Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 716 - 717

JASPER S. JEWETT, a leading and influential member of the agricultural community of Valley Center Township, resides upon section 31, where he owns a fine farm of 165 acres. He came to Sedgwick County in May, 1876, and located on the place where he has ever since remained. All the improvements are the work of his own hands, and reflect great credit upon him. His buildings are of a handsome and substantial character, and the surroundings of his residence are extremely beautiful. Like many other of the settlers on this prairie waste, he has set out a goodly number of trees, which add materially to the appearance of the property and enhance its value. He is extensively engaged in general farming and stock‑raising, giving considerable attention to the rearing of Poland-China hogs, of which he keeps on hand nearly a hundred head.

             Mr. Jewett is a native of Jefferson County, Ohio, his advent having taken place March 12, 1838. His parents, Barzilla and Rebecca (Todd) Jewett, natives of New Hampshire and Pennsylvania respectively, were born, the father Aug. 1, 1789, and the mother April 28, 1800. They were married at Steubenville, Jefferson Co., Ohio, March 14, 1820, and for some time he was employed as foreman in the foundry at that place. He removed from there to Meigs County, where he resided some eighteen years, acting as Justice of the Peace fifteen. At the expiration of that time he removed to LaSalle County, Ill., where he made his home until overtaken by death, which occurred Jan. 7, 1870, when he had attained the age of eighty years, five months and six days. His wife survived him until Feb. 8, 1876, when she departed this life, at the advanced age of seventy-five years, nine months and ten days. Mr. Jewett, Sr., followed farming from the time he removed to Meigs County, and was a leading and prominent citizen of both Ohio and Illinois. He was a delegate to the General Presbytery which met at Washington, from his own church, he being a member and Elder in the Presbyterian Church a great many years. He was a Republican in politics, a stanch adherent to the principles of that party, and manifested a great interest in all public and local affairs. Death came to him while he was still a hale and hearty man, although he had long passed the allotted years of man. He was the parent of eight children, six boys and two girls, as follows: Edward Lewis, William Todd, Eliza Jane, Decatur Scott, Arthur Wellington, Jasper Shorah, Otis Gilman and Josephine. Eliza J., Otis and Josephine are deceased.

             The subject of our sketch received his education at his boyhood's home in Ohio, and lent his assistance to his father in carrying on the labors on the farm. He remained at home with his parents, taking charge and managing the place in later years, until he was thirty-seven years of age, living single all that time. In 1876 he removed from Illinois to the State of Kansas, and settled as mentioned above, and has continued a resident of this county ever since. Having established a home of his own upon these Western plains, it became necessary, to enhance the joys of his domestic hearth, to seek a life companion, and he wooed and won the affections of Miss Louisa A. Furnish. The wedding ceremony which united their lives was duly solemnized Dec. 1, 1880. The lady of his choice was a native of Grant County, Ind., born in the year 1864, and was a daughter of Marion and Lizzie (Carpenter) Furnish, who were also natives of the Hoosier State. Her parents came to Kansas in 1879, and settled in Sedgwick County, where her father is still living. Her mother died in December, 1887, while still comparatively a young woman. On the 13th of July, 1887, Mr. Jewett was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who departed this life at the age of twenty-three years, eight months and sixteen days, and was buried in Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Eagle Township, leaving two children, both boys: Arthur Lewis, the elder child, was born Oct. 22, 1881, and Leonard E. Ray, the younger, July 1, 1885.

             In his politics our subject is a straight and stanch adherent to the Principles formulated in the platforms of the Republican party, and in the exercise of his elective franchise almost invariably supports the candidates offered by that organization. He is a leading and representative man of Valley Center Township, and merits and receives the warmest confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens.

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