IowaJones/Biographies/I. M. Linnell

I. M. Linnell–T. W. Little

I. M. Linnell
Born August 1, 1836

I. M. LINNELL, contractor and builder, Monticello; is a native of Jefferson Co., New York, and was born in Watertown August 1, 1836; his parents came to Illinois when he was 14 years of age, and he grew up to manhood in that State, and learned the trade of carpenter and joiner in Chicago; in the fall of 1861, he came to Iowa and located at Monticello; at that time there were only a few houses here; since then he has been contracting and building, and has erected many of the best buildings in the city; he has been engaged in building here longer than any other builder. Mr. Linnell was united in marriage to Miss Eunice Starks, a native of Clinton Co., N.Y., February 22, 1859; they have one daughter—Jennie I. Mr. Linnell is connected with the Masonic Order, and is a member of Burns Lodge.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 673.

space

Arthur Lister
Born 1872

In the history of Jones county's representative and progressive citizens-mention should be made of Arthur Lister, one of the owners of the Ridgewood Stock Farm, a valuable property of four hundred acres in Fairview township. The place is pleasantly and conveniently located within three miles of Anamosa and here Mr. Lister has spent his entire life, having erected a nice residence on the farm just across the road from his brother's home. He was born in 1872 and spent his boyhood and youth on the farm where he now lives, his time being divided between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. After arriving at years of maturity he joined his brother Thomas in business and they are now the owners of an excellent farm property of four hundred acres, the Ridgewood Stock Farm being regarded as one of the representative interests of this character in the county. The place is well equipped with large barns and sheds, giving ample shelter for grain and stock, and they handle cattle and horses of high grades, while their shipments are now quite extensive.

On the 13th of April, 1908, Mr. Lister was united in marriage to Miss Janet McLean, a daughter of Alexander and Christina McLean, both of whom are natives of Scotland. They came to America in early life and have here since resided. Mr. and Mrs. Lister have a hospitable home, its good cheer being greatly enjoyed by their many friends. Mr. Lister belongs to Anamosa Lodge, NO. 40, I.0.0.F., and is a republican, with firm faith in the principles of the party but without desire for office. He and his brother are numbered among the most progressive and successful farmers of Jones county and are highly esteemed as honorable and worthy citizens.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 520.

James Lister
Born January 5, 1832

JAMES LISTER, foreman in charge of the building of the State Penitentiary at Anamosa; is a native of Scotland, and was born January 5, 1832; he grew up to manhood and learned his business there; he emigrated to America in 1854, and came to Duneith, I11; he came to Iowa in 1856, and engaged in farming for four and a half years, then removed to Dubuque. When the war broke out, he enlisted in the first call for troops in the 3d I.V.I.; as the quota was full, the regiment did not go in the field. He was in the Government service in building bridges and furnaces; after the war, in April, 1866, he came to Jones Co.; he was engaged in business in Cedar Rapids several years; he was appointed foreman in charge of the erection of the new State Penitentiary at Anamosa when the building was first commenced; since then he has occupied that position. He was elected one of the members of the School Board, and is now serving his second term. He owns a farm of 105 acres, west of the city, where his family reside. In 1864, he married Miss Jane Perry, in Dubuque; she is a native of England; they have five children—Jane, Thomas, George, Arthur and James.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 563.

Numbered among the men whose memory is cherished because of the active and honorable part which they displayed in the history of the county in former years is James Lister, one of the leading representatives of agricultural interests of this community. He was born in Scotland, January 5, 1832, and spent his youthful days in the land of hills and heather, of mountain crag and lake and glen. He there learned the stone cutter's trade and in 1854, when twenty-four years of age, emigrated to America, seeking the more favorable business opportunities offered by the new world. For a short time he resided at Dunleith, now East Dubuque, Illinois, and in 1856 came to Iowa, establishing his home near Farley, where he turned his attention to general farming. He devoted four and one-half years to the cultivation of the soil and then removed to Dubuque. He was among the first to respond to President Lincoln's first call for troops to crush out the rebellion in its incipiency, enlisting as a member of the Third Iowa Volunteer Infantry. As the state quota was full, however, the regiment did not go into the field but Mr. Lister remained in the government service for several years, being engaged in the construction of bridges and forts.

