EDWARD C. HOLISTER

Edward C. Hollister, who is sole owner of the Pleasanton Lumber Company, was born near Decorah, Iowa, January 31, 1858, a son of Elisha and Mary A. (Edwards) Hollister, both natives of Connecticut. The father, who was by occupation a farmer, removed to Winneshiek county, Iowa, in 1856 and purchased land north of Decorah, on which the famous Indian chief, Winneshiek, was buried. At the time there were no railroads in that section of Iowa and the conditions of life were those of the western frontier. Mr. Hollister improved his farm and aided in the development of his county along other lines as well. After residing there for a number of years he sold out and went to Jones county, Iowa, buying land in Greenfield township. Later he sold that place also and removed to Kansas, where the became the owner of four hundred acres of land, which he operated until he retired from active life and removed to Sabetha, that state, where he died in February, 1898. He has survived his wife for almost twenty years, her demise occurring June 16, 1878.

Edward C. Hollister received his education in the public schools of Mechanicsville, Iowa, and remained with his father until he was twenty-three years of age. He then farmed on his own account for two years in Jones county, after which he went to Cherokee county and cultivated rented land for two years. He next removed to Kansas, where he purchased a quarter section adjoining his father’s farm and devoted his time to the cultivation and improvement of his land for twelve years. At the end of that time he traded that farm for two hundred and thirty-five acres in Hamilton township, this county, which he cultivated until 1908. He then rented the place and removed to Pleasanton, buying the lumber business known as the Pleasanton Lumber Company. He has since conducted that business and has met with gratifying success.

Mr. Hollister was married on the 28^th of November, 1882, to Miss Martha A. Peaco, a daughter of James and Eliza (Keller) Peaco, natives of Virginia. Her father was the proprietor of a foundry in Virginia and ruing the Civil war served in the Confederate army. Both he and his wife passed away in their native state. Mr. and Mrs. Hollister have three children: Emmett, thirty-one years of age, who resides in St. Joseph, Missouri; Belva, twenty-five years old, the wife of J. Emmett Leeper, Jr., a resident of North Dakota; and Frank, who is twenty-three years of age and is operating the farm belonging to our subject.

Mr. Hollister is a democrat and has taken an active part in local political affairs. For two terms he served as township clerk, was at one time mayor of Pleasanton and is at present a member of the town council. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church and fraternally he is connected with the Masons, the Modern Woodmen and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is energetic, possesses sound judgment and observes the highest business ethics, and the success which he has gained as proprietor of the Pleasanton Lumber Company is well deserved.