ESHLEMAN, John Hoover - 1890 Bio (1833-1898)

ESHLEMAN, HOOVER, EBE, TEETER, GARBER, ALBAUGH, MCCARTNEY, KINNEY, ELMAKER

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/5/2007 at 12:45:57

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 353-354

John H. ESHLEMAN is a leading citizen of Des Moines Township, Jefferson County, residing on section 3, where he is engaged in farming. Pennsylvania is the State of his nativity, and his birth occurred in Bedford County, in 1833. He was the second in a family of five children, whose parents, Samuel and Susan (HOOVER) ESHLEMAN, were natives of Lancaster County, Pa. Their marriage was there celebrated, after which Mr. ESHLEMAN engaged in farming in connection with work at his trade as a stonemason. With the hope of providing a better home for his family, in 1847, accompanied by wife and children, he emigrated to the new State of Iowa, and the same year purchased eighty acres of land, the farm upon which our subject now resides. Three log cabins had been built thereon, which constituted almost the entire improvements. He was a man of energy and ability, not afraid of work, and in consequence soon had a good home. He continued to reside in Jefferson County until his death, which occurred in February, 1879. A respected citizen, the entire community mourned his loss and shared in the deep grief of the family. His wife, who was a worthy helpmate to him, crossed over the dark river in 1873. Of their family four are yet living, namely: J. H., of this sketch; Susan, now Mrs. EBE, who resides in California; Martin, a resident farmer of Des Moines Township; Eliza, now Mrs. TEETER, of the same township.

The first fourteen years of his life our subject spent in Bedford County, Pa., where he acquired a good common-school education. Accompanying his parents to Iowa in 1847, he was inured to hard labor in aiding in the development of a farm, but his boyhood experience proved profitable to him in that he developed a self-reliance and knowledge of the work, which have been important factors in his success in after life. Throughout his business career he has carried on farming and to a considerable extent has also engaged in freighting.

In 1858, in Jefferson County, Mr. ESHLEMAN was united in marriage with Miss Sarah GARBER, who was born in Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of John and Sarah (ALBAUGH) GARBER, who were also natives of the Keystone State. The year 1843 witnessed the arrival of that family in Liberty Township, Jefferson County, Iowa, but the parents are both now deceased. Mr. GARBER died in 1859, and his wife some twenty years later. Unto Mr. and Mrs. ESHLEMAN were born four children yet living: Mary, now Mrs. McCARTNEY of Locust Grove Township; Jane, at home; Ann, now Mrs. KINNEY, of Wapello County, and Samuel, at home. The mother was called to her final rest in 1887, and in April, 1889, in Jefferson County, Mr. ESHLEMAN wedded Mary ELMAKER, a native of Pennsylvania, whose parents were Jacob and Catherine ELMAKER. Her family came to Jefferson County in 1838, making a location in Des Moines Township, but both husband and wife are now deceased.

Since his first marriage Mr. ESHLEMAN has resided upon one farm. He is numbered among the pioneers of the county, having for forty-three years made his home within its borders. The hardships and trials of pioneer life are not unknown to him, and in the difficulty of developing wild land he is not unversed. The main trading points in that early day were Keokuk and Ft. Madison, and as the roads were bad, it was often difficult to make the trip, especially in the spring time, but all this has since passed and only the memories remain, together with the honor which is justly given to those who bore the arduous task of laying the foundation for the present prosperity of the county. Mr. ESHLEMAN always did his part. He is now ranked among the representative citizens of the county and among its progressive farmers. His possessions embrace ninety-three acres in Des Moines Township, all of which is well improved and provided with good buldings. In politics, he is a Republican, and has served as Supervisor of his township for two terms. He was also a member of the School Board, and both he and his wife are members of the German Baptist Church.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.