Jacob M. Hochstetler

CALISON, DAVIES, EVERETT, HOCHSTETLER, LYDDON, MAY, MILLER, PEASE

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/14/2005 at 09:09:09

Jacob M. Hochstetler, who has achieved more than usual success as a farmer and stock-raiser, owns an excellent farm on sections 28 and 29, Penn township. His birth occurred on the 17th of February, 1840, near Farmerstown, Holmes county, Ohio, his parents being Moses and Eve (Miller) Hochstetler. The father was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, of Swiss and German parentage, while the mother was born in Pennsylvania of German ancestry. They were married in Ohio and there located upon a farm, where both passed away. The father was progressive and active and was successful in his agricultural labors.

Jacob M. Hochstetler traces his ancestry back to one Jacob Hochstetler, who, on the 1st of September, 1736, arrived at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on the good ship Ralph Harle from Rotterdam, Holland. In the history of the Hochstetler family compiled and published by Rev. Harvey and William Hochstetler and entitled, The Descendants of Jacob Hochstetler, the Immigrant of 1736, it is shown that there have been ninety-one thousand, seventy-nine heads of families bearing the name Hochstetler and descended from Jacob Hochstetler.

Mr. Hochstetler of this review attended the district schools of Ohio when a boy but as he was allowed to go to school only when his services were not needed upon the farm, he attended only from thirty to thirty-eight days each year. When
fifteen years of age he left school and removed to northern Indiana, where he worked at the carpenter's trade. He had served as an apprentice for two years in Ohio and continued his apprenticeship for a year after taking up his abode in the Hoosier state. At the end of that time he began to work at his trade and became known as an excellent carpenter. In 1868 he removed to Iowa and located just across the road from his present farm, buying eighty acres on section 28, Penn township. He has added to his first purchase and now holds title to three hundred and twenty acres of well improved land, eighty thereof being his present homestead on section 29, Penn township, a quarter section lying on section 28. Penn township, and another eighty acre tract being situated on section 8, Jackson township. All of the land is improved, under cultivation and well drained and he derives a handsome income from farming and stock-raising. For forty-seven years he has been a farmer of Penn township and has at all times taken great pride in his work, seeking to gain in efficiency as the years have passed.

In 1867 Mr. Hochstetler was married in Indiana to Miss Hilpah Pease, a daughter of Shubel M. and Mary (Everett) Pease. Her father, who was born, in Germany went to England when but a youth and there met his future wife, who was a native of that country. They came to the United States when young and were married in Massachusetts. Later they migrated westward and located in Licking county, Ohio, where the father followed the wheelwright's trade but subsequently the family home was established in Indiana, and the father erected the first sawmill in Elkhart county, that state. He died at Goshen, Indiana, at the beginning of the Civil war and his widow subsequently came to Iowa and made her home with our subject, passing away when seventy-nine years of age. Mrs. Hochstetler died on the 27th of February, 1914, at Creston, Iowa, while visiting her daughter, Mrs. Eva A. Calison. A son, Charles Henry, who was born on the 18th of May, 1872, married Miss Lillian L. May, a daughter of George May and they have four children: Paul, who was born on the 5th of March, 1906, Eva, whose birth occurred on the 19th of November, 1908; Francis, born October 20, 1909; and Anna, whose natal day was the 23d of February, 1913. Charles H. Hochstetler for two years served as deputy county treasurer and on the 15th of January, 1909, was appointed treasurer to fill out a short term. Subsequently he was elected to the office, the duties of which he discharged with ability and conscientiousness. Upon the expiration of his term he returned to the homestead and assists his father with the cultivation of the land. He is a republican and for ten years was township clerk of Penn township. Fraternally he is identified with Mount Tabor Lodge, No. 293, A. F. & A. M., of Dexter, Iowa and Winterset Chapter, No. 43, K. A. M. The second child of our subject and his wife, Mamie E., was born on the l0th of April, 1874, and is at home. Eva A., born on the 9th of December, 1876, married M. S. Calison, a jeweler of Creston, Iowa, and they have a daughter, Ruth, born July 4, 1909. Everett E., whose birth occurred on the 13th of October, 1878, married Miss Ina Lyddon and they have two children: Cecil, born on the 20th of September, 1905; and Clifford, born January 20, 1907. Everett E. Hochstetler is farming in Guthrie county Iowa, and is meeting with gratifying success in his work. Lulu L., born on the 25th of March, 1880, married Theodore Davies and they conduct a restaurant at Crosby, North Dakota.

Mr. Hochstetler, who is a republican in political belief, was for one term township treasurer and also served acceptably as president of the township school board His religious faith is indicated in his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church of Penn township, to the support of which he contributes generously. He is identified with Mount Tabor Lodge, No. 293, A. F. & A. M., of Dexter, Iowa; Damascus Chapter, No. 97, K. A. M, of Stuart, Iowa; Alhambra Commandery K. T., of Stuart; and Tabernacle Lodge of Perfection, Valley of Des Moines Iowa Consistory. He is still actively engaged in farming, although he has passed the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey and also gives much attention to stock-raising, feeding a large number of cattle and hogs each year. He is one of the substantial men of his township and throughout life has been a good citizen, measuring up to a high standard of manhood. He is widely known throughout the county and those who have been most intimately associated with him hold him in the highest esteem, which is indubitable proof of genuine worth.

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