Emmet R Gonder

GONDER

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/4/2010 at 09:35:49

Emmet R Gonder, engaged in general farming on section 19, Beaver township, has charge of the old homestead of the Gonder family and also cultivates an adjoining 40 acres which he owns. He is yet a young man and has already achieved success that may might well envy. He is busily employed in operating 210 acres of rich and productive land, and the results obtained are gratifying.
In May 1881, in Illinois, occurred the birth of Emmet R Gonder, his parents being William and Ellen Jane (Shaw) Gonder, who were native of Ohio. The father came to Illinois at an early day in connection with farming engaged in teaching school. His time was thus spent until 1884, when he removed to Boone county and purchase a tract of land in Beaver township, which he developed and improved, making his home thereon until 1912. He then retired form active farm life and removed to Grand Junction where he and his wife now reside. He long occupied a creditable place in agricultural circles of this county and is today classed among the worthy and representative citizens of Grand Junction.
Emmet R Gonder was about two years ofa ge when his parents came to Iowa, and in consequence he attended the public schools of Boone county. Advanced educational opportunities were accorded him, however, and he spent some time as a student in the State College at Ames, Iowa, in the Des Moines College, Des Moines, and in the Capital City Commercial College of Des Moines. He then took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for three years, having charge of the commercial department of the Iowa Business College at Des Moines. He afterward accepted a position in the Goldman Cobacker Company, clothing merchants, being in charge of the credit department for three years. Because of failing health he returned to the farm, of which he took charge, and he has since conducted and operated it in addition to 40 acres of his own, which adjoins this place, on section 19, Beaver township. He is energetic, industrious, alert and enterprising and carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. The farm is well improved, ad in addition to cultivating the fields he makes a specialty of the raising of pure blooded Duroc Jersey hogs. He is also a stockholder in the Beaver Cooperative Company of Beaver, Iowa and is interested in a threshing outfit. The farm which he controls comprises 210 acres, and he is leading a busy useful and active life.
On December 30, 1911, Mr Gonder was married to Miss Josephine A Treloar, a daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Kendall) Treloar, the former a native of Wisconsin and the latter of Des Moines. The father was a Baptist minister and at an early day in the development of Boone county took up his abode within its borders and here engaged in preaching for three years. He in now living in Houston, Texas, and is still actively engaged in the work of the ministry. Mr and Mrs Gonder have one child, Mildred Alice, who is a year old. The parents hold membership in the Baptist church, and Mr Gonder gives his political allegiance to the progressive party. He is serving for the second year as township clerk, but has never been ambitious in the line of office holding, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, which capably managed, have brought to him a substantial measure of success.

1914 Boone County History Book