~ Lacey, J. M. ~Photo of Hotel

J. M. Lacey, residing in Valeria, in the hotel business, was born in Carter County, Tennessee, June 9, 1853, and came to Jasper County with his parents in 1860. Cornelia E. Boyd became his wife February 5, 1877. She was born in Jasper County June 4, 1858. They are the parents of four children: Arthur V., deceased, born in Polk County; Pluma, born in Shelby County, Iowa; Sylvia D., born in Jasper County, and an infant, unnamed. Mr. Lacey has been proprietor of the Lacey House for about ten years, at Valeria. Page 27

~ Lambert, E. E. ~Photo

E. E. Lambert, proprietor of the Lambert Transfer Line, was born January 8, 1863, in Licking County, Ohio. In 1865 he removed to Elmwood, Illinois, and became a resident of Jasper County in 1868. His father, R. K. Lambert, was born in Ohio in 1839, and after they became residents of Jasper County, followed agricultural pursuits until 1876. He then started the Lambert House in Newton, which he still owns. Our subject, E. E. Lambert, received his education in the schools of Newton. In 1881 he started in the mercantile business, in which he remained until 1884. We next find him in the real estate and abstract business, which he followed for two years. In 1886 he engaged in his present business. Mr. Lambert was united in marriage in 1886 to Lizzie M. Boydston, of Muscatine, Iowa. He enlisted as private in Company B, 3rd Regiment, I. N. G., July 15, 1888. Transferred to 2nd Regiment, I. N. G., April 30, 1892, and was elected major of it. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel January 20, 1896. Mustered into U. S. V. service as Lieutenant Colonel, 50th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, at Des Moines, Iowa, May 18, 1898. Promoted to Colonel in the same Regiment August 20, 1898. Mustered out of Volunteer service at Des Moines, Iowa, November 30, 1898. Page 32

~ Lambert, Reuben K. ~Photo

Reuben K. Lambert, proprietor of the Lambert House in the city of Newton, was born in Licking County, Ohio, his birthplace being in an old log house constructed without the use of nails. The date of his birth was June 28, 1839. He is the son of Jacob and Mercy (Kattle) Lambert, natives of Virginia and Vermont, respectively. His father was an agriculturalist, and died in Jasper County at the age of ninety-one years. In February 1860, our subject was united in marriage with Cynthia A. Benjamin. In April 1864, he enlisted in Company B, 142nd Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served until the following September. The following year he located in Peoria County, Illinois, and in November 1867, became a resident of Jasper County, Iowa, locating on a farm in Newton Township, on which he resided until 1876, when he engaged in the hotel business in Newton. Mr. and Mrs. Lambert are the parents of two sons and one daughter: William R., a cattleman in Sterling, Colorado; Elliott E., proprietor of the leading transfer line of Newton and agent for the Adams Express Co., and Belle, at home, a graduate of oratory at Drake University. Socially, Mr. Lambert is a member of M. W. A., and Central Lodge No. 73, I. O. O. F., of Newton. Page 44

~ Landmesser, Leuis ~Photo

Leuis Landmesser, residing on Section 5, Elk Creek Township, has been a resident of Jasper County since 1854, and is justly entitled to a biographical notice in this connection. He is the son of Nicholas and Catherine (Kridler) Landmesser, natives of Germany and Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, respectively, who became residents of Jasper County in 1854, landing here in December. They resided in Newton until the following March, after which they located on a farm, on which our subject now resides. There were nine children in his father's family, seven sons and two daughters, six of whom are 1iving, our subject being the sixth born. When Nicholas Landmesser landed in Jasper County, he was a man of limited means, but by careful management, combined with his energy and pluck, he accumulated a competency, and at the time of his death owned some 330 acres of Jasper County soil. Leuis Landmesser has virtually been a resident of the old homestead since they came to Jasper County, except two years he spent on land he had purchased when about 30 years of age. At the death of his father he acquired the homestead, and now possesses 247 acres, which is well improved. Mary Carnahan and our subject were united in marriage in 1870. One child was born to them, Louise, now Mrs. Wm. Korff, of Killduff. Mrs. Landmesser died in 1873, and in 1877 our subject was again united in marriage to Annie Cary. Two children have blessed this union, Clarence, now residing at home, and Robert, deceased. Page 35

