J. B. ERION
J. B. Erion, was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, August 29, 1842, and is a son of Philip and Matilda Erion. He spent his early life, and obtained his education in his native State. In 1861 he entered the army, enlisting in company A, of the Fourth Ohio Infantry, and serving until October 22, 1862, when he was honorably discharged at Harper's Ferry. He returned from the army to Knox county, Ohio, where he attended school during the following winter. January 1, 1863, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Leonard, a native of Ohio. In the fall of the same year they removed to Linn county, Iowa, where they resided till 1870, then removing to Bates county, Missouri, which was their home until 1876. In that year they returned to Linn county, where he engaged in the business of keeping a drug and book store, at Springville, continuing it about a year and during the time published a monthly paper, for the purpose of affording himself, and other business men, an advertising medium. It was called the Springville News. After closing out his drug and book business, he, in company with a young man from Cornell college, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, established the Springville Independent, to which he devoted his whole time. In 1879, he sold his interest in that paper to his partner, and in March, 1880, removed to Lewis, where he has since remained, engaged in conducting the Independent. Mr. and Mrs. Erion have six children - Jennie Mabel, now the wife of W. A. Terry, Luella M., Alice L., Francis L., Etta P. and L. De Witt. Mr. Erion is post commander of the G. A. R. and permanent secretary of the I. O. O. F. lodge.
Contributed by Lisa Varnes-Rex from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pg. 455.
