Art, Alex Y.

ART

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 13:09:49

ALEX Y. ART
Alex Y. Art is accounted one of the successful farmers stock raisers and honored citizens of Iowa, and is today one of the residents of Hartford, Warren county. A native of Ohio, he was born in Highland county, on the 13th of November, 1836, and at the early age of thirteen years started out in life for himself. Since that time he has been dependent entirely upon his own resources, so that whatever success he has achieved is the reward of his own labors. The first year after beginning life's battle for himself he spent in Indiana, and then removed to Illinois, locating in Knox county, where he remained for three years. In 1856 he arrived in Iowa, settling at Chariton, Lucas county, where he worked on a farm and for a stock company. In 1859, imbued with the spirit of adventure, Mr. Art gave up the quiet pursuits of farm life and went to the plains of the West. In 1862 he made his way to Oregon, and a little later located in the Territory of Idaho, becoming one of its pioneers. Loading teams with provisions and other necessaries, he thus conveyed them 300 miles to the Boise basin of Idaho, a mining region, which at that time was a place of great excitement. There he conducted a store and bakery and at the same time prospected for mining claims. Subsequently he was for two years engaged in operating a ranch on East Payette river in that region, and selling his hay, oats, potatoes, and onions at what would now seem fabulous prices. The hay brought $140 per ton, and other things were at the same ratio. This business, however, was not unattended by danger, for the goods had to be “packed” on horseback through 180 miles of territory infested by hostile Indians. Mr. Art was one of the men who assisted in formulating the government of the Territory, and was one of the among the industrious and broad-gauged men who opened up that region to civilization. In the fall of 1867 he again came to Iowa, with the intention, however, of returning to the field of his active operations in the Northwest, but instead of so doing he purchased land in Warren county, and settled down to the quiet life of a farmer, after eight years of thrilling adventure and successful enterprise in the wilds of the West. In February, 1871, Mr. Art was united in marriage to Miss Sarah M., daughter of Thomas and Rachel Pendry, natives of Ohio. Mrs. Art died January 26 ,1891, leaving six children, - Lou B., Thomas L., Charlie, Mark A., Robert A., and Harry E., all yet with their father. In 1875 Mr. Art purchased the farm on which he now resides, the homestead being located on section 21, Richland township. It formerly contained 640 acres, but he has since sold a portion, having at the present time 360 of as fine land as can be found in this State, which is noted for its excellent farms. For twenty eight-years he has engaged in feeding cattle and their sale has added materially to his income. He has always been a great lover of horses and has been the owner of some very fine stock. In 1890 he went to Kentucky and purchased at a cost of many thousand dollars some very fine horses. He is now the owner of Trombone Rex, one of the finest and best trotting horses ever taken out of Kentucky. Another of equally high rank is Eden Girl, and altogether he owns sixty-five high-blood animals, unsurpassed on any stock farm in the State. The superiority of his stock is well shown by the fact that at the Iowa State Fair of 1895, out of the horses and colts he exhibited there, twelve secured prizes, exclusive of the silver medals to Elise and her two colts, for the younger of which he refused at the fair the sum of $500. Through his enterprising and progressive spirit Mr. Art has done much for Iowa in the improvement of the driving horses, and is one of the highly esteemed and thoroughly reliable dealers in the State. He deserves great credit for the improvement he has introduced and his straightforward dealing has gained him general confidence.
For a quarter of a century Mr. Art has been an earnest and zealous member of the Masonic fraternity. belonging to Hartford Lodge No 83, F. & A.M. In politics he is a Democrat, and is a genial whole souled gentleman who has many stanch friends.
Source: A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1896, vol.1, p.295