WILLIAM H. STANLAKE

View Portrait of Mr. & Mrs. W. E. Stanlake

The life record of William H. Stanlake began on the 25th of June, 1860, and Massillon township was the place of his birth. He has since lived in Cedar county and has gained a place among the representative farmers of Dayton township, his home being on section 1, where he is busily engaged in the cultivation of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. His father, Robert Stanlake, was a native of England and spent the period of his minority in that land. When a young man, however, he sought the opportunities and privileges of the new world and established his home in Cuyahoga county, Ohio. There he was married to Miss Mary Gibson, a native of Scotland, who was born at St. Andrews. He devoted his life to farming in the Buckeye state for few years and then removed westward to Iowa, entering land and becoming one of the early settlers of Benton county. He afterward removed to Cedar county and bought two hundred and forty acres in Massillon township. The railroads were not built at that time and he hauled lumber from Muscatine in order to erect his buildings, which were of a substantial character. He developed his property into a good farm, equipped with modern conveniences, and upon that place he reared his family. The years chronicled his success, for he worked persistently and diligently and in the course of time became one of the prosperous agriculturists of the community. In 1901 he rented the farm to his son and removed to Clarence, where he purchased a home, occupying it until his death, which occurred on the 22d of December, 1904. His wife survived him and died June 22, 1907. Their family numbered three sons: Alonzo, a resident of Clarence; William H., of this review; and Thomas, who is living in Clarence.

William H. Stanlake was reared on the old home farm and acquired his education in the common schools. He remained with his father until he had attained his majority and then starting out in life on his own account, was united in marriage, on the 28th of January, 1882, to Miss Hattie B. Rogers, who was born near Amboy, Illinois, and in her childhood days was brought to Cedar county, Iowa. Her father was Jacob Rogers, who settled in Massillon township.

Mr. Stanlake rented land in Massillon and Dayton townships for several years and in 1901 returned to his father’s farm, which he cultivated for seven years. At the end of that time he bought a farm of two hundred acres, for which he paid one hundred and twelve and a half dollars per acre. After three years he sold this at one hundred and fifty dollars per acre, and in 1910 he purchased his present farm southwest of Clarence. He has prospered in his undertakings and closely studies the best methods of cultivating his fields and raising crops and annually gathers good harvests. He also finds a profitable source of income in his stock-raising, handling cattle which he sells off the pasture and also fattening a large number of hogs each year. For seven years he resided in Clarence, doing anything which came to hand, but his life has practically been devoted to general agricultural pursuits and he has labored successfully in this connection.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stanlake have been born nine children, five sons and four daughters: Robert L., a resident farmer of this county; Mary E., at home; William J. and Elmer C. who have started out in life for themselves; Elma D.; Carrie B.; Charles F.; Marjorie N.; and Elwood Q.

Politcally a republican, Mr. Stanlake has never sought or desired office and casts an independent ballot at local elections. He belongs to the Masonic lodge at Clarence and is also connected with the Modern Woodmen. His entire life has been passed in this county, where he is widely known as a practical and successful farmer and a man of good business ability, highly esteemed for his genuine personal worth and adherence to principles of honorable manhood.