John Wesley Likens

BOSSIER, LIKENS, PEEK, OVERHOLT, MCMARTIN, RANKIN, STEPHENS, TOWNSEND

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/12/2004 at 22:54:57

“History of Madison County Iowa and Its People”
Herman A. Mueller, Supervising Editor
Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1915

John Wesley Likens, who owns a general mercantile store in Truro and is president of the Truro Savings Bank, was born in Scott county, Iowa, on the 2d of December, 1857. His parents, Levi and Susan (Bossier) Likens, were both natives of Blair county, Pennsylvania, and the father was born the 3d of January, 1823, of Dutch and Scotch descent, while the mother was of Pennsylvania Dutch stock and was born May 18, 1830. They were married in the Keystone state in December, 1850, and in 1852 removed to Scott county, Iowa, where the father purchased land and engaged in agriculture. In 1869 he sold his farm there and removed to Sheridan county, Missouri, where he bought land, which he cultivated until his demise, which took place on the 29th of March, 1902. Following his demise the mother removed to Truro and now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. A. F. Rankin. There were seven children in the family: Angeline, who was born on the 8th of November, 1851, is the widow of George Townsend and makes her home in Oklahoma. William Watson, born April 8, 1853, died on the 12th of April, 1854. Alberta Florence, born January 3, 1855, married Benjamin Rankin, who has passed away. She is now living in Truro, Iowa, and more detailed mention of her life is given elsewhere in this work. John Wesley, of this review, is the next in order of birth. Anderson, who was born on the i4th of November, 1861, is now living in Oakland, California. Laura May, born May 25, 1867, married Van Stephens and they are living in Flagg, Missouri. Ida Lulu, who was born October 6, 1873, gave her hand in marriage to Jesse O. Peek and they now reside in Oklahoma.

John Wesley Likens began his education in the district schools of Scott county, Iowa, and later attended high school in Davenport. He accompanied his parents upon their removal to Missouri and engaged in farming until January 10, 1884, when he arrived in Old Peru, this county, and engaged in the mercantile business with his brother-in-law, Benjamin R. Rankin, under the firm name of Rankin & Likens. On the 15th of October, 1885, Mr. Likens came to Truro and established a general store here, which he has since conducted with gratifying success. One phase of his business that has proved especially profitable is the buying and selling of country produce and many of the farmers in the country tributary to Truro deal with him. In 1898 he founded a private bank in Truro, which he conducted as such until April, 1911, when it was reorganized as the Truro Savings Bank. He served as cashier of the institution until 1913, when he was elected president, which office he still holds. In 1904 he removed with his family to Des Moines in order to educate his daughters and is still living there. He owns a good residence property in that city and has made many friends there.

On the 6th of May, 1885, in Missouri, Mr. Likens married Miss Jessie Overholt, a native of Pennsylvania, and they have become the parents of two daughters. Belle, who was born on the 6th of December, 1886, became the wife of P. W. McMartin and passed away on the 26th of October, 1909. Nola, whose birth occurred on the 21st of April, 1888, is at home with her parents in Des Moines. She was educated in the Des Moines high school and in Drake University.

Mr. Likens is a republican and takes a commendable interest in everything relating to public affairs but is not an office seeker. Both he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church of Truro and he also holds membership in the Masonic blue lodge, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America of that place. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and also a Noble of the Mystic Shrine, belonging to the consistory and Shrine of Des Moines. He supervises the operation of the Truro Savings Bank, of which he is president, and the conduct of his general store in Truro and is one of the important factors in the commercial life of that city, although for the past eleven years he has resided in Des Moines. He holds a high place in the estimation of the people of Truro and there are many who value highly his friendship.

Madison Biographies maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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