John R Herron

HERRON

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/4/2010 at 09:15:17

The present populous city of Boone contained only two houses at the time of the arrival of the Herron family in Iowa. They became pioneer residents of Boone county, and it was upon the old family homestead in Des Moines township that John R Herron was born on March 6, 1874. He is a son of Richard and Sabina (Payton) Herron, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Canada. The paternal grandfather Richard Herron Sr, was likewise born on the Emerald isle and after crossing the briny deep to the new world he settled in Canada, where he devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits. He wedded Mary Henneberry and they became the parents of four children, three sons and a daughter: Richard, Mary who became the wife of T McDermott, of Eagle Grove, Iowa, William of Missouri Valley, Iowa and John who has departed this life.
It was in 1847 that Richard Herron Jr became a resident of Stratford, Ontario, where he resided for eighteen years or until 1865. He then married Sabina, a daughter of Patrick Payton who was born in Ireland, but in the 30’s established his home in Canada, where his remaining days were passed. While residing in Canada Mr Herron followed farming, but in 1865 left that country for Iowa. After spending two months in Cedar Rapids, he removed to Boone, at which time the railroad extended only to Nevada. The family remained in the little hamlet until 1869 and then took up their abode upon a farm in Des Moines township, three and a half miles southeast of the city, There they remained until the spring of 1886, when they left the farm and returned to Boone, where Mr Herron is now living retired. His wife passed away in January 1907. They had but two children of the elder, Mary, died in infancy.
The son, John R whose name introduces this record, was a pupil I the country and city schools until sixteen years of age, when he began learning the printing busies in the office of The Boone County Democrat. He has been continuously connected with this paper since January 1, 1899, when he purchased a half interest in the business, his partner being M Miller, who sold out a year and a half later. For a year Mr Herron was associated in the ownership and publication of the Democrat Publishing Company, and a progressive policy marks the Democrat, making it a very readable, entertaining and instructive paper.
On October 20, 1903, Mr Herron was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jordan, a native of Boone county, and they have become the parents of five children: Emmet, Edward, Vincent, Margaret and Francis. In politics Mr Herron is a democrat and has filled the office of chairman of the country central committee. He is well known in fraternal circles, holding membership with the Knights of Columbus, the Yeomen and the Mystic Workers, and he is also a communicant of the Catholic church. He is both widely and favorably known in this county, where his entire life ahs bee passed and where he has ever been an interested witness of the events that shape its progress and promote its welfare.

1914 Boone County History Book