Leonard Himes, who as mayor of Mechanicsville is now occupying the highest office to which his fellow citizens can elect him, is proving himself most capable and efficient in the discharge of the duties devolving upon him in connection therewith and is entirely worthy of the honor bestowed upon him in his selection to the office of chief executive. He also has a large farming and stock-raising interests near Mechanicsville and although he makes his home in the village he gives personal supervision to his agricultural interests which, carefully conducted, are bringing to him a most substantial and gratifying success.
He is a native of Iowa, his birth occurring in Fremont township, this county, on the 16th of August, 1862, and is a son of Leonard R. Hines, who was born in 1821 in Ohio, where he was reared and educated. In 1843 he removed to Illinois and there resided for about twelve years, after which he came to Iowa in 1855, locating in Fremont township, Cedar county. He engaged in general farming for a number of years, his home farm consisting of four hundred acres, while he also owned another tract of ninety-three acres in Story county. He is yet living at the ripe old age of eighty-nine years and makes his home in Mechanicsville. In Huron county, Ohio, in 1843 he was united in marriage to Miss Abigail Dymon, who was born in Pennsylvania, and unto them were born seven children: Henry, Frank, George, Ellen, Myron, Leonard and Charles.
No event of special importance came to vary the routine of life for Leonard Hines during the period of his boyhood and youth, which was spent on his father’s farm in Fremont township. He acquired a good education, completing the course of study offered in the Mechanicsville schools, and the periods of vacation were given to the work of the farm, with which he early became familiar. He remained on the old homestead until twenty years of age, when he established a pleasant home of his own by his marriage, in April, 1882, to Miss Vesta Melton, who was born and reared in Fremont township, Cedar county. She is a daughter of Robert W. Melton, who was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, in 1846, and as a lad of ten years came to Cedar county, Iowa, where his youth was passed. In 1864 he married Nancy Zimmerman, a native of Pennsylvania, and they became the parents of five children, Vesta, George Orion, LeRoy, Lewis and Miles. The father was a substantial farmer of Fremont township for a long period but is now a resident of Cedar Rapids, having retired from agricultural life.
Following his marriage Mr. Hines began farming upon a tract of land belonging to his father and when his capital justified the step he purchased eighty acres of land near Mechanicsville, established his home thereon and gave his attention to the cultivation of the soil and to raising, buying and shipping stock. In connection with a partner he shipped more than three hundred carloads of stock per year, the business thus reaching a considerable volume. He also raises and feeds stock on his farm but since November, 1908, has made his home in Mechanicsville, in which year he purchased a residence there.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hines have been born three children: May, at home; Carrie, the wife of Robert Smith, a resident farmer of Fremont township; and Forest, who occupies a position in a mercantile house in Cedar Rapids. The family occupy a prominent social position and their own home is the abode of a generous and warm-hearted hospitality.
Mr. Hines is a worthy exponent of Masonry, holding membership in the lodge of Mechanicsville, while both he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star. The family attend the Presbyterian church and are interested in various projects for the welfare, upbuilding and improvement of the community. Mr. Hines gives his political endorsement to the republican party and has held several local offices. He has been elected and served as school treasurer and for twelve years was officially identified with the schools, acting for some time as trustee. In April, 1910, he was elected mayor of Mechanicsville and is the present official chief executive of the city, devoting much of his attention to the duties of the office, which are discharged in such a manner as to leave no doubt concerning his public spirit and his devotion to the public good. He brings to bear in this connection the same sound judgment, systematic methods and honorable principals which characterize the conduct of his private business affairs, and his fellow townsmen, appreciative of his worth, have written his name high on the roll of Cedar county’s representative and honored citizens.
