John Paddelford,
a native of Chenango County, N.Y., was born May 22, 1815,
and came to Iowa in April, 1840. He had visited the State
in 1839, and being pleased with the outlook, resolved to
make it his home. He settled first in Delaware County,
and four years later in Sperry Township, Clayton County.
He bought 160 acres, to which he has since added, until
he now owns 120 acres in this township, 720 in Highland
Township, and 700 acres in other parts of the county,
making 1,540 acres in all. He also owns land in
Minnesota, Wisconsin and New York. Upon coming to Clayton
County he erected a log cabin, this being the first one
built in the township. He returned to Delaware county
after his household goods, and during his absence the
cabin was destroyed by fire. He resided in a haymow the
remainder of that winter, and in the spring built another
cabin, eighteen and a half feet square and one story in
height. This was his home until he built the large and
commodious mansion, which he now occupies. He ws married
in July, 1858, to Elizabeth Humphrey; his wife was born
in the County of Cornwall, England, Apr. 6, 1824. Mr.
Paddelford has held various offices of trust in the
township, among them that of Township Trustee for the pst
fourteen years, School Treasurer and Supervisor. He has
ever been an active member of the Old Settlers'
Association, and served as its Vice- President the first
year of the its existence. In political views he is a
Greenbacker. He is one of the largest land-owners in the
county, and numbers his broad acres by the thousand. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 1103 |
