Van Winkle, John

VAN WINKLE, COX, DOYLE, GRAHAM, VEACH, MARICLE

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 4/6/2011 at 22:08:55

History of Hamilton County, Iowa, vol. II, 1912, J.W. Lee, pp 194-196.

Two hundred level acres of land neatly tiled, fenced, and improved, with modern and sanitary buildings grouped together at irregular intervals, fields productive in many various grains and sloping pastures, well filled with high-grade stock — these are the principal elements in the picture which the Hereford farm presents to the visitor in Fremont township. The owner of this property and the man who is directly responsible for its present flourishing condition is John Van Winkle, who has been connected with farming interests in various sections of America all during his active life. He was born on July 19, 1851, in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. His father was Oliver Perry Van Winkle, a native of New York, who came to Pennsylvania in his early manhood and was one of the prominent agriculturists in that state for many years. He removed to Kewaunee, Henry county, Illinois, in 1862, and followed his chosen occupation in that section. He eventually took up his residence in Lennox, Taylor county, Iowa, and here his death occurred at the age of sixty-five years. John Van Winkle's mother was Irene (Cox) Van Winkle, who died in Lennox, Iowa, when she was seventy-one years old.

John Van Winkle's educational opportunities were extremely limited. He attended school in Pennsylvania and Illinois, but was obliged to lay aside his books at the age of twelve years in order to lend his assistance in the operation of his father's farm. In 1875 he began farming independently in Geneseo, Henry county, Illinois, and remained in that section until he came to Hamilton county, Iowa, in 1884. The condition of his present property attests his success as an agriculturist in Iowa and is the result of his industry and intelligent labor along scientific lines. He purchased two hundred acres in Fremont township on sections 27 and 28 and this property he still owns. It is known as the Hereford stock farm and is one of the model and representative agricultural enterprises in the state of Iowa. It is often shown to visitors as an example of the results to be obtained by farming along modern, economic lines. It has been improved by tiling and fencing and various sanitary and commodious buildings have been erected during the course of years. The fields are divided conveniently by barbed and woven wire fences into divisions planted in various kinds of grain and the arrangement of the buildings has been influenced by conditions of sanitation and neatness of aspect. Seen from a distance the Hereford stock farm presents a beautiful pastoral picture. It has been evolved from raw prairie land and into its development have gone all the energy and work of a progressive and scientific agriculturist.

On March 30. 1875, Mr. Van Winkle was united in marriage to Miss Elinor Doyle, a daughter of Patrick and Elinor (Graham) Doyle, natives of Pennsylvania, who removed to Henry county, Illinois, at an early date. Mrs. Van Winkle's father died December 5, 1879, at the age of seventy- four and her mother's demise occurred on the 6th of October, 1883, when she was seventy-two years of age. To Mr. and Mrs. Van Winkle have been born the following children : Edgar Bert, whose birth occurred March 31, 1877; Delmer C, whose birth occurred April 24, 1882, and who became the wife of Elma Veach, a prominent farmer of Nashua, Iowa, by whom she has one son, Elston; and Roy, whose birth occurred on May 25, 1884, and who married Miss Grace Maricle, by whom he has two children, Vera and Donald, the former born in 1907 and the latter in 1909.

Mr. Van Winkle is today one of the most substantial and enterprising agriculturists in Hamilton county and one of the most valued citizens of the state of Iowa. Under his supervision and control prairie land has been evolved into a productive farm. No man can serve his state better nor do his duty in a more lasting and useful way.