CHARLES DANIEL STOTLER

Charles Daniel Stotler has become well known as a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Iowa township, where he has resided throughout the greater part of his life, his efforts along those lines having been crowned with well merited and substantial success. He is a son of Henry and Amanda (Hoy) Stotler, natives of Wayne county, Ohio, whence they removed to Illinois in 1855, and he was only four years of age when the family took up their abode in Cedar county, Iowa. Here, with the exception of ten years spent in Linn county during the period of his boyhood, he has since continued to make his home, devoting his entire time to agricultural pursuits. On the home farm he early acquired a thorough knowledge of farming in its various phases and remained under the parental roof, giving his father the benefit of his assistance, until attaining his majority when, crossing the threshold of the business world, he entered into partnership with his brother, J. P. Stotler, in the purchase of one hundred and sixty acres of land, which they continued to operate for several years. They prospered in the undertaking and later were able to add to their original purchase, being the owners of two hundred and eighty acres at the time of the dissolution of the relationship in 1885.

Since that year Charles Daniel Stotler has carried on farming alone, owning a place of one hundred acres on section 9, Iowa township, which has been his home for the past twenty-three years. This is a highly cultivated property known as Maple Grove Farm, most of the improvements thereupon having been instituted by Mr. Stotler. He has made a careful study of soil conditions, has practiced rotation of crops, and his fields under his careful and wise management have responded with abundant harvests to the care bestowed upon them. In addition to tilling the soil he is also engaged in raising live stock of all kinds, confining his attention, however, to high grades, and this branch of his business is proving most remunerative, the excellent quality of his product demanding ready sales and high prices upon the market. He has placed his dependence upon the safe and substantial qualities of energy and wise management—qualities which have ever been salient elements in his career—and his sound business judgment has proven a potent force in the success which is now crowning his efforts.

It was on the 11th day of May, 1889, that Mr. Stotler was united in marriage to Miss Lottie Alice Harden, who was born in West Liberty, Iowa, on the 26th of April, 1867, a daughter of William and Kate (Daum) Harden. Both parents were natives of Ohio, where they were reared and married. The mother passed away when the daughter was but seven years of age, and later the father again married, making his home at the present time in West Liberty. By his first marriage were born three sons and three daughters, while by his second wife he had three sons. Mr. and Mrs. Stotler became the parents of two children, Charles Henry and William Harold, aged eighteen and thirteen years respectively.

Interested as all American citizens should be in the political situation of the country, Mr. Stotler has thoroughly informed himself concerning the questions and issues of the day and, believing the principles and platform of the republican party to be most conducive to good government, has given stalwart support to that organization since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He served as township trustee for five years, was school director for fifteen years, the cause of education finding in him a warm champion, and in all things that are matters of civic virtue and civic pride he has been deeply interested, at all times upholding those measures which, in his opinion, tend toward the upbuilding and development of the community. Actuated at all times by a public-spirited loyalty, he possesses those qualities which speak for good citizenship and win for him the respect, confidence and good-will of his fellowmen.