John K Hawbaker

HAWBAKER

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/4/2010 at 09:29:13

General agricultural interests of Beaver township find a worthy representative in John K Hawbaker, who is living on section 19. He started out in life as a farm hand and is today the owner of an attractive and valuable place of 125 acres, on which are seen all modern improvements and equipments. Pennsylvania claims him as a native son, his birth having occurred in that state, April 19, 1869. His parents David and Sarah (Kokaour) Hawbaker, who were natives of Pennsylvania and in the year 1875 removed westward to Dallas county, Iowa where the father purchased 40 acres of land. Later he sold that property and bought 120 acres. To this he added form time to time as his financial resources increased until he was the owner of 240 acres, which he improved and upon which he made his home until his death May 1892. He was then but forty- four years of age. His wife, however, had passed away previously, dying in the year 1883, at the age of thirty-three years.
John K Hawbaker was a little lad of about six years when the family arrived in Iowa, and in Dallas county he was reared and educated. While he continued to make his home under the parental roof until he could purchase a farm of his own he was employed at farm labor between the ages of fourteen and twenty years, and it was his industry, close application and determination in that connection that brought to him the capital that eventually enabled him to purchase property. He became the owner of 80 acres in Dallas county, developed and improved it and continued thereon for eleven years. He then sold that property and removed to Webster county, where in 1900 he purchased 80 acres. This he developed for three years and then came to Boone county, Iowa where he purchased 125 acres of section 19, Beaver township. He set about improving the property ad has since given his time and energies to its further cultivation, transforming it into one of the best improved places in the county. His farm forms a most attractive feature in the landscape It is divided in to fields of convenient size by well kept fences, the buildings are always in excellent repair and the early spring planting gives promise of abundant harvests-a promise that is realized because of the practical and progressive methods which are followed.
On February 14, 1892, Mr Hawbaker was untied in marriage to Miss Carrie B Merical, a daughter of Henry S and Mary (Becker) Merical, who were native of Indiana and Illinois respectively. In early life the father came with his parents to Iowa, being but seven years of age when they settled in Dallas county. Following the outbreak of the Civil war he attempted to enlist for service it eh Union army, but was rejected on account of his youth. His hope for military service being thus frustrated, he turned his attention to farming in Dallas county and has since cultivated and improved his land, which is now very valuable and productive. He has reached he age of sixty-nine years, while is wife is sixty-six years of age.
To Mr and Mrs Hawbaker have been born four children: Lenora and Leona, twins, twenty-one years of age, the former now the wife of Melvin Blanshan, a farmer of Green county, Iowa, while the latter is the wife of George Hoefle, a farmer of Beaver township, Vern Ray nineteen years of age, who is at home, and John Benjamin three years of age.
Mr Hawbaker is serving the second year of a first term as trustee of Beaver township, ad he gives his political support to the democratic party. He belongs to the Baptist church and to the Modern Woodmen camp. He neglects none of his duties in any of these particulars and at the same time remains an active, energetic and successful business man. He now feeds a load of cattle every year, ad his livestock interests are an important feature of his business. In addition to his farm in Boone county he owns 70 acres just across the road in Greene county and is a stockholder in the Farmers Savings Bank on Berkley. What he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion, finding that there are no difficulties and obstacles which cannot be overcome by persistent, earnest effort.

1914 Boone County History Book