Hale, Howard

HALE, CROUCH, DAY, MILHOLLAND, BURTON, MARSH, KEAGLES, WEISS

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 5/18/2010 at 17:37:27

History of Hamilton County, Iowa, Vol. II, 1912, p. 156.

HOWARD HALE.

Howard Hale, a successful real-estate dealer of Blairsburg, who is also selling automobiles, was born in Arlington Heights, Illinois, on October 10, 1860. He is a son of Anthony and Jane (Crouch) Hale, the former a native of England, his birth having there occurred on the 20th of September, 1833, while the mother was born in Jefferson County, New York, on March 31, 1833. They removed to Iowa in 1871, locating on a farm in Collins township, Story County, where for many years the father was successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. He is now living retired, however, and he and the mother make their home in Blairsburg where they own a very pleasant and attractive residence, and enjoy the ease and comfort provided by a substantial competence. They are the parents of three children, of whom our subject is the eldest. Alice, the second member of the family, became the wife of Isaac Day, a well known resident of Hamilton County, who is mentioned at greater length elsewhere in this work ; and James, the younger son, whose birth occurred on December 17, 1873, is a resident of Collins township, Story County.

The education of Howard Hale was begun in his native state, where he passed the first eleven years of his life, and completed in Story County, Iowa. As is usual with farmer lads he early became familiar with the duties of the agriculturist and the practical methods of tilling the fields and caring for the crops. When ready to begin his independent career he naturally adopted the vocation for which he was best qualified, and subsequently engaged in farming for himself in Collins township, Story County. In February, 1896, he came to this county and purchased eighty acres of land in Williams township, to which he subsequently added another eighty, and then began improving it. He applied himself to its further cultivation and improvement until March, 1912, when he withdrew from the work of the fields and removed to Blairsburg, where he owns a residence. He is now devoting his entire time to the buying and selling of real estate, in connection with which he is also dealing in automobiles and is the owner of one of the finest cars in the county. He is prospering in his undertakings and has recently acquired a hundred and sixty acres of well improved land located on section 1, Blairsburg township.

In Story County, this state, on October 17, 1885, Mr. Hale was married to Miss Etta J. Marsh, who was born in Eden township, Marshall County, Iowa, September 18, 1868, and was there reared to womanhood. She is a daughter of Louis W. and Laura (Milholland) Marsh, who were for many years residents of Marshall County, whence they later removed to Story County, but are now residing in Pasadena, California. The father, who is seventy-five years of age was born in England, but came to Iowa in his early manhood and was one of the pioneer settlers of Marshall County. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Marsh is as follows: Ralph, who is a resident of Collins, this state ; Walter, of Granite, Oklahoma; Scott, who makes his home in Mitchell County, Iowa; Mrs. Hale; Mrs. Laura Keagles, of Collins; Mrs. Grace Weiss, also of Collins; and Minnie and Blanche, both of whom died in California. The children were all born in Marshall County, but the younger members of the family were reared in Story County.

Mr. and Mrs. Hale have six children: Arthur, who resides in Blairsburg; Mrs. Myrtle Burton, of Webster City; and Truman, Rachel, Ruth and Millard. The four eldest were born in Collins township, Story County, and the last two named in Williams township, this county.

The family are members of the Congregational church, in the work of which they take a helpful and active interest. Mr. Hale votes the republican ticket and for two years served as assessor in Williams township, and he has also been a member of the school board. He is an excellent type of citizen, public-spirited and progressive and always ready to cooperate in forwarding every worthy movement, and is accorded the esteem and regard of a large circle of acquaintances.