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Frank L. Medberry

One of the citizens of Pleasant Valley township, Fayette county, who is imminently deserving of a place in the history of this locality is F. L. Medberry, because of his life of close application to legitimate lines of endeavor and his exemplary life among his fellow citizens. He comes from a sturdy family of the old Keystone state, having been born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in 1860, and he is the son of M. D. and S. A. (Kilgore) Medberry, the father a native of Chenango county, New York, and the mother a native of Mercer county, Pennsylvania. George Medberry, the paternal grandfather of F. L. Medberry, was also a native of New York, while the maternal grandfather Kilgore came to America from Scotland. When a small boy the father of F. L. Medberry came to Pennsylvania and there received his education in the old-time public schools. He devoted his life to farming and carpentering. He married in Pennsylvania, and in 1863 he and his wife came to Iowa and located in West Union and bought forty acres near that place, remaining there until 1875, then moved to Illyria township and purchased eighty acres which M. D. Medberry improved and on which he lived until his death in 1889. He was a general farmer and made a good living after coming to Fayette county, leaving some valuable property to his family. He was a Democrat in politics. He and his wife reared four sons.

F. L. Medberry, of this review, was educated in the public schools of Union township, and he also attended Ainsworth Academy, receiving a very good education. He assisted his father with the work on the farm as soon as he was old enough.

Mr. Medberry was married in 1886 to Charlotte Foxwell and soon thereafter he began farming for himself, renting land for four years, during which time he got a good start, and then purchased eighty acres in Illyria township on which he remained for a period of nine years, then sold his place and purchased one hundred acres in another part of that township and lived there about seven years. Then he sold out again and bought a fine farm in Pleasant Valley township, south of Brainard, which place consists of two hundred acres of as fine farming land as the county affords and which has been greatly improved by Mr. Medberry, being well fenced and having on it an excellent dwelling and good outbuildings, orchard, garden, in fact, everything that goes to make country life desirable and attractive. He carried on general farming and stock raising and has become well fixed, all due to his own efforts.

The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Medberry: Frances married Francis ROBBINS, a native of Clayton county, Iowa, being now principal of the high school at Rosendale, Wisconsin; Katy is a teacher in Illyria township; Elma studied in the public schools of Illyria township; Jessie is living at home and is attending the public schools; Ivan, Bertha, Grace and Gladys are also in school and members of the home circle.

Mrs. Medberry is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically, Mr. Medberry is a Republican and he was township clerk of Illyria township for four years, during which time he rendered very faithful services which won the approval of all concerned.

~transcribed for the Fayette Co IAGenWeb Project by Tom and Sharon Dorland