JOHN WESLEY HORN

Within the boundaries of Cedar county John Wesley Horn has now made his home for fifty-eight years and has witnessed almost its entire growth and development. He has not only watched with interest its progress but has materially aided in the advancement of the county, especially along agricultural lines. He was born on the 4th of October, 1850, in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, of which state his parents, Henry Clark and Ann Maria (Barrick) Horn, were also natives. The family continued to reside in that locality until the fall of 1852, when they came west and settled in Cedar county. During the remainder of his life the father lived in or near Tipton, his time and attention being devoted to agricultural pursuits, and he was regarded as one of the most progressive and successful farmers of his community. He was born on the 7th of July, 1822, and died November 19, 1885, while his wife, whose birth occurred December 31, 1819, passed away on the 9th of November, 1901. They were the parents of the following children: Mary Jane, who is now the wife of J. D. Howard and a resident of Denver, Colorado; William F., of Tipton; Amanda Maria, the deceased wife of John Anderson; John Wesley, of this review; James B., deceased; Emma Belle, who died in childhood; Ann Eliza, the deceased wife of George Fitzgerald, a resident of Denver, Colorado; Charles Lewis, who died in infancy; and Charles C., a resident of Memphis, Missouri.

Being but two years of age when brought by his parents to Iowa, John W. Horn was here raised to manhood, acquiring his education principally in the schools of Tipton, where he attended the high school and later spent a short time at Western College. Since starting out in life for himself he has followed farming and has spent almost his entire life in Cedar county with the exception of a year or two, residing mostly in or near Tipton. For the past fourteen years he has resided in Springdale township and now owns and operates a tract of twenty-five acres, a part of which lies within the corporation limits of the village of Springdale. At one time he also owned another eighty-acre tract here, which he sold, and today has two hundred and forty acres in Wyoming, which he purchased on speculation.

Mr. Horn was married October 14, 1875, to Miss Sarah Jane Ross, likewise a native of Pennsylvania, her birth occurring in Franklin county, September 26, 1854. During her childhood she came to Iowa with her parents, John B. and Sarah Ann (Kirkpatrick) Ross, who were born in Pennsylvania and died in Cedar county, Iowa. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Horn, as follows: Frank R., now a farmer of Iowa township; Allie, the wife of Lewis Millett, of Springdale township; Hattie May, the wife of Guy E. Witmer, of Hardin county, Iowa; Grace, the wife of Alva A. Pearson, of Springdale; and Ruth, at home. Besides his own children Mr. Horn has reared and educated a nephew, William Ernest Anderson, who is now express messenger for the United States Express Company at Marshalltown, Iowa.

Since attaining his majority Mr. Horn has affiliated with the republican party and has been called upon to fill several local offices. He has always taken an active interest in educational affairs and most efficiently served as a member of the school board for three years. Religiously both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and they have the respect and confidence of all who know them.