Borts, Eli W.

BORTS, STIER, PITCOCK, SKINNER, EDWARDS, KEYES, HENDERSON, TIFFANY

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/27/2009 at 09:29:21

Borts, Eli W.

One of the native-born citizens of Clear Creek Township, Jasper County, who is deserving of special mention along with other enterprising young men who are performing well their work here, is Eli W. Borts. His birth occurred here on September 5, 1879; he grew to manhood on the home place, which he helped develop, and he has always been identified with the agricultural interests of this community. His father, Eli Borts, was born in DeKalb County, Indiana, November 29, 1845 and there he grew up and received his education in the old time schools. Although young in years when the Civil War came on, he enlisted as drummer boy in Company D, Forty-ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, having previously emigrated to the West to make his fortune. He enlisted at Greencastle, Poweshiek Township, Jasper County, and served faithfully through the major part of the war, after which he received an honorable discharge. He married Margaret Stier, who was born in St. Joe County, Iowa, March 13, 1851, and when four years old she came with her parents in 1855 to Jasper County and is residing at present at Mingo, her husband having died in this County on March 5, 1891. Their family consisted of six children, five of whom are living, as follows: William H., born July 3, 1869, is living with his mother at Mingo; Mrs. Cora Pitcock, born October 13, 1872, died June 7, 1897; Gertie, born September 27, 1875, is living at Boone, Iowa; Rosa, born April 1, 1884, is living with her mother at Mingo.

Eli W. Borts was married on February 18, 1903, to Bertha H. Skinner, who Was born in Clear Creek Township, this County, May 20, 1885, and here she was reared and educated. She is the daughter of Herbert K. and Mary A. (Edwards) Skinner, one of the best-known and influential families of this and adjoining counties, her father being representative from Jasper County in the State Legislature. He was born in St. Lawrence County, New York, April 2, 1849, but has spent most of his life in Iowa, having moved with his parents to Ft. Dodge in 1853 and on to Jasper County in 1860 and the family has resided here continuously to the present time. Mr. Skinner devoted twelve years of his life to teaching. He has been very successful in a business way and is the owner of some of the best land in this locality and also in Texas, over five hundred acres in all. He has been prominent in public life for many years, holding a number of local offices, finally securing a seat in the Legislature and there he is making a record of which his constituents and friends may well be proud. He married Mary B. Keyes in 1871; she was born in Benton County, Iowa, in 1848 and her death occurred in Jasper County in 1875. Mr. Skinner was married in 1876 to Mary A. Edwards, who was born in Jasper County in 1855, the daughter of M. M. and Anne (Henderson) Edwards. To the latter union eight children were born, namely: Elsie M., Charles Herbert, Bertha H. (wife of Mr. Borts of this sketch), Mrs. Cora A. Tiffany, Arthur L., Mary Helen, Howard Otis and George M. For a full sketch of the Skinner family the reader is directed to the sketch of Hon. Herbert K. Skinner, appearing in another part of this work.

To Mr. and Mrs. Borts have been born three daughters, Reva B., born February 18, 1904, Zelma E., born February 11, 1906, and Lena Irene, born December 24, 1911. The two older girls are attending the rural schools in the home neighborhood. Politically, Mr. Borts is a Republican and he affiliates with the Congregational Church. He belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 174, of Mingo.

Mr. Borts is successfully fanning eighty acres of the old Skinner homestead in Clear Creek Township. He has a good home, well furnished and supplied with modern literature. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1340.