Henry, Dorwin E.

HENRY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/29/2021 at 11:52:18

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.885

DORWIN E. HENRY
D. E. Henry, although one of the most recent arrivals in Warren County, has won for himself a place among the representative citizens. He has made his home here since 1902 and is today the owner of an excellent farm of three hundred and twenty acres on section 5, Palmyra Township. The tract is well improved, giving every evidence of the progressive ideas that now find favor with the successful agriculturist.
Mr. Henry was born in Bloomington, McLean County, Illinois, July 1I, 1857. His father, W. E. Henry, was a native of Butler County, Ohio, and in early life learned the cabinetmaker's trade. He afterward became a farmer and lived a life of intense and well directed activity. With his parents he removed to Illinois, the family home being established at Twin Grove, McLean County, where they were pioneer settlers. W. E. Henry was married there to Miss Mary Snell, a native of Delaware, Ohio. He took up the occupation of farming, broke the sod and tilled a tract of land in McLean County which is still in possession of the family, as is also the government deed which was signed by President Fillmore. There Mr. Henry carried on general agricul­tural pursuits for many years or until his death which occurred August 20, 1895, when he was seventy-six years of age. His wife survived him for a brief period and passed away February 22, 1898, at the age of seventy-five years. They were the parents of twelve children, eight sons and four daugh­ters.
D. E. Henry was the second in order of birth and was reared upon the home farm. He had the benefit of instruction in the Wesleyan University at Bloomington and his sister was the first girl graduate of that school. Mr. Henry had as a teacher, L. H. Kerrick, who won the first prize for black cattle in Chicago. On the completion of his education he returned to the home farm where he remained until twenty-three years of age, when he took up the work of railroad bridge building. He followed that for two years and was then married and established a home of his own.
It was on the 22d of November, 1882, that Mr. Henry wedded Miss Eliza­beth Fantz, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Francis Fantz, who on leaving his native land of Germany became a resident of the Keystone state, but afterward removed to Illinois. At the time of his marriage Mr. Henry rented a farm which he cultivated for seven years. In the meantime his untir­ing industry and his careful expenditure brought to him capital that enabled him to purchase eighty acres of land in Colfax, Illinois. This he partially improved, residing thereon for five years, after which he removed to Polk County, Iowa, in 1896. He then rented land for a year, after which he joined a brother at Monroe, Jasper County, Iowa. He then purchased eight hundred and thirty-four acres of land in one body, built a house thereon and made the place his home for three years. On the expiration of that period he sold the property after which he engaged in cultivating a rented farm for three years. He next came to Warren County and bought three hundred and twenty acres of valuable and improved land, since which time he has given his atten­tion and energies to its further development and improvement. It is now a fine farm property, supplied with all modern conveniences and accessories. Here he raises thoroughbred shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs, raising and feeding from two to three carloads per year. While in Jasper County he was extensively engaged in feeding stock. He also raises Shire horses and keeps a stallion and is a breeder of good horses. His father had the reputation of raising the best horses in McLean County, Illinois, so that Mr. Henry has been more or less familiar with the business from early life. His stock-raising claims much of his attention at the present time and is to him a profitable source of income.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Henry have been born six children: William D., Otis W., Royal R., Arthur, Maud and Charles, all of whom are living upon the home farm. Mr. Henry is a lifelong Republican, giving stalwart support to the party where state and national issues are involved, although at local elections he votes independently. He attends the Methodist Episcopal Church and is a supporter of every interest that he believes will promote the welfare of the community. Although he started out in life empty-handed, he is now in possession of a handsome property which has come to him as the reward of earnest and persistent effort. In his farm work he is known as a most pro­gressive farmer for he follows methods which are thoroughly up to date and which bring the best results. He displays sound judgment in all of, his business affairs and is counted a valuable addition to the citizenship of Warren County.