William David GUESSFORD

  General Notes:

1850 CENSUS, Kentucky, Adair County, District 2 ("Willm. D.," age 26, "Farmer") (wife "Emily," age 28)

1860 CENSUS, Iowa, Jasper County, Palo Alto Township, P. O. Newton ("Wm. Gesford," age 37, is in the household of Joshua and Nancy Guessford)

MARRIAGE of William David Guessford and Lucy Ann Everett

1870 CENSUS, Iowa, Jasper County, Palo Alto Township, P. O. Newton ("Wm. Guesford" age 46, "Farmer") (wife "Lucy," age 40)

1878 HISTORY OF JASPER COUNTY, IOWA

GESSFORD, W. D.; Farmer; Sec. 14; P. O. Newton

1880 CENSUS, Iowa, Jasper County, Palo Alto Township ("Wm. Gesfurd," age 56, "Farmer") (wife "Lucy A.," age 50)

1897 DEATH of wife, Lucy Ann (Everett) Guessford, at 64 years 8 months 28 days

1900 CENSUS, Iowa, Jasper County, Newton Township, Newton ("William D.," age 76, widower, "Capitalist") (in William's household are his daughter, Ida Ballard, and Ida's own three daughters, Lola, Bertha and Blanche)

1906 DEATH, William David Guessford, at 82 years 11 months 2 days




Goldia Guessford Neveln:

"William's middle name was David or Davis (no one could agree). He moved to Iowa after his first wife died in Missouri. Leander Guessford was born to the second marriage. He said that William D. Guessford had two families. When William died, boys in the two families could not agree on who should inherit the homestead so they sold it and divided the money."




BOOK: PAST AND PRESENT OF JASPER COUNTY, IOWA, B. F. Bowden & Compay, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1912, page 463:


W. M. Guessford--subject of the sketch below--was a half-brother to Leander Guessford. Both were sons of William D. Guessford. W. M.'s mother was Emily J. Smith, and Leander's mother was Lucy Ann Everett, referred to as "Lucy Evart" below.


Guessford, W. M.

The methods of W. M. Guessford, well known real estate and insurance man of Newton, who for many years was a leading farmer of Jasper County, have always been progressive, and he is quick to adopt new ideas which he believes will be of practical value in his work. Indolence and idleness have been entirely foreign to his nature and owing to his close application to his business and his honorable methods he has won the prosperity that he richly merited, while he enjoys the friendship and esteem of the people throughout the County.

Mr. Guessford was born in Adair County, Kentucky, November 20, 1848. He is the son of William D. and Emily J. (Smith) Guessford, both natives of
Kentucky. The father emigrated to Missouri in 1850, coming on to Iowa in 1856, locating four miles south of Newton where he remained until seventeen years ago, when he moved to Newton and died here in October 1906. He devoted his life to farming and his efforts were crowned with abundant success. He was a good citizen, but plain and retiring, seeking no public honors. The mother of the subject passed away when he was but seven years old, in 1855, preceding her husband to the grave over half a century. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are living, namely: Mrs. Louise Booyer, of Viola, Illinois; Mrs. Anngemona Springer, of Harlan, Iowa: D. M., of Sumner, Nebraska; and W. M. of this review. The father of these children married a second time, his last wife being Lucy Evart, a native of New Jersey, this union resulting in the birth of five children, four of whom are living, namely: Joshua and Leander, both of Newton; George lives southeast of Newton; and Ida lives in Newton.

W. M. Guessford grew to maturity on his father's farm and assisted in the general work about the place. He received a very good education in the public schools, and he has made farming his chief life work, following the same, with unabated success for a period of thirty-five years in Jasper County, having maintained a very desirable, productive and well improved place ten miles southeast of Newton. Seven years ago he gave up farming and moved to Newton where he has since engaged in real estate and the insurance business with singular success, having succeeded in building up a very satisfactory patronage. He is well informed on the various grades and range in prices of real estate in this locality and his scrupulous honesty in all his dealings with his fellow men has given him an excellent standing in the business world, so that he has both the goodwill and the confidence of all who know him.

Mr. Guessford is the owner of two valuable farms, one of eighty acres a mile south of Newton, and one of one hundred sixty-seven and a half acres near Colfax.

On September 20, 1869, he married Catherine I. Blakely, a native of Ohio. She was the daughter of Z. W. and Elizabeth Blakely, who came to Jasper County, Iowa, in 1866.

The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Guessford: Cora; Edward lives east of Newton; Mrs. Lucretia Donald lives in Wayne County, Iowa, near Corydon; Elmer lives near Cambria, Wayne County, Iowa; James R. is associated with his father and is also in the auction business; Earl C. is employed in the First National Bank of Newton. Mr. and Mrs. Guessford are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. Guessford being a teacher in the Sunday school; their children also belong to this church. Mr. Guessford is an enthusiastic worker in the church and Sunday school and has held every official position in the church. Fraternally, he belongs to the Woodmen of the World.




OBITUARY (William) from THE NEWTON DAILY NEWS, Newton, Jasper County, Iowa, October 19, 1906:


After three years illness, William Guessford, who had been a resident of this county a half century, passed away at his home on West Marion Street, about fifteen minutes after two o'clock this morning. He has been sadly afflicted all these years and suffering greatly from kidney trouble. Although residing but a short distance away, he has been unable to walk to the square for more than a year, but until last Saturday was able to be around his home and yard most of the time.

Since last Saturday he has been very ? , but it was not until noon yesterday that his condition was thought to be critical. Death came without a struggle, and he passed away as tho going to sleep.

The deceased was born in Adair County, Kentucky, and had he live until the 17th of November, would have been 83 years old. He married his first wife in Montgomery County. His wife died and was buried there. Then with his family of six children, he removed to Jasper County and settled on a farm ? miles southeast of Newton, where he lived until he came to town about twelve years ago, and moved into the home where his death occurred.

After coming to Iowa he married Miss Lucy Ann Everetts. To them were born six children. The mother died July 14, 1897.

Many years ago Mr. Guessford became a member of the United Presbyterian Church, and from this church in Palo Alto Township the funeral will be held on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Rev. E. F. Gillis, the pastor, will officiate.

The interment will be in the cemetery on the farm, which was for many years Mr. Guessford's home.

He is survived by eight children, twenty-two grandchildren and one great grandchild.

His children, whom it is thought will be here to attend the funeral are W. M. Guessford of this city, D. M. Guessford of Saunders County, Neb., Mrs. G. L. Springer of Bridgewater, Ia., Mrs. Louise Boyer of Viola, Ill., George who resides on the old home farm, Leander, Joshua and Mrs. Ida Ballard of this city.

William married Lucy Ann EVERETT. (Lucy Ann EVERETT was born on October 16, 1832 in New Jersey, died on July 14, 1897 in Mount Pleasant, Henry County, Iowa and was buried on July 16, 1897 in Wild Cat Cemetery, Palo Alto Township, Jasper County, Iowa.)