~ LaRue, Elias ~Photo

Elias LaRue, residing on Section 5, Des Moines Township, was born in Indiana December 9, 1823. He was the son of Hezekiah and Mikey (Lake) LaRue. December 5, 1852, he was united in marriage to Marietta Wilson, who is now deceased. She was the daughter of Daniel and Mary (Taylor) Wilson. One child was born to them, Eliza. Politically, our subject affiliates with the Democratic Party. Part III, page 4

~ Laskewitz, Alex ~Photo

Alex Laskewitz, a prosperous farmer residing on Section 31, Richland Township, will form the subject of this biographical notice. Henry D. and Jeneke (Tihsan) Laskewitz were natives of Holland, and came to America in 1855, and located in New York State, near Buffalo, where they resided for about eleven years, and pushed farther west, locating in Marion County, Iowa, and six years later cast their lot among the settlers of Jasper County, arriving here in February 1872. Mr. Laskewitz died here October 4, 1899. There were nine children in their family, the subject of this sketch being the sixth child. Alex. Laskewitz was born in Marion County, Iowa, February 8, 1868. He has received a good business education, and has been very successful in farming and stock raising. He possesses a comfortable home on the farm on which he resides, which consists of 231 acres. He also owns 160 acres on Section 9, in the same township. He is yet a single man, his widowed mother residing with and keeping house for him. Page 44

~ Lauber, Phillip ~Photo

Phillip Lauber, residing on Section 17, Rock Creek Township, was born in the city of Breidenbach, County Welsenbaden, Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, October 11, 1850, where he grew to manhood. In 1881 he came to America, and located in Montgomery County, New York, becoming a resident of Jasper County in 1891. His parents were Henry and Catherine (Fleck) Lauber. They were farmers in their native country, which business our subject has always followed. Elizabeth Diehm became his wife July 18, 1893. They are the parents of four children: Katie, Henry, Valentin and Rosa. The family are members of the Lutheran Church. Page 16

~ Lee, Nathan W. ~Photo

Nathan W. Lee, deceased, was born in Franklin Township, Polk County, Iowa, November 10, 1854, and at the time of his death resided on Section 17, Washington Township, Jasper County. He was the son of Ishmael and Miriam Lee, pioneers in this section of the state. Nathan grew to manhood in his native County, receiving a liberal school education, and became an enterprising and highly respected businessman. March 11, 1877, he was united in marriage to Martha E. Pearson, daughter of Jesse and Hannah Pearson. To this union was born four sons: Athel, who died in infancy, Garfield, Asa and Harold. Surrounded by a happy family, a good farm and a beautiful home, life was most desirable to him. After waging a wonderful contest for life, covering a period of 105 days, he succumbed to the disease of typhoid fever, and passed from this world to the world beyond October 22, 1899, honored and respected by all who knew him. He was a devoted Christian gentleman, having united with the M. E. Church with his wife in 1892.

~ Leeper, William J. ~Photo

William J. Leeper, residing on Section 34, Sherman Township, was born in Ohio July 15, 1849, and came to Jasper County with his parents in 1867. His parents were John and Janet (McCartney) Leeper, both natives of the Buckeye State, and are still residents of Sherman Township. Our subject was united in marriage in 1886 to Katharine McCunn. She was born in Pennsylvania in March 1853. By this union four children were born: Loran R., Albert J., Nellie M., and James M. Mrs. Leeper died January 29,1898. May 3, 1899, Mr. Leeper was again united in marriage to E. J. Wheeler. She was born in Poweshiek County, Iowa, in March 1860. Mr. Leeper is considered one of the successful and well-to-do farmers of the township in which he has lived for so many years. He has always taken an active interest in the affairs of the state and County, and has figured quite extensively in county and township politics. Page 15

