EIKER, James M.

EIKER, KIRKANDALL, RUSSELL, GASSETT

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/18/2014 at 10:18:29

Biography ~ James M. Eiker

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), pp. 533-34:

JAMES M. EIKER, one of the successful agriculturists of Decatur County, residing on section 30, of Decatur Township, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Adams County, March 6, 1844, a son of JOHN and CHARLOTTE EIKER, who were both natives of Maryland. They removed to Knox County, Illinois, in 1852, and there our subject grew to manhood. In the spring of 1865, he, in company with his parents and a sister, now Mrs. MIRANDA KIRKANDALL, of Richland Township, Decatur County, came to Decatur County, and located in Grand River Township. There the parents died, the father March 3, and the mother November 23, of the year 1874, aged respectively seventy-nine and sixty-nine years. They were cared for in their declining years by JAMES and his sister MIRNDA. JAMES M. EIKER was united in marriage in 1869, to Miss RHODA RUSSELL who was born in Jackson County, Ohio, a daughter of A. O. RUSSELL. She died September 15, 1877, aged thirty-two years, leaving one son – BERT. For his second wife, Mr. EIKER married Miss NORA GASSETT, April 11, 1878. She was born October 21, 1855, in Eden Township, Decatur County, her parents, GEORGE and MARY GASSETT, being among the pioneers of that township, where her father still lives. Her mother is deceased. Mr. EIKER has through industry, economy and good management met with excellent success in his farming operations, and is now the owner of 300 acres of choice land, located on sections 19 and 30, Decatur Township, and on section 24, Grand River Township. He began improving his property in 1869, on which at that time no furrow had been turned nor tree planted. Now there is no more desirable farm property in Decatur County, and for stock-raising it is unsurpassed. He has a fine orchard, containing every variety of fruit trees adapted to the climate of the county, and his building improvements are among the best in his neighborhood. Mr. EIKER is a member of the Presbyterian church, as were also his parents and his first wife. In politics he casts his suffrage with the Republican party. He has served in various township offices to the satisfaction of his constitutes, and is one of the respected citizens of Decatur County.

Transcribed by Sara LeFleur, Decatur County Historial Society Musuem, January of 2014