Yengle A. Forth

As printed in 1911

YENGLE A. FORTH.

In taking up this review of the life of Yengle A. Forth, one of the comfortable established agriculturists of Olive township, Clinton county, attention is called to one who has, by his life of consistent endeavor, won for himself a good property and the respect of his fellow citizens.

Mr. Forth has foreign blood in his Aeins. but he is an American by right of birth, having been born in Clinton county, Iowa, on April 22, 1872. He is the son of Carl Forth, who is mentioned at proper length in another part of this volume, the father being a native of Germany and the mother, Theresa, of Fennsylvania.

The subject was reared on a farm and began working on the same when quite a child and he has made farming his life work. He was educated in the public schools of his native community and the parochial schools in Davenport, receiving a very good education along general lines. He began farming for himself after finishing his education and he is now the owner of a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he has placed under an excellent state of improvement and on which he carries on general farming and stock raising. He has a very comfortable home and good outbuildings and everything about his place shows good management.

Politically, Mr. Forth is a Democrat, but he is not especially active in political affairs, though he has Aery ably served as school director.

On February 15, 1900, Mr. Forth was married to Helen Ehlers, a native of Davenport, Iowa, where she was reared until four years old, and was educated in Grand Mound. She is the daughter of Henry and Catherine (Kroeger) Ehlers. both natives of Germany, who came to America in 1872 and located in Chicago, and in 1875 they came west to Davenport, where they lived six years, then moved to Grand Mound, Clinton county, and here the father's death occurred on January 30, 1910; Mrs. Ehlers is still living in Grand Mound. They were the parents of six childrcTi. four of wh'im are living. Mr. Ehlers was a carpenter by trade and a very skilled workman. In politics he was a Democrat. To Mr. and Mrs. Forth three children have been born, Alice May, Willie and Walter.

GEORGE B. fHELPS.

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George B. Phelps was born March 12, 1861, in Bloomfield township, Clinton county, Iowa, the son of Benjamin and Ellen (Berry) Phelps. Benjamin Phelps was a native of New York, of the old Phelps stock, and came to Clinton county in 1856, taking up an improved farm in Bloomfield township, where he spent his active life in farming and teaching, and now lives retired in Maquoketa. Ellen Berry was born near Bantry Bay, county Cork, Ireland, and came to America with her people in 1833, to St. Lawrence county. New York, where she married Mr. Phelps. To this marriage were born three sons, John H., the grain and stock buyer, of Lost Nation, this county: George B.; and Samuel, a farmer.

George B. Phelps spent his boyhood on the farm, received his early education in the country schools, at fifteen entered the State Normal at Cedar Fall's, graduated there in 1878, was principal of the Delmar public schools for two years, and for the next four years was principal of schools at Canianche and 'heatland. While teaching at 'heatland he was nominated for county superintendent of schools by the Democrats in 1884, was elected, and removed to Clinton, entering upon this responsible office at the age of twenty-four. He was t\\ ice re-elected, and remained in office, giving general satisfaction, until 1890. In January, 1890, he set up a law office, and filled the position of city attorney from Marcli, 1890, to March, 1894. Since that time he has devoted the most of his time to his large and increasing law practice, having been very successful in his profession. He has taken a prominent part in the activities of the Democratic party in the county. At present be is president of the Clinton school board. Mr. Phelps takes great interest in the affairs of the public library, was appointed a member of the first board of trustees of the Free Public Library of Clinton, in May,

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As printed in Wolfe's history of Clinton County, Iowa (1911). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.