Charles Edward Hircock

BOWDEN, HIRCOCK, ORRIS

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/12/2005 at 16:27:25

Charles Edward Hircock, a farmer residing on section 35, Jackson township, on two hundred and forty acres of land, was born in Ohio on the 14th of July, 1866. Mention is made of his parents in the sketch of W. F. Hircock, of Lincoln township, which appears elsewhere in this work. Our subject is the sixth in order of birth in a family of seven children, and the educational opportunities which he enjoyed were those afforded by the Lincoln school in Scott township. By the time that he was grown he was familiar with all phases of agricultural work, and when twenty-two years of age began farming in connection with his brothers. For one year he lived upon the Rippey farm in Lincoln township, but in 1898 he purchased land in Webster township, where for four years he resided. In 1902 he removed to his present farm in Jackson township, and now gives his attention to the cultivation of the soil, the production of grains and the raising of high grade stock. His land is naturally fertile and as he uses the best methods of cultivation his labors are rewarded by excellent crops, the sale of which bring him a good income, which is supplemented by the profits of his stock-raising.

In 1893 Mr. Hircock married Miss Alma A. Orris, who is a native of Washington county, Iowa, and is a daughter of Reuben and Olive (Bowden) Orris, the former born in Pennsylvania in 1839, and the latter born in Iowa in 1849. Both are still living in Winterset. The father learned the carpenter's trade in his youth and worked at that and at wagon-making for a number of years. He came to Iowa before the Civil war, and in 1861 enlisted in an Iowa regiment of volunteer infantry, serving for four years. Upon removing to Madison county he settled first in Webster township, but later took up his residence in Lincoln township, where he farmed until his retirement from active life. He is a republican and keeps well informed as to the trend of events in our national life.

To him and his wife were born four children, Mrs. Hircock being the eldest. She is the mother of a son, Everett A., who was born March 13, 1894, and is still with his parents. Although without political aspirations, Mr. Hircock exercises his right of franchise, believing it a citizen's duty to do so, and supports the republican party. He does not desire to be in the public eye in any connection, being content to concentrate his energies upon the work of his farm and thus contribute to the agricultural development of the county.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman Mueller.