Soon after the close of the war, in April, 1866, Mr. Lister came to Jones county and subsequently removed to Cedar Rapids, where he engaged in business for a few years. When the work of the building of the state penitentiary at Anamosa was begun, he was made foreman in charge of the erection and was employed by the state as chief stone mason for the Iowa state penitentiary for many years. He built the first cell house of that institution and was employed altogether as boss stone cutter at the penitentiary for twenty-one consecutive years. His life was one of marked activity, thrift and usefulness and he became the possessor of four hundred acres of fine farming land just west of the city of Anamosa whereon his family long resided.

In 1864, Mr. Lister was united in marriage to Miss Jane Perry, a native of England, and unto them were born four children: Jane, Thomas, George and Arthur. Of these, Thomas and Arthur are mentioned elsewhere in this volume. The death of the husband and father occurred in 1899, when he was about sixty-eight years of age. He had been a member of the school board for several years and was ever most loyal to the public trusts which were given into his care. He formed a wide acquaintance during his long residence in the county and all who knew him esteemed him for his genuine worth and his many substantial traits. He had been a resident of the state for almost forty years at the time of his demise, having lived to witness much of its growth and development, while in many ways he had materially aided in its progress and upbuilding.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 424.

Thomas Lister
Born 1868

One of the practical enterprising and prosperous farmers of Jones county is Thomas Lister, who has spent his entire life in this locality, his birth having here occurred in 1868. His father, James Lister, who for twenty-one years was the chief mason of the state penitentiary, owned a fine-farm, which the family occupied, and at the old homestead Thomas Lister spent the days of his boyhood and youth, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist as he tills his fields and raises his stock. His literary education was acquired in the public schools and he was then qualified for life's practical and responsible duties. He chose as his life work the occupation to which be was reared and in connection with his brother Arthur, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume, be owns and operates what is known as the Ridgewood stock farm, consisting of four hundred acres situated in Fairview township about three miles west of Anamosa. This is one of the valuable farms of the kind, its soil being rich and productive so that good crops are annually gathered. Stock raising, however, is the main feature of the place and the brothers handle a large amount of fine stock annually securing for it a ready sale on the market.

On the 1st of January, 1900, Thomas Lister was united in marriage to Miss Marie Carper, a daughter of Asa and Amanda Carper, who are natives of Virginia. The death of Mrs. Lister occurred in 1904, when she was thirty-seven years of age. There was one child of that marriage, Margaret Louise, born February 11, 1904. Mr. Lister is a member of Anamosa, Lodge, No. 40, I.0.0.F., and is in sympathy with the basic principles and teachings of the fraternity. His political support is given to the republican party, with which he has been identified since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has always lived in this county and his life of well directed energy and thrift has brought to him substantial success and made him one of the representative business men of this section.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, pp. 25-26.

J. R. Litchfield
Born June 8, 1853

J. R. LITCHFIELD, dentist, Monticello; is a native of Richmond, Va.; was born June 8, 1853; he grew up and attended school there until 16 years of age, when he came to Chicago and studied dentistry; lived there six years; in 1875, he came to Dubuque, and in April, 1879, he came to Monticello and engaged in the practice of dentistry.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 673.

Theodore W. Little
Born 1818

THEODORE W. LITTLE, farmer, Richland Twp., Sec. 8; P.O. Bowen's Prairie; was born in Middlesex Co., Mass., in 1818; his parents, Eben and Abbie Little, removed to Wayne Co., N.Y., in 1828; Mr. Little went to Albemarle Co., Va., in 1842, where he was engaged in the drug business for many years; he was also engaged for many years in selling and establishing agencies for the sale of a liniment of which he was proprietor; during this time, he spent many years in traveling, especially through the Southern States; he came to Jones Co. in February, 1866, and took possession of his present farm, on which his father had settled in 1848. His father died in January, 1816; his mother died in 1862. Mr. Little was married in 1846, to Sarah A. Bragg, born in Massachusetts, but then a resident of Michigan. Her father, Calvin B. Bragg, removed from Massachusetts to Ontario Co., N.Y., in 1826, thence to Michigan in 1843; he died in Jackson, in that State, in 1863; her mother, Mrs. Orpha Bragg, now 80 years of age, lives with her daughter, Mrs. Little. The father of Mr. Little was partially deaf from birth, entirely so after 10 years of age. His farm contains 160 acres; he also owns a farm of sixteen acres in Michigan. He has five children—Frances A., Charles C., Ella A., James M. B., Ebbie W.; lost three children in infancy.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 690.