FRED EMERSON WATERS

Fred Emerson Waters, proprietor of the Edgewood Stock Farm and one of the most successful stock-breeders in this section of the state, his home being on section 29, Springdale township, has spent his entire life in Iowa, his birth occurring in Wapsi township, Muscatine county, Iowa, January 8, 1878.

He is the third from the youngest in a family of twelve children, his parents being Milton B. and Elizabeth (Hendrickson) Waters, who are also residents of Springdale township. He was only five years of age when the family came to Cedar county and he has resided near Downey ever since, his entire life being devoted to farming and stock-raising. His primary education was obtained in the district schools near his boyhood home and he was subsequently graduated from the Iowa City Commercial College on the 5th of June, 1896. He remained with his father until his marriage and then began farming on his own account, his first place being a tract of one hundred and twenty acres in Muscatine county, where he resided for five years. At the end of that time he sold out and removed to his present farm of three hundred and sixty acres on section 29, Springdale township, Cedar county, which is conveniently located only a half mile from Downey. This place was originally the A. B. Cornwall homestead and since he has taken possession thereof he has made many improvements.

Since starting out for himself Mr. Waters has made a specialty of the breeding of stock, devoting his attention principally to Percheron horses and Chester White hogs, of which he has some of the finest in the country. At the head of his drove are Chickasaw Chief, New Hampton King and O. K. Repeater, and among his sows are Maud, the grand champion at the Illinois State Fair in1908; Better Girl, the grand champion at the Nebraska State Fair in 1908; Lillian W., a prize winner at the Iowa State Fair of 1908; and New Hampton Queen, a prize winner at the Iowa Fair of 1908, besides other prize winners such as Marie No. 2, Orange Blossom, Iowa Bell, Brilliant Star and Mary. In fact, he has about one hundred and fifty head of registered hogs upon his farm. His horses have also become noted throughout the country. Brilliant D. standing at the head of his herd, is a three year old, weighing twenty-three hundred and sixty pounds, which won the grand championship in the three year old class both home bred and open class of Percherons of any age at the Iowa State Fair, the Nebraska, Wisconsin and Illinois State Fairs and also the International Stock Show at Chicago in 1908. Among his other fine horses is Morse, one of Besique’s greatest sons, and he now has sixteen head of stallions upon his place. His father being interested in the stock business, Mr. Waters was practically born and reared in the same and there is probably no man in this part of the country who is more familiar with the business or is a better judge of stock than he. He started with an imported mare about thirteen years ago and his business has steadily grown until it has now reached extensive proportions and his stock is famed throughout Iowa and the surrounding states. At present he raises no crops, his whole farm being devoted to meadow and pasture land.

On the 25th of February, 1902, Mr. Waters was united in marriage to Miss Anna G. Rummells, a native of Johnson county, Iowa, born near Downey, and a daughter of Henry Rummells. They now have five children, namely: Irene Elizabeth; Verda Edmonia, Leslie E., Vesta E. and Ora E. Since the spring of 1909 the family have resided upon their present farm and they are people of prominence in the community, having a large circle of friends and acquaintances.