HARMON P. SECHLER

Forty-two years have come and gone since Harmon P. Sechler became identified with the farming interests of Cedar county, where he was busily engaged in the cultivation and improvement of a farm of eighty acres in Fairfield township. At the present writing, however, he makes his home in Clarence, where he is now largely living retired. His life record had its beginning in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, on the 15th of May, 1836, so that he has now attained the age of seventy-four years. He was reared on a farm there and had fair common-school advantages. He remained with his father until after he had attained his majority and later was married in his native county on the 15th of February, 1866, to Miss Candace Slenker, also a native of Lycoming county and a daughter of Jacob Slenker. Her father was born and reared in Pennsylvania and was there married to Rachel Ranck, who was born in Union county of that state. He followed farming in Lycoming county, however, and spent his last days there. His widow survived him and afterward removed westward to Iowa, settling in Cedar county in 1866. She came with her four sons, Irus, Isaac, Irad and Ira. Mrs. Slenker afterward died in this county, while Irus passed away in Missouri, he and his brother Isaac having removed to Harrisonville, Cass county, that state. Irad also left Cedar county and became a resident of Oklahoma. Ire removed to Missouri.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Sechler resided in Pennsylvania for two years, during which period he cultivated a rented farm. In 1868 they came to Cedar county, Iowa, where they joined her mother and brothers. Mr. Sechler began working here as a farm hand by the month but after a year rented land and thus carried on general agricultural pursuits for a few years, during which period he carefully saved his earnings until he felt that his capital was sufficient to justify him in the purchase of an eighty acre tract of land. This he at once began to cultivate and as the years went by he built thereon a good substantial residence together with a large barn, corn cribs, granary and a hog house. He also fenced his fields and sunk a well to the depth of two hundred and thirty feet, finding an abundance of water. His arduous labors at the time of early spring planting were rewarded in the late autumn by abundant crops, and he also found profit in raising and feeding stock. His efforts in business were at all times attended by success because guided by sound judgment. He continued on the farm until 1900, when he sold the place and removed to Clarence, where he bought a residence and nine lots. Since that time he has lived practically retired and yet indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature so that he frequently engages in work suitable to a man of his years.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Sechler are enjoying good health and are of good cheer. Politically he has been a lifelong democrat and while living on the farm served as highway commissioner, also as a member of the school board. He and his wife have guided their lives according to the teachings of the Presbyterian church, in which they have long held membership, being now connected with the church of that denomination at Clarence.