~ Libolt, H. C. ~

H. C. Libolt, residing on Section 23, Washington Township, was born on the old Libolt homestead September 7, 1868, where he still resides. His father, John Libolt, was born in New York State in 1828; came to Iowa in 1859; married Miss Eliza Corwin in Davenport in 1864, and in 1867 located on the farm now owned by our subject. Mrs. Libolt passed from the scenes of this earth when H. C. was but six months old. Here our subject has grown to manhood, receiving his education in the district schools of Jasper County. At the death of his parents he inherited a one-third interest in his present farm; has since bought out the other two heirs, and is now the sole owner of the old homestead. Politically, our subject believes in the principles of the Democratic Party. Page 20

~ Long, Frank A. ~Photo

Frank A. Long, the present mayor of Newton, who has served as such since 1899, having been an alderman for two years previous, and a prominent businessman of the city, was born Dec. 12, 1871, in Muscatine County, Ia., and removed to Newton with his parents in 1884. He secured his education in the public schools of Newton, attending the high school to within six months of graduation. He accepted a position as clerk in a dry goods store in 1888, and continued clerking until 1893, when he engaged in the grocery business with his father, which he is still conducting. Mr. Long was married Sept. 12, 1894, to Miss Ada B. Townsend. Mrs. Long was born in Newton, and has lived here ever since. Her parents, J. R. and Emma Townsend, are both living. They came to this county at an early date. Mr. Long's father was born in Blair County, Penn., March 3, 1832, and removed to Scott County, Ia., in 1854, and from there to Muscatine County in 1860, and in 1884 to Jasper County. He was married in Muscatine County in 1881 to Nancy Frizzell. His wife was born in Washington County, Ind. There are three children, John A., Ella E., and Frank A., all living in Jasper County. page 48

~ Longley, Lyman A. ~Photo

Lyman A. Longley, residing on Section 12, Rock Creek Township, was born in Poweshiek County, Iowa, July 6, 1861, and has been a resident of Jasper County since 1897. His parents were Amos S. and Cordelia (Bigelow) Longley, natives of Maine. They came to Poweshiek County in 1858. Our subject has received a liberal school education, and was in the railway mail service on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Iowa Central for about 10 years. Alice L. Howard, of Grinnell, became his wife in 1882. They have two children, Ethel Cordelia, born October 8, 1883, and Ralph L., born August 15, 1892. Politically, Mr. Longley supports the principles of the Republican Party. Socially, he and his family are members of the Congregational Church. Part III, page 4

~ Loupee, George ~

George Loupee, located on Section 5, Kellogg Township, has been a resident of Jasper County since the fall of 1860. He was born in Germany March 15, 1826; came to America in 1830 with his parents, located near Lebanon, Pennsylvania; later moved to Wayne County, Ohio. He is the son of George and Minnie (Steiner) Loupee, natives of Germany. His father was a weaver by trade, which he always followed in the old country. The family removed from Ohio to Michigan, the father dying nine months after their arrival. George left Michigan in July 1856, and located in Hancock County, Iowa, before that County was organized, remaining there until coming to Jasper County in 1860, and finding himself too poor to improve a farm in this section, he returned to Michigan, and again came to Jasper County in 1870, and has been a permanent resident since that date. Our subject has been twice married. Julia Philo became his wife in 1852. Two sons and four daughters were born to them, all of whom are living. His first wife died in February 1875. December 8, of that year, he married Henrietta Ruark, a native of Illinois, who had come to Jasper County with her parents in 1863. Four sons and two daughters blessed this union, all of whom reside in Jasper County. Our subject has had his share of hard times and pioneer life. When he first came to the Hawkeye State in 1856, he experienced one of the hardest winters ever known. The snow was so deep, and the mill and markets so far from his residence that for six weeks the family ground all the wheat they used in a coffee mill, and from which they made bread, the same in name but not in quality of the whole wheat bread of today. Page 19

