Lust, John W.

LUST, FENDER, MERCER, TROUT, ROMANS, MCCUEN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 9/19/2009 at 17:22:54

Lust, John W.

One of the worthiest young farmers and enterprising citizens of Elk Creek Township, Jasper County, is John W. Lust, who, never lured away from the pleasant prairies of the Hawkeye state by the wanderlust spirit, has been content to spend his life here at home, and he has succeeded because he early grew familiar with the local conditions governing soils, crops and the various phases of the calling which he has been pleased to follow. It would seem that he has been thus wiser than so many of his contemporaries who have in their boyhood left the old home and gone out into other states to seek their fortunes where conditions and peoples are alike strange and where so many fortunes assume the marsh-light aspect, alluring to the sight, but hard to grasp in tangible form.

Mr. Lust was born in this Township on June 20, 1878, and here he grew up, received his education in the common schools, and worked on the home place during his boyhood days, in fact he has ever been identified with agricultural pursuits in this vicinity.

The subject is the son of Riley and Amanda (Fender) Lust, his father being a native of Ohio and his mother of Indiana. His father, whose parent were natives of Germany, is one of the best known men in all Jasper County besides being one of its largest land owners. He is a man who is extremely modest regarding his achievements and he has the respect of all who know him because of the sturdiness and true worth of his character. He is largely interested in a great number of investments and enterprises aside from his extensive farm holdings, among others being the implement business in the little city of Reasnor. He is also a stockholder and director of the Reasnor Savings Bank. He is a man who does not seek public praise, but has always stood ready to assist in any way the up building of his community and to serve his fellows in whatever capacity they called him. At present he is leading more or less retired life in his beautiful and modern residence in Reasnor.

Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Riley Lust, namely: Fred E., born July 22, 1874; Alfred T., born March 30, 1876; John W., of this review, being third in order of birth; Arthur J., born September 21, 1880; Elmer B., born February 18, 1883; Roy R., born July 4, 1885; Minnie J., born September 19, 1887, is the wife of Elmer Mercer, a farmer of Jasper County; Katherine S., born March 5, 1890, is the wife of Carl Trout, a banker living in West Grove, Iowa; Myrtle M., who is at home, single, was born August 19, 1893; Carl M., born May 31, 1896, is with his parents.

John W. Lust attended the Sand Point district school and the Newton Normal College three winters. In 1899 he began renting on the same place where he now lives, which belongs to his father. He is now successfully engaged in farming one hundred and twenty-five acres.

Politically, Mr. Lust is a Republican and he belongs to the blue lodge of Masons.

Mr. Lust was married on March 3, 1904, to Grace Romans, who was born in Fairview Township, Jasper County, Iowa, July 16, 1882, the daughter of James M. Romans, now a resident of Grinnell, Iowa. He was born in Fairview Township, Jasper County, Iowa, on July 1, 1855. He married Mary Eleanor McCuen, who was born in Ashland County, Ohio, August 23, 1857.

William Green Romans, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Lust, came to Jasper County in 1843, locating as one of the earliest pioneers on the wild Iowa prairies. Mrs. Lust's folks lived on the old Highland farm, on which place the first white child was born in Jasper County, as the Highlands were the first settlers here, and Mrs. Lust grew to womanhood and was educated in the common schools of this County.

Mr. Lust is a young man of engaging personality and is a man whom a large circle of acquaintances delight to call friend. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 713