IowaJones/Biographies/J. Fadley

J. Fadley–A. M. Fairbanks

Jonathan Fadley
Born 1825
John Fadley
Born 1831

JONATHAN AND JOHN FADLEY, farmers, Clay Twp., P.O. Onslow; Jonathan was born in Knox Co., Ohio, in 1825. Married to Lametta, J. Jewitt; have five children—Jared W., Lizzie E., Ida M., Dyer D. and Hattie A. John was born in Knox Co. in 1831. Was married to Harriet M. Jewitt, who died in July, 1871. These gentlemen are brothers, who came to Jackson Co. with their mother, in 1852, where they lived about four years; in 1856, came to Jones Co., and settled in Clay Township; in the spring of 1864, settled where they now live; their present farm contains about 200 acres.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 702.

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John Fagan
Born April 20, 1844

John Fagan, a progressive farmer of Scotch Grove township and one of the representative citizens of Jones county, was born in County Meath, Ireland, April 20, 1844. His parents were Thomas and Mary (O'Brien) Fagan, both natives of the Emerald isle, who came to the United States in 1847. They located first in Jersey City, New Jersey, where Thomas Fagan found employment in a starch factory. There strong traits of character—industry and the capacity to con-trol men-won for him rapid promotion and he became foreman of the plant before he had been there many years.

Nine years after his arrival in this country, he came to Iowa, in 1856, taking up his residence in Scotch Grove township, Jones county. He purchased first eighty acres of government land, for which a brother-in-law, Michael O'Brien, had secured a warrant, paying a dollar and a quarter an acre for it. On that farm he engaged in agricultural pursuits with a success that enabled him to add to the original tract from time to time until at his death he owned five hundred and forty acres of valuable land in Jones county. Consequently, in 1898, when his life was brought to a close, in the eighty-first year of his age, he was accounted one of the more prominent agriculturists of his section of the county, able to bequeath to his sons, not only a substantial legacy of land, but also an honored name. His wife passed away a number of years previous to his death, at the age of sixty-eight years.

John Fagan was reared at home, acquiring under his parents' guidance important lessons in the practical affairs of life. He attended the common schools and was graduated from the high school of Monticello with the class of 1868. At the age of twenty-five he began to teach, and for the next twelve years devoted himself to educational, work.

It was in 1877 that he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, when he purchased ninety acres of his present farm, on section 23, Scotch Grove township. Like his father he has added to the original tract until he owns today three hundred and forty acres of rich and arable land. On it he has pursued diversified farming, which has brought him a gratifying return upon his investment of thought and labor. As industry and good manage-ment have brought to him success he is today numbered among the prosperous and respected men of Scotch Grove township.

On the 18th of February, 1873, Mr. Fagan was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Rogers, of Washington township, this county, her parents being numbered among the early settlers of this section of the state. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Fagan six survive. They are Thomas L., who is a miner in Butte, Montana; Lewis T., a mechanical engineer in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and James H., John W., Francis L. and David A., who are at home.

Mrs. Fagan died November 12, 1907, and, having been a devout member of the Catholic Church, her demise was attended with all the consolations of that religion. Mr. Fagan and his children are also adherents of that faith and are faithful in their attention to their religious duties. In politics he has given his support to the Democratic Party, but has never evinced any desire to hold public office. His influence, nevertheless, has been far-reaching, as is that of any man whose life is ordered by sound principles of honor and integrity.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 538.

Patrick J. Fagan
Born November 13, 1846

Among the many men who have kept pace with the progress of Jones county and whose extraordinary success is representative of the prosperity of the agricultural community of Scotch Grove township, is Patrick J. Fagan, one of Ireland's native sons. He was born in County Meath, November 13, 1846, his parents being Thomas and Mary (O'Brien) Fagan, also children of the Emerald isle. In 1847 they came to the United States, settling first in Jersey City, New Jersey, where Thomas Fagan found employment in a starch factory. There strong traits of character, industry and the capacity to control men won for him rapid promotion, until he became foreman of the concern before he had been any years. In 1856, after nine years' sojourn in the east, he came west taking up his residence in Scotch Grove township, Jones county, where he first eighty acres of government land. A brother-in-law, Michael O'Brien, had received a warrant for that tract, paying a dollar and a quarter an acre. Upon that Thomas Fagan established himself and engaged in agriculture, winning such success from his cultivation of the fields that he was able to add extensively to his original farm until at his death he was in possession of five hundred and forty acres of valuable land in Jones county. He died November 13, 1898, when he was eighty-one years old, while his wife had passed away many years before, being only sixty-eight years of age when her life was brought to a close.

