Cheever, Elmer E.

CHEEVER, AVERY, STEVENS, ELWICK

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 2/21/2010 at 23:36:05

History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Vol II, 1912, p.126

ELMER E. CHEEVER.

Elmer E. Cheever, who owns and operates a farm of eighty five acres on section 4, Independence township, is a native of Hamilton County, his birth having occurred in Webster City on the 5th of October, 1870. He is a son of William M. and Cynthia A.(Avery) Cheever, natives of the state of New York, where they were also married. They came to Iowa in 1869, locating in Hamilton County, and for three years thereafter the father farmed as a renter, but at the expiration of that time he purchased forty acres of land on section 4, Independence township, that is now the property of his son, Elmer E. Mr. and Mrs. Cheever had but two children, the elder of whom, George A., is married and engages in farming in the vicinity of Carr, Colorado. The father passed away on the 23d of June, 1909, at the age of seventy-four years, and was buried in Graceland cemetery at Webster City. The mother is still living at the age of seventy and is now visiting
her son in Colorado. William M. Cheever went to the front as a private in Company E, One Hundred and Tenth Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war and served until the close of hostilities. The exposure and hardships incident to camp life undermined his health and he was sick for nearly a year, the greater part of that time being spent in a hospital in the south. He saw considerable active service, and was taken prisoner in battle and sent to Andersonville, but was soon released.

The entire life of Elmer E. Cheever has been passed in the vicinity of his present home. He was reared on a farm and early trained to the duties and responsibilities of an agriculturist, which vocation he has always followed. He owns one of the well improved and highly cultivated farms of the county and is meeting with success in its operation. His land is tiled and fenced, and all of it is hog tight, and equipped with everything essential to modern agriculture. Mr, Cheever raises a high grade of cattle and horses and makes a specialty of breeding and raising thoroughbred Duroc Jersey hogs.

In 1908, Mr. Cheever was married to Miss Lora Stevens, a native of Iowa, and a daughter of John and Belle (Elwick) Stevens. The father was born in the state of New York fifty-eight years ago, and the mother, who is forty-eight years of age, is a native of Illinois. They were married in Iowa and subsequently located in the vicinity of Webster City, where Mr. Stevens engages in general farming and gardening. Their family numbers four, Mrs. Cheever, who was born on November 11, 1883, being the eldest.

Fraternally Mr. Cheever is a member of the Modern Brotherhood of America and gives his political support to the republican party. He was township trustee for five years and served as school director for twelve and is now secretary of the school board. The religious faith of Mr. and Mrs. Cheever is manifested through their connection with the Congregational church of Webster City, in the work of which they take an active interest.