~ Loupee, W. F. ~Photo

W. F. Loupee is a successful farmer, whose comfortable home is situated on Section 13, Newton Township. He is the son of George and Julia (Philo) Loupee, and has been a resident of Jasper County since 1869. Mr. Loupee was born in Michigan in 1853; started for himself when 21 years of age without means, and rented land for about two years. He then purchased 80 acres of land, selling the same two years later, and again rented land for two years. We next find him in Furnace County, Nebraska, but only remained in that state about six months and returned to Jasper County, and located on his father's farm, where he remained a year. The following year he acted as foreman on Cook's ranch, and the following five years was on rented land in Marshall County. We next find him on a farm of his own, which he sold after cultivating it four years. In 1891 he purchased land on Section 4, in Kellogg Township, which he sold in 1901 for $10,200.00, investing his money again in land on Section 13, Newton Township. In all his land deals and business undertakings Mr. Loupee has been remarkably successful. He knows a good deal when he sees it, and does not hesitate a great while in closing it. March 3, 1874, marked an important period in his life, for it was at that date that Mary Wing became his wife. She was a native of Illinois, and to her counsel and good judgment Mr. Loupee concedes a great share of his success. Mr. and Mrs. Loupee are the parents of six children: Nettie, deceased, Anna, Gertrude, Fannye, J. T., and Floy. Page 24

~ Lowry, Peter B. ~Photo

Peter B. Lowry, residing on Section 6, Poweshiek Township, was born in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, October 29, 1861, and became a resident of Jasper County in 1862. He is the son of James A. and Susanna (Bussard) Lowry, natives of Ohio. January 31, 1901, he was united in marriage to Nellie West. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 26, 1868. They are the parents of four children, Grace, Elva, Wilbur J., and Marian, deceased. Mr. Lowry has been a successful agriculturalist, possessing some 200 acres of land in Jasper County, which he calls the Maple Dale Farm. He also owns 148 acres in Kansas. His farm residence is one of the best in Jasper County, and would do credit to many a city. Mr. Lowry has always taken an active interest in all matters tending to the development of the state and county. Page 31

~ Lufkin, Albert ~Photo

Albert Lufkin, a pioneer of Jasper County, was born on a farm situated on Casco Bay, Maine, about twenty miles from Portland. The waters of the Atlantic washed more than half its boundaries. This beautiful bay was studded with islands of various sizes, some of them having many houses, including Churches to accommodate the residents. Some of the smaller islands were covered with trees and here the fish hawk and the heron built their nests and raised their young. In his boyhood days, it was a common sight to see the fish hawk catch the fish, and often a bald eagle would be ready to chase it and take the fish as if fell through the air, and rarely missed its prey. The tide rose and fell here, about ten feet twice in 24 hours, so that the depth of the water was ever changing. It was common for young Lufkin to stroll about the shores, picking up the odd and curious things cast up by the tide, some of which he saved and brought to his home, in the west.

Our subject was born in Freeport, January 7, 1831. His parents were both of English extraction. His father, Benjamin Lufkin, and mother, Eliza (Pote) Lufkin were both born in Freeport, Maine. His parents, all four of his grandparents, and at least two of his great grandparents lie buried in the same town. The farm on which he was born was partly cleared to get the wood to boil down the seawater to make salt, and in his boyhood, he has plowed up the fragments of the old salt kettles, rusty relics of a past generation. His early education began in the public school. In addition to the common branches taught he began the study of algebra and while yet at home he took up the study of geometry and trigonometry, without a teacher, using an old work on navigation published in London in 1758. He learned the use of logarithms and commenced the study of navigation from this book, which had belonged to his great grand-father, and in which is written: "God save the King of England but the devil take the King of France," showing the feeling that existed between the English and the French. He finished his course in Bowditch's Navigation unaided, after which, feeling the need of better instruction, he entered the North Yarmouth Academy, where he attended for several terms, There he met many Spanish boys from Cuba, who were there to learn English and bookkeeping. From them he studied Spanish, intending to go to Cuba or South America.