At home, under the wise guidance of his parents, Patrick J. Fagan received that substantial training for the practical affairs of life, which has made possible his latter-day success, while his training in the rudimentary branches of education, obtained at the public schools of his district, was supplemented by a course at the Monticello high school.

From his youth he was reared to agricultural pursuits and after reaching manhood he and his father operated the old homestead farm in conjunction. The partnership continued throughout the life of the older man, and upon his death his son acquired the place, which had been the scene of his labors for so long, for he bought the shares from the other heirs. He now owns five hundred and fifty acres in one expanse of fields, whose area, if nothing else, would entitle him to be numbered among the substantial men of his township, but there are other things besides his success that has given him an influential position in the community. The course of his life has contained nothing that was esoteric or should be hidden; all of his acts have been guided by high principles of honor and integrity and are worthy of imitation. Part of his fortune has been obtained through the cultivation of the fields but he has made a specialty of buying and feeding cattle and hogs, finding that his operations in that direction have been well requited.

On the 3d of February, 1885, Mr. Fagan was joined in wedlock to Miss Ellen Milan, of Clay township, this county. Of the seven children born to them five survive, namely: Thomas W., Margaret and Bernard M., who are at home; Rose, who is attending the parish school at Temple Hill; and Mary Frances, who is a pupil in the district school. The family are all members of the Catholic church, and besides being devout in their attention to their religious duties have put to practical application the teachings of the first day of the week. In political matters, Mr. Fagan has given his support unfailingly to the democratic party, under whose suffrage he has filled most efficiently the positions of road supervisor and member of the school board.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 335.

Thomas Fagan
Born 1819

THOMAS FAGAN, farmer, Scotch Grove Twp., Sec. 13; P.O. Clayford; was born in Ireland in 1819; came to the United States in 1847; he lived in Jersey City from April, 1847, till November, 1856, where he was engaged as foreman in a starch factory; he came to Jones Co. in 1856, and settled on eighty acres of his present farm. He was married to Mary O'Brien; they have four children—John, Patrick J., Margaret E. and Mary A.; have lost three children. Mr. Fagan is one of the successful farmers of Jones Co.; he has 630 acres of land. He and his family are members of the Catholic Church.

Biography from History of Jones County, Iowa, 1879, page 655, and submitted by Lori J. Mentzel Photo from History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 335.

Alba M. Fairbanks
Born March 27, 1870

Alba M. Fairbanks, an enterprising member of the younger generation of Castle Grove's agriculturists, was born in Cass township, Jones county, March 27, 1870, and is a son of A. L. Fairbanks, Sr., whose sketch appears in another part of this volume. He worked upon his father's farm from the time he was able to hold the lighter farm implements until he became of age, when having married he was desirous of starting a home of his own. He then moved across the road front the homestead to the land on which he now resides. In 1900, he went to Knox, Benson county, North Dakota, to take up a government claim and after three years spent upon it, the time necessary to secure his possession of the three quarter sections he had chosen, he returned to Castle Grove township, where he has since devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. He owns one hundred and sixty acres here, separated from the home place by the township line, on which he pursued a diversified line of farming. His fields are well improved and through up-to-date methods of cultivation show no signs of diminishing fertility. He has made stock raising one feature of his operations while the fact that he has also planted about seven acres in fruit, indicates the varied character of his interests. In addition to his own responsibilities, with his brother he assists in the management of the three hundred and sixty acre farm which belongs to his father. Energetic and progressive, he has made a place for himself among the active men of the township and his success has secured their good will and approbation.

In 1891 Mr., Fairbanks wedded Miss Electa Stephens, who was born near Burlington, Iowa, and is a daughter of John and Helen (Clark) Stephens, Their union has been blessed with three children: Harry A., Helen and Lily, all of whom live at home.

Mr. Fairbanks is a strong supporter of the Presbyterian church in Castle Grove township, while in the exercise of his right of franchise he casts his ballot for the candidates, of the republican part . Indeed, he has evinced an active interest in political matters and in the local councils his opinion is accorded no small consideration. Fraternally he is connected with the Monticello lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America and among its members he has made many stanch friends, for he is a man who though successful in his own affairs is ever willing to exert himself in the behalf of those who are near to him.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 29.