Buena Vista County, IA
USGenWeb Project

Frederick N. Sipe, a substantial agriculturist of Nokomis township, owns two hundred and eighty acres of land on section 32, from which he derives a good profit each year.  He was born in Juniata county, Pennsylvania, January 31, 1860, a son of John W. and Maria (Hittle) Sipe, who were likewise natives of the Keystone state.  The father was a blacksmith and machinist and in 1865 removed with his family to Scott county, Iowa, following his trade at Davenport.  He died there in 1904, at the advanced age of seventy-five years.  The mother still survives at the advanced age of seventy-nine years and makes her home with a son in Rock Island, Illinois.

Frederick N. Sipe was one of a family of thirteen children, of whom seven are now living.  He was a little lad of five years at the time of the removal of the family to Iowa, the home being established in Davenport, where he acquired his education in the common schools.  At the early age of fifteen years he started out to make his own way in the world and in 1882 took up his abode in Osceola county, this state, where he continued at farm labor for two years.  He was then engaged in the lumber business for four years and subsequently removed to Sioux county, being manager of a lumberyard in Boyden for nine years.

It was while he was thus engaged that he was married on the 6th of June, 1888, to Miss Flora McMullen, a native of Allamakee county and a daughter of Calvin McMullen, who, in 1870, homesteaded a claim in that county, but is now living a retired life in Alta.  Mrs. Sipe was engaged in teaching school in Cherokee and Buena Vista counties for five years prior to her marriage.

Following his marriage Mr. Sipe operated his father-in-law's farm for five years and in 1898 purchased one hundred and twenty acres of his present tract of land, on which he took up his abode in 1901.  He tiled and fenced his land, erected a nice country home, barn, sheds and other outbuildings and has added to his original purchase eighty acres, so that his farm now embraces two hundred acres, located in section 32, Nokomis township.  He follows general farming and raises shorthorn cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs, shipping about a carload of each to the city markets annually.  He is secretary of the Farmers Elevator at Alta and takes a deep interest in the welfare of his community.

Two children grace the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sipe:  Le Roy and Vera Mae, both in school.  They lost their first born, Lelia Grace, who died when four and a half months old.  Mr. Sipe has been a life-long republican and for six years was trustee of the township, while at the present time he is serving on the school board.  He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Alta and for six years has been a member of the official board.  His fraternal relations are with the Odd Fellows lodge at Alta, and he is also a Master Mason, belonging to the lodge at Alta, and he and his wife are affiliated with the Eastern Star lodge.  During their residence in Buena Vista county, Mr. and Mrs. Sipe have gained a prominent place in church and social circles, while in his business dealings Mr. Sipe commands the confidence and good will of all with whom he is brought in contact.