We next find him as a teacher, which avocation he followed for several terms. He was a teacher of mathematics one term in Yarmouth Institute, which covered algebra, geometry and navigation. He then proceeded to Providence, Rhode Island, and attended a school of civil engineering under Professor Wm. A. Norton, a graduate of West Point and author of Norton's astronomy. The next term, Professor Norton, having been called to Yale, our subject, with most of his class followed and entered the school of, engineering in Yale, taking a course in scientific agriculture and a course in chemistry. The engineering course embraced Davies' mathematics, architecture, road making, bridge construction, masonry, stone cutting and mechanical drawing, as well as railway and topographical engineering. Leaving New Haven, Mr. Lufkin went to work for H. F. Walling at map making, and compiled the map of New London County, Connecticut.

He was then called home on account of the death of his brother, Aaron by drowning, after which he went to work as a topographer on the North Pennsylvania railroad, and on his way visited the crystal palace in New York, the first world's fair in this country. This was in 1853. After making the surveys on the North Branch of the Susquehanna he went to Philadelphia, and spent the winter drafting for the railroad, and while there attended sixty lectures, having joined the Franklin institute, and the Pennsylvania Historical society. He also had a season ticket to the academy of fine arts. The following spring he was topographical engineer of the Doylestown branch railroad, and later, in the season of 1854, made the survey for the Tyrone & Clearfield railroad from Tyrone, Pa. to Curwensville. After finishing this survey he returned home and spent the winter.

In the spring of 1855 he came west and located in Jasper County, purchasing a farm in what is now Richland Township for himself and his brother William who came out in the fall. October 9th of that year he was united in marriage to Catharine Griffin of Freeport, Maine, an early acquaintance. In the spring of 1858 he was elected County Superintendent of Schools, and moved to Newton in August of that year. During his term of office he succeeded in having built many better school buildings. Twenty-nine contracts were let in 1859. He held the office two terms, and made many valued friends among the people, teachers and pupils.

He then began the first set of abstracts of titles in Jasper County. The books are now owned by Carns & Alfree. In 1869, in company with General James Wilson, they established the Jasper County Bank, in which Mr. Lufkin was interested for over ten years. While yet in this concern, he bought an interest in the foundry and machine shop of James Edgar & Co., and with J. H. Lyday and James Dutot continued the business under the name of the Newton Machine works. Later he became sole proprietor and besides doing general repair work he manufactured stoves. The establishment was situated on the property now occupied by the Parsons Band Cutter and Self Feeder Company. While he was in the machine shop, Rev. D. H. Rogan came to him with a wooden model of a sewing machine, and in a room in Mr. Lufkin's stable they built the first sewing machine ever made west of the Mississippi river, and the first ever run with a thread for a belt. This was afterward sold to the Singer Sewing Machine Co., who were infringers on the patent of Rogan & Lufkin.

Mr. Lufkin was also the inventor of a surgical instrument known as the trephine, which was highly prized by Dr. Peck, the professor of surgery at the state university. Mrs. Lufkin died in 1880, leaving one daughter and two sons, Mary, Arthur K., and Herman, all of whom are married and residents of Newton. They were also the parents of one child who died at one year of age. In 1881 Mr. Lufkin married Miss Fannie E. Derbyshire. They have had one son, who died in infancy. Miss Derbyshire was born in Kenosha County, Wis., and is of English descent.

