Kinyon Digital Library

Civil War Rosters
County/Local Histories
Census Transcriptions
Local Maps and More

Home  ||  What's New?  ||  Notes  ||  Census Data  ||  Data By State  ||  Military Records  ||  Links  ||  Tombstones  ||  Poetry

Custom Search

Kinyon Digital Library

Copyright © 1999-2013,
 all rights reserved.

History of Adair
County, Iowa, 1915.

Biographical.  Volume 2.

  
 

Iowa Index || - || Previous Page || Table of Contents  || Next Page


 

 

George S. Raper.

George S. Raper is now living retired in Greenfield, but was formerly identified with farming interests.  At the present writing he is filling the office of justice of the peace and his rulings are strictly fair and impartial, being based upon the law and the equity in the case.  He was born in the neighboring state of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Mercer county, on the 28th of December, 1858, his parents being John and Miriam (Stevenson) Raper, both of whom were natives of England, in which country they were reared and married, there remaining until 1853, when they came to the United States.  They established their home in Geneseo, Illinois, and there the father worked at the carpenter's trade, which he had previously learned in his native land.  In the fall of 1874 he left Illinois and came to Adair county, Iowa, having four years before purchased a farm within its borders.  On reaching this county he took up his abode upon that tract of land which was situated on section 31, Walnut township.  He made it his place of residence until 1894, when he removed to Adair, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in 1901.  Five years laver, or in 1906, his wife passed away.

No unusual experiences occurred to vary the routine of life for George S. Raper in his boyhood and youth.  He attended the public schools of Geneseo, Illinois, passing through consecutive grades to the high school.  He was sixteen years of age when he came to Iowa and after attaining his majority began farming on his own account by renting land from his father.  From 1886 until 1896 he bought various tracts of land in Prussia township and is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable Adair county farm land, which he holds at a high figure, for it has become a most productive tract.  He engaged actively in farming until February 8, 1910, when he removed to Greenfield, where he has since resided.  On the resignation of Judge Mason in 1911 Mr. Raper was appointed justice of the peace to fill the vacancy and was subsequently regularly elected to that office, in which capacity he has since served continuously, covering a period of four years.  Such has been his course as justice that he has "won golden opinions from all sorts of people," his decisions being free from all personal bias.

On the 14th of October, 1880, Mr. Raper was married to Miss Cornelia Speedling, a daughter of George Speedling, a prominent farmer of Prussia township, who came to Adair county from Cedar county, Iowa, in the spring of 1875.  For thirty-six years he continued to reside in this county and passed away in Greenfield on the 2d of May, 1911.  Mr. and Mrs. Raper have become the parents of two children:  Bernard S., who is operating his father's farm;  and Arthur, now deceased.

In his political views Mr. Raper has always been an earnest republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise.  He and his wife are of the religious faith of the Society of Friends and hold membership in the only church of their denomination in Adair county.  This church was built on his father's land, the father being a liberal contributor toward its erection.  Since that period the Raper family has been most active in advancing the moral progress of the community.  George S. Raper has ever stood for those things which are most worth while in community life, for observance of law, for the advancement of material progress and for the improvement of the educational system, and those who know him recognize the fact that his influence has always been in behalf of substantial improvement and advancement.

 

 

Iowa Index || - || Previous Page || Table of Contents || Next Page

  

Home  ||  What's New?  ||  Notes  ||  Census Data  ||  Data By State  ||  Military Records  ||  Links  ||  Tombstones  ||  Poetry

Site Statistics By

since 17 December 1999.

Copyright © 1999-2013
Kinyon Digital Library,
All Rights Reserved.