Horn, Joe

HORN, LONG, GODDARD, ADAMS, RAYL, KOONS, GRIFFIN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 8/31/2009 at 10:29:46

Horn, Joe

In nearly every community are to be found individuals who, by innate ability and sheer force of character, rise above their fellows and win for I themselves conspicuous places in public esteem. Such an one is the well-known gentleman whose name appears above, a man who has been identified with the history of Jasper County for many years, during which time his life has been closely interwoven with the material growth and development of the County, wielding a potent influence in financial circles, while his career as a progressive man of affairs has been synonymous with all that is honorable and upright in citizenship. In all life's relations he has commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he has been thrown onto contact and his friends are in number as his acquaintances, for he is, with all of his genial disposition, business acumen and commendable traits, entirely unassuming.

Joe Horn, president of the Citizens' State Bank, at Newton, is the scion of a sterling old family of the Keystone state, and he himself was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, April 16, 1855; he is the son of Frederick and Ann (Long) Horn, both natives of Pennsylvania, where they grew to maturity, were educated and married. They came to Cedar County, Iowa, in 1855, where they lived on a farm for twelve years, becoming quite well-established and well known in that community and then removed to Kansas where they remained one year, then came back to Cedar County, Iowa, for a short time, later removing to Knox County, Illinois, where the fathers death occurred in 1866, the mother surviving until 1895, reaching an advanced age. They were the parents of eight children, six of whom are living, namely: Lydia, wife of A. D. Briggs, of Union County, Iowa; Joe, of this review; Ella, wife of James Goddard, of Union City, Iowa; Eliza, wife of James Adams, of Kansas City, Missouri; Minnie is the wife of Henry Rayl, of Union City; M. D. lives in Jasper County.

Joe Horn was reared on the farm where he lived until fourteen years ago, 1897. He received a good common school education, which has since been supplemented by general home study and actual contact with the business world, He maintained a fine farm in Richland Township, this County, which, under his able management, yielded rich harvests from year to year and he also handled a good grade of live stock of various kinds, being known for many years as one of the progressive agriculturists of his Township, and there he maintained his home until he became deputy county auditor in 1897, which position he held very creditably for two years, being elected auditor in 1899 on the Republican ticket, and he gave such eminent satisfaction that he was re-elected, serving four years in a manner that reflected such credit upon his ability as a conscientious, painstaking public servant and on the hearty approval of all concerned. After his tenure of office had expired Mr. Horn opened a real estate office, which he continued for two years, then became cashier of the Citizens State Bank at Newton; a year later he was made vice- president, having in that time given conclusive evidence of a peculiar and rare ability as a financier, and in 1910 he became president, the duties of which he has continued to discharge in an able and conservative manner, rendering this one of the soundest, most popular and safest institutions of its kind in central Iowa.

On November 25, 1880, Mr. Horn was married to Margaret A. Koons, daughter of Felix and Agnes (Ragan) Koons. She was born of an excellent family in Knox County, Illinois, and she is a woman of many pleasing characteristics, which have gained for her a wide circle of friends.

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Horn, namely: Allen Roy; Fay is deputy recorder; Edna is the wife of Alva Griffin, of Newton; Ethel is a stenographer in the bank with her father; Walter L. is a student in the agricultural college at Ames, Iowa; Hollis is attending school.

Fraternally, Mr. Horn is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Horn has been very successful in business, being energetic, a keen observer and a good manager. He is a stockholder and director, also treasurer in the Newton Disc Plow Company. He is also director and treasurer of the American Construction Company at Newton. In each of these rapidly growing concerns he is a potent factor, and owing to his scrupulously honest methods and his genial address he has won the esteem and good will of the people of Jasper County. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 426.