CHARLES H. WESTFALL, NOBLE TOWNSHIP.

The Westfall family came from New York to Des Moines county at a very early day even in the history of that old section of Iowa. The parents of Charles H., John and Hannah (Bodine) Westfall, were both natives of Pennsylvania, in which State the father was born during the year 1813. They migrated to New York, where John Westfall continued his vocation of farming, and in 1840 the family started down the Ohio river for their long journey into the wilds of the West. At Cincinnati they changed their means of transportation, from that point going by team, through Indiana, Illinois and half of the State of Iowa, to Des Moines county. At that time Iowa was a territory, and Mr. Westfall had no difficulty in securing a tract of land which had been partly broken.

It was while the parents were living in Des Moines county, on April 7, 1845, that Charles H. Westfall was born to them. His mother died when he was about five years of age, but his father is still living at the age of ninety-three years, not only one of the pioneers but one of the oldest residents of the State. The elder Westfall removed to Cass county in 1868, and bought the land which our subject still occupies as a family homestead; of the family of four children who were born to him, two are now living--James O., who also resides in this county, and Charles H. Westfall. The father served for many years as justice of the peace of Noble township; has long been an honored member of the United Evangelical Church, and is nearing the end of his venerable manhood as an object of universal esteem and family affection. He has never ridden a mile on a railroad in his long life, and has no desire to do so.

Charles H. Westfall was reared in Des Moines county, and in 1868 came to this county with his wife and father. He has since been engaged at the vocation of which he is master, and has profitably cultivated his land and improved his estate by the erection of modern agricultural buildings. This good work has given him sufficient occupation, and he has never entered politics or participated in the public affairs of the township.

Mr. Westfall's wife was formerly Amanda Zion, and, like himself, is a native Iowa. They have become the parents of six children, viz.: Finetta, new Mrs. William Kreitzberg; Flora B., Mrs. J. M. Bennett; Mary, Mrs. J. R. Jarvis; John E. and George, both residents of Nebraska; and Walter B, who lives at home. Mr. and Mrs. Westfall are old and active members of the United Evangelical Church.


From "Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pp. 540-541.