William H Airhart

AIRHART

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 4/21/2010 at 14:21:04

William H Airhart is well known in Boone as proprietor of The Regal, which is recognized to be the best equipped billiard parlor in the state of Iowa. His birth occurred in Ogle county, Illinois, on August 16, 1859, his parents being David and Jane (Taylor) Airhart, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. They came to Iowa in 1865, locating in Story county, where the father devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits. In 1896 he came to Boone and here both Mr ad Mrs David Airhart spent the remainder of their lives in horoable retirement. Their children are as follows: Rose, Clara and Andrew both of whom are deceased, William H of this review, George a resident of Whittmore, Iowa, Fred living in Des Moines, Vione the wife of R Ballard of Story county, this state, Julia who is the wife of William Bell of Boone county, Edward, residing in Boone and Cora.
When twenty years of age William H Airhart began farming in Story county, being thus actively engaged until March 1887, when he came to Boone. Here he entered the train service of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, continuing with that corporation for a period of about fifteen years. In 1901 he embarked in the feed and coal business but at the end of about three years again turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, following farming for five years. Subsequently he conducted a coal and feed store in Boone for another period of three years and then spent a year in California. Returning to Boone, he opened a select billiard parlor known as The Regal, which has been pronounced by experts to be the best equipped parlor of its kind in the state.
Mr Airhart has been twice married. On August 8, 1880, he wedded Miss Olive Corey, by whom he had three children namely: Edward who is a resident of Boone county, and Harry and Maude both deceased. The wife and mother was called to her final rest in 1896 and in September 1898, Mr Airhart was again married, his second union being with Miss Carrie Low a native of Pennsylvania.
Mr Airhart is a socialist in his political views and has served as a member of the city council. His religious faith is that of the Christian church, while fraternally he is identified with the Imporved Order of Redmen. He is widely recognized as a substantial and representative citizen of Boone county and is popular by reason of his genial and social qualiteis which, combined with his genuine personal worth, have won him the high regard of all with whom he has come in contact.

1914 Boone County History Book