JOHN H. SMUTZ

SMUTZ, MCCRACKEN

Posted By: STurner (email)
Date: 4/19/2019 at 14:50:52

JOHN H. SMUTZ.

One of the more successful farmers and rising young men of Cedar township, Lee county, Iowa, is John H. Smutz, who was born November 28, 1870, in Van Buren county, Iowa, the son of Benjamin R. and Sarah Jane Smutz. During his boyhood he received a good education in the public schools of his native county, a preparation for active life which he has since supplemented by extensive reading, and until attaining his majority he assisted materially in the work of his father’s farm, acquiring a familiarity with the underlying principles of agriculture and farm management and making a study of the various problems which must be understood and mastered in order to achieve success in this line of endeavor.

On March 10, 1891, Mr. Smutz was united in marriage to Miss Cora McCracken, who was born in Harrisburg township, Van Buren county, Iowa, and they removed to Lee county, where Mr. Smutz purchased 105 acres of land forming a portion of his present farm, which original purchase he has increased until he now owns a tract of 159 1-2 acres. Here he conducts general farming and stockraising, and by the exercise of energy, enterprise, care and attention to the details of management he has been very successful in securing from the soil large returns for labor, time and thought expended, and has proved himself fully capable of grappling with this particular industry in its complex modern phases. While the land was originally unimproved, it is now in a high state of cultivation, and all the improvements, which are of the latest designs, are the work of Mr. Smutz, including the farm buildings and the handsome and commodious new residence building. The home has a pleasant atmosphere of hospitality, and is the scene of much social intercourse of an enjoyable nature, Mr. and Mrs. Smutz being very popular young people in their community and having many friends. Mrs. Smutz has enjoyed considerable educational advantages, and is a lady of unusual ability, having been for five years a teacher in the schools of Van Buren township previous to her marriage. She comes of an old and well-known Van Buren county family, her parents being still residents of that county, and is the third of a family of seven brothers and sisters. The father of Mr. Smutz also still continues to reside in Van Buren county, although the wife and mother is now deceased; and he is the second of a family of three. To Mr. and Mrs. Smutz have been born three sons and two daughters, Craig, Merle, Harley, Ralph and Gladys.

Mr. Smutz has ever shown sympathy with all movements calculated to advance the material and moral interests of the community in which he lives, and attends and supports the Baptist church, of which Mrs. Smutz is an active member, and while he has never sought for himself the adventitious honor which attaches to public office, he has given much thought to political questions as affecting the prosperity of country, state and nation, and early united with the Republican party as the best means of expressing his views on current issues in a practical manner. He is widely known throughout this section, as a young man of marked business ability, and has many friend who predict for him a future bright with honor and success as the reward of conscientious effort.

Source: BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW OF LEE COUNTY

CHICAGO, HOBART PUBLISHING COMPANY – 1905

Transcription typed/proofed as article was originally published in 1905