John W Halliday

HALLIDAY

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 3/20/2009 at 01:10:27

John W Halliday, is the senior member of the firm of Halliday & company, general merchants of Boone. He has passed he psalmist’s span of three score years and ten, but old age is not necessary a synonym of weakness and inactivity. There is an old old age which grows stronger mentally and morally as the years pass by, and gives out of the rich stores of its wisdom and experience. Such has been the record of Mr Halliday and his example should put to shame many men of younger years who, grown weary of the struggles and trials of business life, would relegate to others of the burdens that they should bear.
Mr Halliday was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, September 15, 1828, and is of Scotch lineage, for both his father and mother, James and May (Wallace) Halliday, were natives of the land of the heather and came to the United States in the spring of 1828. The father died in 1833 ad his wife had passed away the year previous. In their family were four children: George, now deceased, John of this review, Joseph who has also passed away, and Alexander is living in New Comerstown, Ohio.
Mr Halliday of this review pursued his education int eh public schools o his native county and at the age of seventeen began learning the shoemaker’s trade in Senecaville, Ohio, where he remained for two years. He then removed to Adamsville, Ohio where he resided during the greater par of the time to 1853. That year witnessed his arrival in Burlington, Iowa but soon he returned to Adamsville, which was his place of residence until 1856. He then came to Boone county and soon went to Hamilton county, Iowa, where he remained for three years upon a farm. Upon the expiration of that period he located in Webster City where he resided until 1867, removing thence to Boonesboro. In the latter place he worked at his trade until he turned his attention to the grocery business about 1876, that line of mercantile activity claiming his attention until 1879. He then retired from business and was not actively associated with any commercial or industrial enterprise until 1898, when he entered into partnership with his son, as a dealer in merchandise under the firm name of Halliday & Company.
Mr Halliday was married, in 1854, to Caroline Stanger, who was born in Adamsville, Ohio a daughter of Mr and Mrs Jacob Stanger, both of whom were natives of Germany and are now deceased. Mr and Mrs Halliday had four children, but tow of the number died I infancy. Those still living are: Orlando, who was born in 1855, and Joseph F who is in his father’s store in Boonesboro. The mother was called to her final rest April 5, 1890. Her loss was deeply mourned, not only by her immediate family but by many friends. Mr Halliday cast his first presidential vote for Winfield Scott and upon the organization of the Republican party joined in its ranks and has since been one of its earnest advocates. He is a member of the Baptist church and his life has ever been in harmony with its teachings and principles so that his example is one well worthy of emulation.

1902 Boone County History Book