J B McHose

MCHOSE

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 4/12/2010 at 13:07:59

J B McHose is one of the citizens of Boone county whom she may well honor, for his life in all of its different phases has been such as measures up to the highest standarads of manhood and citizenship. In business he has been industrious, energetic and reliable, in public office loyal, patriotic and capable, and those who have met him in social relations count his friendship as something worth while. A native of Iowa, Mr McHose was born in the city of Davenport, then a town of little importance August 25, 1849, his parents being Samuel and Mary (Dillin) McHose. He is descended form Scotch, German and English ancestry of pre-Revoluntionary times, and from the mingled blood of the three races have come some of his strong and sturdy characteristics. His father and grandfather were brick makers. In pioneer times the parents became residents of Iowa, but the mother passed away March 22, 1863, in Genesco, Illinois. In the family were eight children: J B of this review, William E now deceased, Isabelle, the wife of F Smock of San Diego, California, Samuel M living in Nevada, Iowa, Mrs Dora Neil whose home is in Seattle, Washington, Mrs Mary Stuart a resident of Lewiston, Montana, Joseph deceased, and George deceased. Losing his first wife, the father who has just passed away at the age of 91 at Grinnell, Iowa married again, his second uinon being Fannie Nye. Unto them were born three children: Arthur of Boone, Charles a resident of Maxwell, Iowa and Harry of Montana.
J B McHose spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his parents' home and early began work in his father's brickyard. His educational opportunites were those accorded by the public schools. At 20 years of age he left the parental roof and started out in the business world independently, becoming connected wiht the manufacture of brick and also during the winter taking up the profession of teaching, for which he was well qualified through a high school education. At length he began the study of law and graduated from the Washington University of St Louis, Missouri with the class of 1874. He then located for practice in Story county, Iowa, where he remained for 4 years, but at the end of that time abandoned his profession and again turned his attention to the maunfacture of clay products. In 1889 he came to Boone and established the Boone Clay Works, manufacturing brick, drain tile and other clay wares, which he conducted for about 22 yeares with splendid success, enjoying a growing and gratifying business, from which he retired in 1910. He has also for 22 years been the owner of a large farm in Iowa and is deeply interested in agricltural and horticultural affairs. In connection with his large clay manufacturing intersts he also did business as a paving contractor, and in the city of Boone as well as other places are numerous evidences of his avtivity in the construction of substantial buildings and business blocks. He likewise won success as a beekeeper, devoting considerable attention to the raisig and care of these insects.
Mr McHose has an excellent public record. Since attaining his majority he has given stalwart support to the republican party, keepig well informed of the questions of the day and taking active part in promoting the principles in which he believes, as a campaign speaker and also as chairman of the republican county central committee. For several years he served as a member of the city council of Boone, exercising his officail prerogotives in support of all measures which he deemed of value and worth in promoting the city's best intersts. He took a leading part in inaugurating a number of modern civic improvements. It was during his term as councilman that the first paving was done and that 24 miles of sewer were laid. The latter project was the cause of one of the greatest contoversies in the city's history, but time has proven its wisdom. In November 1912, Mr McHose was elected to represent his district in the state legislautre and took active part in its councils. He was placed upon its most important committees, such as judiciary, ways and means, mines and mining, insurance, and some half dozen others. He at all times sought the welfare of the public rather than party interests or personl aggranizement, and he was the father of a bill desiged to put private banks in Iowa under state supervision. He studied closely the legislative problems and lived up to the platform upon which he was elected "belief in the strictest fidelity and accountabliity of public officers, rigid economy and honesty in public affairs, laws for the protection of the weak against the strong and education of the young for the industries and business intersts of the state." He believes thoroughly in progressive republianism.
On March 16, 1876, Mr McHose was united in marriage to Miss Ella Hamor, a native of Pennsylvania, and they own and occupy a fine brick residence in Boone, built of brick which he manufactured. Mr McHose aslo has other valuable property and at the present time is living retired, giving his attention to the supervision of his farming and other intersts. He is identified with various societies and organizatons, which indicate him to be a broadmided, progressive man. He has membership in the National Georgaphical Society, the State Historical Society and State Hortiultural Society. In Masory he as attained the 32 degree, belongs to the Mystic Shrine, the Eastern Star and to the Knihgt of Pythias. For several years he served as president of the State Brick and Tile Makers's Association. He deserves much credit for what he has accomplished in that he started out in life empty handed and has worked his way steadily upward. He began in brick manufacturing before he attained his majority with capital of less than fifty dollars. His knowledge of legal principles was the foundation of much of his success in business and his valuable public service in office.

1914 Boone County History Book