A neat and attractive farm of one hundred and sixty acres located in Inland township, Cedar county, pays tribute to the well directed efforts of H. W. Franco, whose close application and wise management in connection with his agricultural interests are proving resultant forces in the attainment of gratifying success.
Mr. Franco was born in Scott county, Iowa, on the 17th of December, 1857, and is a son of Samuel Franco, who was born in Germany on the 19th of March, 1827. The father came to America in 1856 and in the following year took up his abode in Scott county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming for three years. At the end of that time, or in the spring of 1860, he came to Cedar county and here purchased a farm of forty acres, which he operated in connection with rented land. He still resides on a farm of eighty acres in Center township. He was married in New York state in 1857, to Mary Ann Smeltzer, a native of Ireland, but of German descent. She is still living. To them were born three children: H. W., of this review; Charles; and Rose, the wife of Robert Chapman of Center township. The father has been a life-long democrat, and has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits.
No event of special importance came to vary the routine of life for H. W. Franco during the period of his boyhood and youth, which was spent in his parents’ home, and in the district schools of Cedar county he acquired a good education. His vacation periods were devoted to the tasks that usually fall to the lot of the country lad, and amid the busy activities of rural life he early became familiar with the best methods of plowing, planting and harvesting. For a period of thirty years he also owned and operated a threshing machine. He remained at home until attaining his majority, when he rented land from his father and began farming independently. The thorough and comprehensive training which he had received on the homestead now proved of great value to him, and he prospered in his undertaking. Later his industry and economy enabled him to purchase a farm, becoming the owner of eighty acres, to which he later added an adjoining tract of eighty acres, so that his home place now consists of one hundred and sixty acres. Here he carries on general farming and stock-raising and in the conduct of his affairs is demonstrating the value of industry, energy, close application and determination as features in the attainment of success. He early learned the lesson that prosperity must be purchased at the price of earnest, well defined labor, and as the years have gone by his record has been one of continuous activity, in which has been accorded due recognition of indefatigable effort and intelligently directed labor.
Mr. Franco laid the foundation for a happy home life of his own in his marriage, in 1883, to Miss Emma Ingram, a daughter of Robert and Rosanna (Siple) Ingram. Both parents are now deceased, the father passing away in Canada, in December, 1875, and the mother’s death occurring in Cedar county, May 30, 1906. The latter’s mother with part of her family came to this county in April, 1878, twelve years after the arrival of two of her children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Franco have been born four children: Willie and Wella, twins, who were born July 29, 1884, and died in infancy; Fred C., who married Bessie Kessler, a daughter of Scott S. Kessler, of Bennett, Iowa, and has two children, Dorothy and an infant; and Lester, who married Renna Peirsall, whose mother is living in Bennett.
Mr. and Mrs. Franco are charter members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Bennett and he has served as steward for over twenty years and was superintendent of the Sunday school for many years. They are well known and popular in the community in which they reside and have a large circle of warm friends. Politically, Mr. Franco is a democrat and is now serving as justice of the peace. He has filled the office of school director and of township trustee, and at present is a candidate for treasurer of Cedar county, for which office he is well fitted. Everything pertaining to the material, political, intellectual and moral upbuilding and development of the community finds in him a strong advocate. With him perseverance, diligence and integrity have constituted the guiding posts of life, bringing him to the honorable position which he occupies in the opinion of his fellow citizens, among whom he has long lived and labored.
