AMBROSE PELLETT, PYMOSA TOWNSHIP.
A substantial farmer, an enterprising citizen and a prominent Republican, widely and most favorably known throughout the county, Ambrose Pellett is classed both as a pioneer of the township and a progressive man of affairs. He was born January 23, 1845, in Susquehanna county, Pa., a son of Jason and Phebe (Rogers) Pellett, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and New York. The father combined lumbering with farming, but in 1853 desired to better his condition and moved with his family to Wisconsin. Locating in Manitowoc county, he entered a tract of Government land and confined himself to various branches of the lumbering industry, making a specialty of ship timber.
Jason Pellett came to Cass county, this State, in 1857, settling on land which he had purchased in 1869, and died here after a residence of about eleven years, in 1898; his wife passed away in 1902. They were the parents of three sons and five daughters, of whom five are living -- two sons being residents of Cass county. George J. Pellett, one of the sons, was an early settler of Brighton township, and for many years a prominent raiser and dealer in live-stock. While a resident of Manitowoc county, Wis., the father was a leading Democrat, filled many local offices, and during the War of the the Rebellion served as Deputy Provost Marshal. Mr. Pellett's mother was a cousin of Captain Stevens Rogers, who was the first to cross the Atlantic ocean with steam power, making the historic voyage in 1819, in the steamer "Savannah." In later years he was collector of the port of New York, where he died.
The grandfather, Hezekiah Pellett, was born in Connecticut, in 1796, and at various periods of his life was a farmer and a cabinet-maker. He first moved to Pennsylvania and then to Wisconsin, where he spent the last years of his life.
As our subject was only eight years of age when his father moved to Manitowoc county, he obtained his early education in the log school houses of that section of Wisconsin and, as to his practical training, assisted his father in farming and log driving. In 1869, with his father, he bought land in Brighton township, and in the following spring settled upon it with his wife. At that time the land was quite wild, and after improving it and materially increasing it in value, he sold the property and purchased his present farm in Pymosa township. The tract was partly improved, but Mr. Pellett has brought the land under more perfect cultivation, erected substantial out-buildings and supplied the farm with modern conveniences, so that the homestead is now attractive and desirable.
Besides conducting and improving his farming property, Mr. Pellett has been very successful as a dealer in harvest machinery, having been engaged in this line for a period of twelve years and at one time controlling sixteen counties in the State. His popularity and reliability as a citizen were demonstrated in 1892, when he was elected county clerk on the Republican ticket, being nominated by acclamation both times. In that capactiy he gave the county able service for four years, and for twice that period has filled the office of township clerk. Mr. Pellett has been a sturdy Republican all his life, and has been a faithful and hard working member of his party.
Ambrose Pellett was married January 23, 1867, to Ellen M. Chapman, a native of Maine whose parents were Benjamin F. and Margaret I. (Marshall) Chapman, Wisconsin pioneers of '55. They removed to Audubon county, this State, in 1869, and to this county in 1875, both dying in Cass. Three sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose Pellett, viz.: Elmer H., an Iowa farmer; Frank C., an attorney of Salem, Mo.; and Clarence A., who lives at home. Mr. Pellett and his wife are members of the M. E. Church, and are as highly respected as they are widely known.
From "Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pg. 462-463.
