ADNA P. ANDRE

Among the residents of Linn township who devote their time and attention to farming and stock-raising with gratifying success is Adna P. Andre, whose home is on section 3 and who is regarded as one of the leading citizens of his community. One of Cedar county’s native sons, he was born in the township where he still resides, November 3, 1855, his parents being Andrew and Nancy (Downing) Andre. His father was born in Pennsylvania, January 1, 1829, and was a young man on coming to the west with his father, John Andre, about 1840. Choosing Cedar county as his future home, he purchased land in Linn township and engaged in its operation for many years, owning at the time of his death one hundred and sixty acres of well improved and valuable land. In this county he married Miss Nancy Downing, whose birth occurred in Indiana, November 27, 1831. Her father, Preston Downing, was also a pioneer of Cedar county, having located here about 1841. The father of our subject died on the 29th of October, 1900, and the mother passed away May 14, 1902. They were the parents of five children, three sons and two daughters: Samuel, now a resident of Cedar Rapids; Amos, of Scranton, Greene county, Iowa; Melissa, the wife of John Heneks, a farmer of Linn township, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; and Lydia, the wife of Clem Heneks of Cedar Rapids.

Adna P. Andre, who completes the family, spent his boyhood and youth on the home farm, giving his father the benefit of his services until twenty-three years of age. He was then married in Pioneer township on the 28th of February, 1878, to Miss Barbara Kohl, a native of Linn county, Iowa, and a daughter of Simon Kohl, one of the pioneers of this state from Pennsylvania. This union has been blessed by six children, four sons and two daughters, namely: Ray R., now a carpenter and joiner of Cedar county; Leo M., Melvin and Marvin, who are all at home and assist in the operation of the farm; Catherine Esther, who was formerly engaged in teaching school but is now at home; and Lavina Pearl, who is still under the parental roof. The daughters are now engaged in dressmaking.

After his marriage Mr. Andre followed farming on rented land for some years but in 1891 purchased his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 3, Linn township, which at that time was only partially improved. He has since erected good and substantial buildings upon the place. He has a nice, two-story residence, three barns, a double crib and a good hog house. The farm is divided into fields of convenient size by a woven wire fence, and the neat and thrifty appearance of the place indicates the progressive spirit of the owner. In connection with general farming he follows stock-raising and fattens for the market from two to three carloads of hogs each year. Besides his farm he owns a twelve-acre tract of timber land on Cedar river.

Since attaining his majority Mr. Andre has been a stanch supporter of the democratic party and has taken quite an active and prominent part in public affairs. He has been especially interested in the schools of his community and for a time served as president of the school board, while at present he is secretary of the township schools. He has served for six consecutive years and two years at another time as assessor of his township and is now a candidate for reelection. He also filled the office of supervisor of roads in Pioneer township and later in Linn township and has been a delegate to the county conventions of his party. He served on the petit jury a number of times and has been found true to every trust reposed in him whether of a public or private nature. His official duties have always been most capably and acceptably discharged, and he is justly numbered among the most progressive and public-spirited citizens of his community.