Carroll County IAGenWeb

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY IOWA

A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement

VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912

Transcribed by Sharon Elijah August 20, 2020

Mr. Hungerford

John B. Hungerford, postmaster of Carroll, Iowa, for forty-five years and well known as a newspaper man and as an energetic and public-spirited citizen who has contributed in no small degree in upbuilding the best interests of his county and the state, was born at Smethport, Pennsylvania, in 1854. In 1865 the family removed to Iowa settling on a farm near Ottumwa, where the subject of our review continued until after the death of his father, in 1869. He received his preliminary education in the public schools and later attended the State Agricultural College at Ames, from which he was graduated in 1877. Almost immediately after leaving college Mr. Hungerford became identified with newspaper work. He began as a reporter on the Burlington Hawk-Eye. This was in the days of Frank Hatton and Bob Burdette and the young reporter there received an impulse which, by years of close application and good judgment, made his name known throughout the state. In 1885 he became the owner of the Carroll Herald and for twenty-five years was at the head of that paper, which soon assumed a position as one of the strong republican newspapers of the state. It was also recognized as one of the most successful newspapers, outside of the large cities, to be found in Iowa. On January 1, 1910, on account of impaired health, Mr. Hungerford retired temporarily from editorial work but still retains ownership of the paper and directs its general policy. He is known as one of the active and progressive editors in a state that abounds in good newspapers and as a writer he has few superiors in the west. His paper has for many years commanded an influence which is not commonly accorded publications outside of the large centers of population, and this influence has been due in a very great degree to the advanced position which the paper has taken in all matters of vital interest pertaining to this locality. Never an extreme partisan, Mr. Hungerford has gained many friends even among those holding different political views from himself, and in all his utterances he has constantly aimed to promote the permanent welfare of his adopted state. In the course of a long editorial career he has given special attention to higher education, believing that it is through the improvement of those institutions and the encouragement of attendance upon the same that many of the greatest benefits to the republic may be realized. His efforts have met in many quarters with hearty responses and in recognition of an unselfish service in behalf of education he was appointed a member of the board of trustees to the State Agricultural College in May, 1894, serving with ability until July, 1909, when the law went into effect placing the three institutions of higher education of the state under a single board. For eight years while he was acting as a member of the board of trustees he served as its chairman. In 1889 Mr. Hungerford was appointed by President Harrison postmaster of Carroll and served four years. He was again appointed to the position in 1897 by President McKinley, reappointed by succeeding administrations until the years of his incumbency of the office numbered eighteen.

Mr. Hungerford is married and has two children: Josephine, who will graduate in June, 1911, from the State Agricultural College; and John, now twelve years of age, in attendance at the public school. Mr. Hungerford is known as a scholarly gentleman, a good business man and a patriotic citizen who has always assisted to the extent of his ability in advancing the public interests. Through his well directed enterprise and unflagging industry he has acquired a competence which bids fair for some years to come to keep the wolf from the door. However, the principal wealth of Mr. Hungerford is an honorable, upright character which after all is the greatest boon that anyone could ask. He won success through years of earnest endeavor and easily ranked as one of the substantial men of Carroll county, belonging to that class which leaves a permanent impress for all that is most desirable in American life. He is now and has been for the past several months proprietor and editor of a weekly paper at Jefferson, Iowa.

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