JOHN S. HEABNER

In the cultivation of the rich soil of Cedar county, J. S. Heabner finds scope for his activities, the result of his labors being seen in the valuable farming property which he owns in Rochester township. He was born in Moscow township, Muscatine county, May 3, 1868, a son of John S. and Margaret (Daefler) Heabner, both natives of Germany, whence they were brought to America in their childhood. The father followed farming throughout his life and at the time of his death owned five hundred acres of land in this state. The mother now resides on the home farm in Muscatine county with her children. By her marriage she became the mother of eight children: Annie, the wife of Adolph Kirchoffer, a resident of Missouri; George W., who resides in Wilton, Iowa; Kate, at home; John S., of this review; Henry, a resident of Moscow township, Muscatine county; and Frank, Lydia and William, all at home.

John S. Heabner, Jr., was reared and educated in the county of his nativity, there remaining to the age of twenty years. At that period in his life he came to Cedar county and has remained within its borders to the present time. He now owns eighty acres of land on section 32, Rochester township, which formerly belonged to his father, another sixty-nine acres located on the banks of the Cedar river, of which forty-five acres is tillable, while the remainder is timber land, and he also owns some timber land on section 25, having altogether about one hundred and thirty-five acres of land. He is progressive and enterprising in his work and is meeting with gratifying success.

Mr. Heabner was married in 1890 to Miss Emma J. Baker, who was born on the 12th of June, 1870, in Rochester township, a daughter of John and Sarah Elizabeth (Howe) Baker, the former born in Pickaway county, Ohio, September 18, 1822, and the latter in Lawrence county, Indiana, April 18, 1828. They were successful farming people of Cedar county, the father here passing away January 6, 1892, when seventy years of age. The mother still survives and at the age of eighty-six years is making her home with her son F. M. Baker in Cedar county. In connection with his sketch on another page of this work full mention of the Baker family is made.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Heabner have been born two sons, Elwood and Merle. Mr. Heabner is a Mason, belonging to the lodge at Rochester, and he also belongs to the Knights of Pythias order in Wilton. He is methodical in the conduct of his business affairs, and all with whom he comes in contact have for him warm esteem and regard.