James Alexander Tool born June 12, 1825 Abingdon, Virginia died October 15, 1910 at his old home farm near Tools Chapel, the church he gave toe ground for and $1000 to the building fund. He married Sarah Fouts November 30, 1847 in Warren County Iowa. She was born Dec. 14, 1826 in Indiana and died July 17, 1890 at the Tool home and was buried in Pioneer Cemetery near Monroe, Iowa; where James A. Tool was also buried. Their children were: Charles William Silky Tool born Sept. 7, 1848 Monroe, Iowa and died Aug. 20, 1917 Bondurant, Iowa; Cynthia Adaline Tool born June 30, 1850 Monroe, Iowa died Feb 20 1935 Monroe, Iowa; James Quniston Hammond Tool born July 6, 1852 Monroe, Iowa died Feb. 15, 1923 Reasnor, Iowa; John Albert Henry Tool born May 23, 1854 Monroe, Iowa died Feb. 13, 1942 Reasnor, Iowa; Sarah Elizabeth born April 5, 1856 Monroe, Iowa died June 6, 1941 Monroe, Iowa; Oscar Nelson Stinson Tool born June 13, 1860 Monroe, Iowa died March 21, 1937 Mansfield, Missouri; Harrison Freemont Lincoln Tool born May 25, 1862 Monroe, Iowa died May 29, 1946 Aitking, Minnesota; Ulissia Arabelle Tool born September 21, 1864 Monroe, Iowa died June 17, 1957 Monroe, Iowa; Flora Alice Tool born January 8, 1868 Monroe Iowa died August 19, 1968.
James A. Tool's second marriage was to Mary Emma Barnes Dec. 21, 1892
After James was married the first time he took his wife to the home he had built and had ready for them on the ground he had homesteaded near the Skunk River four miles east of Monroe, Iowa. This was the land he had taken in 1843 when he came to Jasper county with his parents. Their children were all born and raised on this place and James A. and his wife Sarah lived there until their deaths.
James A. Tool was converted and became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1844. He was a local minister for 52 years and held many offices trust and responsibility in the church and in public life.
He was a charter member and the first class leader of the first Methodist organization in Monroe, Iowa. .. He was also to have religious service in his home in the community. These were held in a log cabin 10' x 12' in 1849. From this beginning Tools Chapel was built in 1866. He gave the land on which the church stood and the last marriage was Dec. 1970 in this church. He gave 1/3 of the cost of building it.
He built a frame house later on his homestead, later adding to it and in stood until 1938. It was torn down and replaced by those who owned the land at that time. The house stood on his home stead until his death.

Books: 56 Anniversary of the Organization of Tool's Chapel- June 21-27, 1909 (have a copy)
James A. Tool, son of Adam Tool and for whom the chapel was named, was born 25 June 1825 in Washington County, Virginia. In 1836 with his parents he moved to Coles County, Illinois, and in 1841 to Jefferson County, Iowa, and in 1843 to what is now Fairview Township, Jasper County, Iowa. He located his claim four miles west of where Monroe now stands. The government patents to his land were signed by President James K. Polk, 1 June 1848, and numbered 465 and 466.
The first religious service held in this section was in the home ob brother Tool, in 1849, in a 10 x 12 log cabin that stood on the portion of the farm now owned by Austin Sheeler. This work continued until December 9, 1853, when the class was organized, called Tool's Class, R.B. Allender being the preacher in charge and John Hayden, presiding elder, with James A. Tool as class leader. .......Brother James A. Tool has been closely identified with the work of the class from the very commencement. His early work and interest secured for him a local preacher's license in the fall of 1858, under the pastorate of E. Wood, and although he has been recommended several times to receive ordination he never was ordained, feeling, as he says, that he was 'not worthy of it". .......In 1866 the site for the church was donated by Brother J.A. Tool, and soon a neat church 26x36, costing $1,425, was built and dedicated in 1867 by Rev. E. H. Winans. .......
