That the efforts of Joel Faires during a long and active business career proved resultant forces in the acquirement of success is indicated by the fact that, after about a half century of energy, industry and perseverance along agricultural lines, he has been able to put aside active business cares and, in the evening of life, enjoy in well earned rest the fruits of former toil.
One of Ohio’s native sons, he was born in Morgan county, December 10, 1837, a son of Thomas T. and Mary (Gifford) Faires. John D. Faires, the grandfather of our subject, was of Scotch parentage and married Miss Jane Besse, a native of Pennsylvania and of German lineage. Their home was established in Ohio, and in that state both passed away. The maternal grandfather, Alexander Gifford, who was born in Maine, was of English descent. He followed the sea during his lifetime and on one trip off the Greenland coast froze all of his fingers.
The parents of Joel Faires were natives of Ohio, the father’s birth occurring in Guernsey county, May 9, 1809, and the mother’s in Morgan county on the 27th of July, 1815. The former passed away on the 29th of July, 1887, while the latter survived until October 5, 1889. She had come to Cedar county, Iowa, with her son Joel in 1868, and after a residence of a few years here removed to the western part of Iowa, and later to Andrew county, Missouri, where she passed away at the home of her son. By her marriage to Mr. Faires she had become the mother of nine children, as follows: Lydia Osborn, deceased; Charity, the wife of Isaac Murphy, of Morgan county, a brother of Mrs. Joel Faires; Joel, of this review; Patience, the deceased wife of Thomas Chappelear; Pearl, who passed away in early life; Ruth, who also died young; Olive, the widow of LaFayette Hunicutt, residing in Clay county, Nebraska; Esther, who wedded Neri Smith, of Clay county, Nebraska; and R. M., a resident of Andrew county, Missouri.
No event of special importance came to vary the routine of life for Joel Faires during the period of his boyhood and youth, which was spent in the Ohio home of his parents, the common schools of that district affording him the educational advantages which he enjoyed. There he grew to manhood and, having obtained thorough and comprehensive training in the work of the farm under the direction of his father, took up agricultural pursuits as an independent venture, making that occupation his life work. He remained a resident of his native state until the year 1868, when with his family, which then consisted of his wife and four sons, and accompanied by his mother, he came to Iowa and took up his abode in Iowa township, Cedar county. From that time until 1909, covering a period of more than four decades, he was closely identified with the farming interests of this section of the state and left the impress of his individuality not only upon agricultural interests but also upon the public life of the community in which he resided. His home farm consisted of one hundred acres on section 20, Iowa township, and later he acquired eighty acres on the northeast quarter of that section, while subsequently he purchased, in connection with his son eighty-seven and a half acres on the county line. He never sought to extend his efforts into other channels or divide his time among other interests but concentrated his attention upon agriculture and to this fact is doubtless due in large measure his success. He carefully cultivated his fields, made a close study of soil conditions, knew the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and learned by experience the best methods of plowing, planting and harvesting, and with the passing of years he prospered in his undertaking. He studied modern methods of agriculture and adopted those which in his estimation were most feasible, and as time passed his keen discernment and practical course became factors in the attainment of a success which makes it possible for him to enjoy in well earned retirement all of the comforts and many of the luxuries. Having disposed of all of his property holdings save the old homestead farm, preparatory to seeking the advantages offered by city life, on the 1st of April, 1909, he removed to West Liberty and there purchased his present comfortable and attractive residence at the corner of Columbus and Sixth streets.
Ere his arrival in Iowa Mr. Faires was united in marriage, in Morgan county, Ohio, to Miss Ursula Murphy, the ceremony being celebrated on the 20th of January, 1859. She is a native of Morgan county, where her birth occurred on the 29th of January, 1840, and is one of a family of four sons and five daughters born unto John and Jane (Boylan) Murphy. The parents, who were both born in Ohio, the father on the 10th of November, 1789, and the mother on the 25th of July, 1807, have passed away, the death of the former occurring December 20, 1884, and the latter March 22, 1886. While still residents of Ohio four children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Faires, as follows: Ira, at home; Owen, residing in Muscatine county, Iowa, where he is engaged in general farming; Elmer, of Iowa township, Cedar county; and Clark, living in Lone Tree, Iowa, where he is conducting a jewelry establishment. After their arrival in Iowa six children were added to the family, namely: Minerva, the wife of William Crees, of Iowa township, Cedar county; Maleta, the twin sister of Minerva and the wife of W. W. Cheadle, of Johnson county; Lena, who married Arthur Deal, of Des Moines, Iowa; Viola; Purley; and Myrtle, the wife of F. R. Horn, operating the old Faires homestead in Iowa township, Cedar county.
During his residence in his native state Mr. Faires saw active military service as a member of the state militia, serving as first lieutenant of a company of one hundred and eighteen men, known as Squirrel Hunters, called out during Morgan’s raid. He has been a stalwart republican since the Fremont campaign, and, being a man of strong opinions who possesses the courage of his convictions, his position upon any question or issue has never been an equivocal one. The keynote to his career has been progress and patriotism, and it is a well known fact that he has at all times taken a firm stand in support of all matters pertaining to the political and moral welfare of the community. He has already passed the Psalmist’s allotted span of three score years and ten and can look back without regret upon a past that has ever been characterized by high ideals and noble principles, while he can look forward to the future without fear.
