Curtis J. Hockaday, one of the progressive and successful agriculturalists of Delaware township is a native son of the county, born October 20, 1877, his parents being William and Elizabeth (Rogers) Hockaday. The father, who was born in Devonshire, England, February 14, 1845, was brought by his parents to the United States in April of that year and the family home was established in Cleveland, Ohio. After a year's residence in that city they removed to Du Page county, Illinois, where William Hockaday spent his boyhood days. In May, 1864, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty first Illinois Volunteer Infantry and served until October 11th of the same year, when he was honorably discharged and returned to Du Page county. On the 13th day of the following January he started from that county by team upon a journey to DelawAre county, Iowa, and arrived in Manchester, January 21, which was an excellent record. Here he rented a farm for a time but subsequently purchased land. On the 30th of September, 1867, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Rogers, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Rogers, also natives of England. Nine children were born to that union: Electa A., the wife of Al Clark, of Honey Creek township; John, who lives at Greeley, Iowa; Emma J., also lives in Manchester; Oscar U., who conducts a meat market in Manchester; Curtis J.; Reuben F., living in Honey Creek township; Bert T., who died when twenty-nine years of age; and Nettie E., the wife of Willard Farmer, who lives in this county near Edgewood.

      Curtis J. Hockaday attended the public schools of this county in the acquirement of his education and after leaving school began farming on his own account. For many years he was actively engaged in the cultivation of the soil, but is now living in Manchester, where he owns a fine residence.  How ever, he supervises the operation of his two farms, comprising four hundred and eighty acres of land-- one tract in Delaware township and the other in Elk township. He has also been a director of the Farmers & Merchants State Savings Bank since its organization.

     Mr. Hockaday was united in marriage on the 28th of December, 1898, to Miss Bell R. Ede, a daughter of Samuel and Violet L. (Carpenter) Ede, natives of Canada and Delaware county respectively. Her mother died February 26, 1906, and her father passed away January 1, 1909. To Mr. and Mrs. Hockaday have been born four children: Floy M., Lloyd S., Edna G. and Mabel V.

      Mr. Hockaday is a republican in his political belief and fraternally is a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine. In his daily life he practices the precepts of justice and brotherly kindness taught in the Masonic craft, and his upright conduct has won for him the unqualified respect of his fellow townsmen.