GRABER, Daniel Benjamin - 1912 Bio (1869-1945)

GRABER, WYSE, MAXWELL, LOGSDON, RIZOR, HORTON

Posted By: Debbie Nash (email)
Date: 3/10/2004 at 23:23:47

From the “History of Jefferson County, Iowa” – 1912, Volume II
Pages 15-17

DANIEL BENJAMIN GRABER

“Daniel B. GRABER is another of Jefferson county’s native sons who is meeting with excellent success in the operation of his farm in Round Prairie township. He was born in Lockridge township on the 4th of February, 1869, and is a son of Christian and Fanny (WYSE) GRABER, natives of France, for further mention refer to the sketch of John GRABER.

Reared on the farm where he was born in the acquirement of an education Daniel B. GRABER attended the district schools in the vicinity of his home. His mother passed away when he was a lad of ten years, and five years later he laid aside his text-books and leaving the parental roof began for himself. From that period until he was twenty years of age he worked as a farm hand, and owing to the thrifty and diligent habits, instilled into him from earliest childhood acquired sufficient capital to begin farming for himself. His father had left him a tract of forty acres of unimproved land and upon this he erected the necessary buildings for his comfort, then turned his attention to the cultivation of his farm in connection with which he operated some rented land. He was subsequently able to purchase three acres across the road from his place together with a comfortable residence and soon thereafter added to this an adjoining thirty-seven acres, making the aggregate of his holdings eighty acres. Mr. GRABER’s land is well improved and in a high state of cultivation, yielding abundant harvests in return for his well directed efforts and constant application. His fields are devoted to general farming in addition to which Mr. GRABER makes a specialty of stock-raising, keeping a herd of cows and eight horses while he annually raises about fifty hogs.

In March, 1892, Mr. GRABER was united in marriage to Miss Jennie H. MAXWELL, a daughter of Isaac and Sarah (LOGSDON) MAXWELL, the father a native of Indiana and the mother of Ohio. Isaac MAXWELL in his childhood removed to Iowa with his parents, who located on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Buchanan township, Jefferson county, during the pioneer days, their farm being located northwest of Beckwith. When old enough he started on an independent career and on the 15th of November, 1866, married Miss Sarah E. LOGSDON, only daughter of William and Hannah (RIZOR) LOGSDON and operated his father-in-law’s farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in addition to which he purchased an adjoining forty acres of his own in Round Prairie township. They were the parents of three children, namely: John W., who with his family now lives on the old home place; Jennie H., the wife of Daniel B. GRABER; and Etta M., the wife of William HORTON. All reside near the old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac MAXWELL were attendants at the Free Methodist church, of which she is a member. In their declining days Mrs. MAXWELL proved a great help and comfort to her parents and it can be said truthfully that there were few in the township more highly esteemed and respected than Mr. and Mrs. MAXWELL.

William LOGSDON, the grandfather was born in Homes county, Ohio, February 26, 1823. In 1845 he married Miss Hannah RIZOR and they moved in the pioneer days of 1853 with teams from Ohio to Iowa, where they bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, three miles southwest of Lockridge in Round Prairie township. Gradually, he transformed the timber farm by the hardest kind of work into arable land at the same time buying in stock for different shippers and adding to his income in various ways. To-day it is one of the valuable farm properties in Jefferson county. William LOGSDON lived on this farm to the patriarchal age of eighty-eight years, four months and three days, his death occurring on June 29, 1911, while his wife passed away September 23, 1896. By this marriage three children were born, two boys who died in infancy and a daughter, Sarah E., who married Isaac MAXWELL. In 1871, Mr. and Mrs. William LOGSDON and fifty others formed the Free Methodist Society at Coalport, and of that congregation only one member was surviving on Mr. LOGSDON’s death. He was a kind-hearted man always looking at the bright side of life, trusting in his Saviour and believing in humanity and well would the word apply “I have fought a good fight – I have finished my work – I have kept the faith.”

Isaac MAXWELL operated his father-in-law’s farm and his forty acres in Round Prairie township, continuing to be identified with agricultural pursuits until his death on the 19th of November, 1904. He was fifty-eight years of age, while the mother, who now makes her home with Mrs. GRABER, is sixty-three years. Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. GRABER there have been born three children: Zelta May, who was born on the 16th of April, 1894, and who died on the 23d of May, 1908; Bernard S., who was born March 13, 1899; and Elda E., whose birth occurred on the 2d of November, 1903.

The family affiliate with the Protestant churches, and his political indorsement Mr. GRABER gives to the republican party, but he does not take an active part in township campaigns, though he has served as a member of the board of school directors in his district for some time and has given good satisfaction in the capacity. Mr. GRABER is held in high regard in his community, ever having been found to be trustworthy and reliable while his integrity is above question.”

I am copying this for genealogical purposes and am not related to said individuals.