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Jasper County, Iowa - Biographies - Portrait and Biographical Record, Jasper - Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa -
Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, IL. 1894; page 297 -- ~ James A. Tool ~
James A. Tool is one of those worthy citizens who have won a comfortable fortune by the exercise of unflagging industry, wise economy and good judgment in the conduct of the business to which they have devoted themselves. His home in Fairview Township, Jasper County, is one of the most attractive of the farm residences within its bounds, and everywhere upon the estate one sees evidences of the qualities which have won for its owner his worldly success and good standing in the community.
Mr. Tool is a son of Adam M. and Susan H. (Stinson) Tool, both of whom were born in Virginia and were classed among the respected agriculturists of the community. In 1843 the father came to this county and entered three hundred and twenty acres of raw land, upon which now stands the flourishing town of Monroe, he claiming the credit of founding the place. He started in life for himself with but a very limited education, but possessing fine business qualities amassed for himself a competence which served him well in his old age. He passed away when about eighty- three years of age. Politically he was a stanch supporter of the Republican Party.
Our subject is one in a family of seven children born to his worthy parents, whose names are as follows: Eliza J., Mary S., Susan A., James A., Mariah E., Martha C. and John M. The mother of these children received a good education in her youth, and when eleven years of age became a follower of Christ, uniting herself with the Methodist Episcopal Church. She remained true to her pledge until her death, which occurred in 1862, at the age of sixty-one years. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a native of England but came to the United States in an early day, locating in the State of Virginia, and there was interested in agriculture and teaming.
The birth of our subject occurred in Washington County, Va., June 12, 1825. He attended the common district school in the vicinity of his home and thereby gained a good education. Remaining with his parents until twenty-two years of age, he married Sarah Fouts, a daughter of Noah and Phoebe Fouts, of North Carolina. To this union were born twelve children, three of whom died in infancy. The others bore the names of Charles W., Cynthia A., Quinn H., John H., Sarah E., Oscar N., Harrison F., Ulissia A. and Flora A. The mother of these children was called to the land beyond in her sixty-third year. She was highly respected by all who knew her and was a member in good standing in the Methodist Episcopal Church. The church structure stands on our subject's farm and is known as Tool's Chapel. The second marriage of Mr. Tool was solemnized in 1892, the lady of his choice bearing the name of Mary E. Barnes, a daughter of Hodgen and Mary A. Barnes, natives of England and Wales, respectively. Mrs. Tool is also a member of the Methodist Church, and is a lady who is much esteemed by her neighbors.
The home estate of Mr. Tool consists of three hundred and twenty acres of fine farming land, on which he located in 1847. He has resided on this place since his advent into this township, and by his industrious habits and economy has been enabled to gain a good property, at one time being the possessor of over six hundred broad acres. He has been very generous to his children, dividing between them over $15,000. He affiliates with the People's Party and has held the offices of County Commissioner, Trustee and Justice of the Peace, besides other minor positions. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is at present the local preacher and Trustee of his church. A respected and honored man, he is ever ready to bear such a part as he can in the progress of the county. Page 297.
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Excerpt from Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa, published in 1912, by B. F. Bowen & Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, page 987. -- QUIN H. TOOL --
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BOOK: Excerpt from Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa, published in 1912, by B. F. Bowen & Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, Vol. 1;
page 714-715---- JOHN H. TOOL-
....James A. and Sarah (Fouch) Tool, the father born on June 12, 1825, in Virginia, and the mother was a native of Indiana. In an early day the father came to Fairfield, Iowa, and from there to Jasper county. For a complete history of the Tool family the reader is directed to the sketch of Quinn H. Tool, brother of the subject, which appears in another part of this volume.
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BIOGRAPHY: 1866, founded Tool's Chapel Methodist Church, Fairview Twp., Jasper Iowa. Minister for 52 yrs. May, 1843, homesteaded 4 miles east of Monroe, Jasper, Iowa
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BIOGRAPHY: After James A. Tool was married the first time, he took his wife to the home he had built and had ready for them on the ground he had homesteaded near the Skunk River four miles east of Monroe, Iowa. This was the land he had taken in 1843 when he came to Jasper Co. with his parents. Their children were all born and raised on this place and James A. and his wife lived there until their deaths.
