Alta. born May 21, 1886, died in the Methodist hospital at Des Moines, where she was employed as professional nurse; Ray. the subject of this review; Joseph Sylvester, born January 25, 1897, is living at home.

Ray Tiffany was married on- February 22, 1907, to Clara A. Skinner, who was born in Clear Creek township, this county, June 26, 1889, and there she grew to womanhood and was educated in the local schools. She is the daughter of Hon. Herbert K. and Mary A. (Edwards) Skinner, the father born in Lawrence county. New York, April 2, 1849, and the latter born in Jasper county, Iowa, on March 29, 1855. To this union eight children were born, five of whom are living, namely; Elsie M. died in early life, as did also George M.; Charles H., born May 2, 1883, lives in Clear Creek township; Mrs. Bertha H. Borts. born May 20, 1885. lives on the old Skinner homestead in Clear Creek township; Clara A., wife of Mr. Tiffany, of this sketch; Arthur L., born December 6, 1892. lives with his parents; Lena, born June 4, 1896. at home; Howard Otis, born March 12, 1899, died March 24th of the same year.

Herbert K. Skinner has been successful as a business man and is the owner of over five hundred acres of valuable land, mostly in Jasper county and some in Texas. He has long taken an abiding interest in political affairs and is a leader in his party, having held a number of local offices and he is now ably representing his county in the state legislature.

To Ray Tiffany and wife one daughter has been born. Myrtle May, whose birth occurred on June 2, 1908.

Mr. Tiffany is the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and fifty-three acres, which he has kept well improved and under a high state of cultivation. His land lies in Collins township, three miles east of Collins, Story county. They have a competency and, being people of correct ideals, they have not reached that period, as have many, when money getting interferes with their mental edification and the progress of their better nature. Pohtically. Mr. Tiffany is a Republican.

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