| J.
W. Lemley, one of the most progressive and successful agriculturists of
Richland township, is the owner of a farm of one hundred and eighty
acres on section 18. He was born in Richland county, Ohio, November 28,
1852, and is a son of Jacob Lemley, a native of Germany, who came to
this country with his parents when only two years old and settled in
Richland county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood and was married. On
coming to Iowa in 1854 he first located in Washington county, but two
years later took up his abode in Keokuk county, settling on section 17,
Richland township, where he continued to make his home until called to
his final rest at the age of sixty-seven years. He was an earnest and
consistent member of the German Baptist Brethren church and took quite
an active part in church work. In politics he was first a Democrat, but
during President Lincoln's administration became a Republican and
continued to vote with that party throughout the remainder of his life.
For his first wife he married Miss Caroline Green, who was born and
reared in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, and died at the age of thirty-nine
years. Of the nine children born of that union six are still living,
one of these being the subject of this sketch. In 1872 the father
married Emma Whistler, by whom he had three children, all living at the
present writing in 1902. J. W. Lemley of this review was the
second in order of birth in the first family and was about two years
old on the removal of his parents to Washington county, Iowa, and four
when they came to Keokuk county. His boyhood and youth were passed in
Richland township and he is indebted to its common schools for his
early educational advantages, while later he was a student in the
Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa. He engaged in teaching in public
schools from the age of twenty-one to twenty-six.
In 1878 Mr. Lemley was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Wonderlich, a
native of Keokuk county and a daughter of Charles and Mary (Long)
Wonderlich, who were old settlers of this county. Mrs. Lemley was also
reared and educated in Richland township and by her marriage to our
subject has become the mother of the following children; Effie,
deceased; and Roscoe, Ray, Mary, Jeanette and Lawrence, all at home.
After his marriage, Mr. Lemley took up his residence upon a farm in the
northwest corner of section 18, Richland township, which he purchased
but afterward sold, and in 1886 he removed to his present place, where
he owns one hundred and eighty acres of land under a high state of
cultivation. In connection with general farming he carries on stock
raising and is meeting with good success in his undertakings.
Politically, Mr. Lemley is a supporter of the Republican party and
takes an active and commendable interest in public affairs, having for
three terms acceptably filled the office of township assessor. He is a
member of the Missionary Baptist church, in which he has filled the
office of deacon, and takes quite an active and prominent part in
church and Sunday-school work. From the age of four years he has lived
in Richland township, and as a public spirited and progressive citizen
he has borne an important part in her upbringing and development. He
stands high in public esteem and well merits the regard in which he is
held.
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Keokuk County, Iowa