James A. Tool was converted and became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1844. He was a local minister for 52 years and held many offices of trust and responsibility in the church and in public life. He was a charter member and the first class leader of the First Methodist organization in Monroe, Iowa. A class of seven was organized in the spring of 1845. The membership consisted of his mother, Mrs. Susan Tool, Washington
Fleenor and his wife Mary, two others and his sister Susan Adaline. He was also to have religions service in his home in the community. These were held in a log cabin 10' x 12' in 1849.
From this beginning Tools Chapel was built in 1866. He gave the land on which the church stood. He also gave 1/3 of the cost of building it. ($1000). He built a frame house later on his homestead, later adding to it and it stood until 1938. It was torn down and replaced by those who owned the land at that time. The house stood on his homestead until his death.
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Copy of unknown source page 613-14, TOOL FAMILY F459; by Idalene Mitchell Strong:
child 4: James Alexander Tool was born June 25, 1825.
Copy of unknown source page 614, TOOL, JAMES ALEXANDER & SARAH WRIGHT [FOUTS], F460; by Idalene Mitchell Strong:
James Alexander Tool was one of the first pioneers to settle in what is now Jasper co., Iowa.
James Alexander, the son of Adam Miller & Susan Hamilton [Stinson] Tool, was born June 12, 1825 in Washington co., Virginia. He traveled with his family to Coles co., Illinois in 1836; to Jefferson co., Iowa in 1841; and to what is now Jasper co., Iowa in 1843. He was only 18 years old when he staked out his own claim.
He was married November 30, 1847 to Sarah Wright Fouts, the daughter of Noah and Phoebe [Nelson] Fouts. It has been said that this marriage took place in Warren co., Iowa, but the marriage is listed in the Polk co., Iowa Marriage Records. There was a boundary charge between Warren and Polk Co, Iowa so this is probably the expiation for the discrepancy. They set up housekeeping in the cabin that he had built soon after his arrival, which was 4 miles east of the present town of Monroe, Iowa. He became licensed as a preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1858 and was a farmer.
James Alexander & Sarah were the parents of 13 children: Charles W.G.; Cynthia A.; Quinn H.; John H.; Sarah Elizabeth; Oscar N.; Harrison F.L.; Ulissia Arabella; Flora A.,; and 4 sons who died in infancy.
Sarah died July 17, 1890 at the age of 63 y, 7m, 3d. James Alexander was married again on December 21, 1892 in Jasper co., Iowa to Mary Elizabeth Barnes. She was born in 1852 in Pennsylvania. Her parents were Hodgen and M.A. [Thomas] Barnes. She died in 1934 and is buried in Silent City Cemetery at Monroe, Iowa. James died October 15, 1910 at the age of 85y, 4m, 8d. He and Sarah are buried at the Seay Cemetery at the north edge of Monroe, Iowa.
Four children of James & Sarah lie buried at the Seay Cemetery: they are: infant son, died August 28, 1858; infant son died June 25, 1860; infant son, died November 19, 1867; Infant son, died February 12, 1871.
(I realize that many descendants of this family will know more about this family than I do., but I will be glad to make any corrections and hear from anyone--Idalen Mitchell Strang, P.O. BOX 155, Startup, Washington 98293. Much information from Caroline Crabtree and Rosamond Thompson.)
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BOOK: History of Jasper County, Iowa; Western Historical co., Chicago, Illinois in 1878; reproduced in 1978 by Walsworth Publishing co., Mareline, Missouri: Directory of Fairview twp, Jasper co., Iowa; page 567-568--Tool, J. A.
Farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 34 ; P. 0. Monroe; is one of the pioneers of this county; born in Wash-ington Co., Va.; when he was 11 years of age, he moved with his parents to Illinois, where he attended school and received a liberal education; he came to Jasper co., Iowa with his parents in 1843. Married Miss Sarah Fouty, in Warren Co., Iowa, in 1847; she was born in Indiana; they have nine children. Mr. Tool has been prominently identi-fied with the religious and educational interests of this county; he was licensed minister of the M. E. Church in 1858, and in the early history of the county he was Justice of the Peace and mem-ber of the board of County Commis-sioners. In politics, he was originally a Whig; on the decline of that party, he became a Republican, with which party he acted while he thought it was for the best interest of the country; he is now a firm supporter of the Greenback party. He owns about 700 acres of land, and is engaged in stock raising to a large ex-tent.