Mr. Lufkin has traveled extensively in this country. Has been in all the states but four, and in Canada repeatedly, and once in Old Mexico, and has taken journeys with all his children to the Atlantic Coast, and all have had the privilege of catching sea fish out of their native waters. His present wife has made several trips with him to the Atlantic coast, and has been to Cape May, Atlantic City, Long Branch, Coney Island and Old Orchard beach, all noted watering places, Yellow Stone Park, Mammoth Cave and Natural Bridge, and has viewed with him a great deal of Rocky Mountain scenery in Colorado and California, and has been in 24 states. Mr. Lufkin has collected in his journeying many curios from various parts of the world, some of which are very rare. Among his collection are some rare books, among them Hogarth's Pictures printed from the original plates, and bound in a huge volume. He also has a copy of the "Breeches Bible," published in 1611, printed in the old black letter. He also has two books published in 1527, and are therefore nearly four centuries old. Mr. Lufkin has been a member of the American association for the advancement of Science for twenty years and keeps the files of their proceedings. He owns a large farm near Reasnor and is interested in stock raising. Page 39

~ Lust, John ~Photo

John G. Lust is a pioneer of Jasper County, for he became a resident of the Hawkeye State in the spring of 1855. His parents were William and Mary (Grotz) Lust. John G. Lust was born in Ohio January 18, 1847, and therefore was but nine years old when he came to this state. He received his education in the schools of Jasper County, where he has followed farming all his life, possessing one of the most picturesque places in the County, which he calls the Warren Grove Farm. On this place he has a commercial orchard, consisting of 318 cherry trees, 100 pears, 150 plums, 95 apple trees, 100 peach trees, besides 50 rods of Japan quince hedge in front of his residence. Mr. Lust was united in marriage in October 1867, to Mary Foster, daughter of Major and Sarrah (Abbott) Foster. They have six children living: William M. Elspie, Albert M., Sarah Catherine, Maggie Ethel, and George Leonard, twins. Socially, the family affiliates with the M. E. Church. Page 23

~ Lust, Riley ~Photo

Riley Lust, one of the early pioneers of the State of Iowa, now residing on Section 14, Elk Creek Township, has been a resident of Jasper County since 1857. He was born in Ohio January 17, 1850, where he resided until 1856, and came to Iowa the following year, locating in Jasper County. He is the son of John Peter and Katherine (Camra) Lust. Our subject was married September 17, 1873, to Amanda Jane Pender, daughter of John and Sarah (Woody) Pender. They are the parents of seven sons and three daughters: Fred E., Thomas, Alfred, John W., James A., Berke, Elmer, Riley M., Carl McKinley, Mamie Jane, Sarah C., and Myrtle May. Mr. Lust is considered one of the well-to-do farmers of the county in which he has resided for so many years. Besides carrying on general farming, he turns his attention quite extensively to thoroughbred Hereford cattle. Politically, he is a stanch supporter of the Republican Party, and has been school director of his township for 18 years. Socially, both he and his estimable wife are members of the M. E. Church. Page 23

~ Lynch, James C. ~Photo

James C. Lynch, a successful agriculturalist, residing on Section 17, Mound Prairie Township, has been a resident of Jasper County since 1872. Mr. Lynch was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, October 27, 1842, were he grew to his majority, acquiring his education in the district schools. September 15, 1862, he enlisted in Battery H, Independent Pennsylvania Light Artillery, and served three years, receiving his discharge at Pittsburg. After coming out of the service he worked out by the month for some time in Pennsylvania, and later in Jasper County. In 1879 he bought his first piece of real estate, the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 17, which he still owns, and to which he has added until he owns the north half of the northwest quarter, and also the southeast quarter of Section 31, all in Mound Prairie Township. Our subject was united in marriage February 20, 1877, to Mary E. McCracken. She was a native of Ohio and left the Buckeye State when three years of age and came to Jasper County with her parents, John and Rebecca McCracken. This was in 1855. The family, therefore, are pioneers in Jasper County. Her father, John McCracken, located with the family on the southeast quarter of Section 13, in what is now Washington Township. Our subject and wife are the parents of two children, one of whom is living, Mamie B., at home. Page 15