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Herbert E. Odekirk

mong the citizens of Center township, Fayette county, Iowa, who have, by a course of right living, governed and controlled by high ideals, won not only pecuniary independence, but what is of far more value, the esteem and confidence of the community in which so many years of his life have been passed, is Herbert E. Odekirk, who was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, on the 7th day of January 1852, and is a son of William and Lorinda (Handcock) Odekirk, who are mentioned more fully in the sketch of Burton E. Odekirk, elsewhere in this work.

Mr. Odekirk spent his boyhood years under the parental roof and as soon as old enough he applied himself to the work of the home farm. He received the advantage of a common school education, and on attaining mature years he obtained employment at railroad work, which he followed for two years. He then entered the employ of the Standard Oil Company and was sent to the Dakotas, where he spent a year. He then came to Center township, Fayette county, Iowa, where he secured some good farming land, to the operation of which he devoted his energies. He cultivated from eighty to one hundred and sixty acres from time to time and uniformly met with gratifying results. However, he has sold a part of his land and is now holding only twenty acres, comprising his home property, where he is living in comfort and ease. During his active years as a farmer he carried on a diversified system of operations and in the community where he has lived he is considered a man of sound, practical ideas and wise and discriminating judgment, his business affairs having always been conducted in an able and careful manner. Mr. Odekirk is a large stockholder in the Randalia Savings Bank, one of the solid financial institutions of the county, and an influential factor in local commercial circles.

In 1877, Mr. Odekirk was united in marriage to Ozzama Potter, to which union were born two children, Jessie and Lila.

Fraternally, Mr. Odekirk is a stanch supporter of the Republican party and has taken a keen interest in the success of his party. That he holds the confidence and esteem of his fellow voters is evidenced in the fact that he has served as township trustee and held practically all the township offices, performing his duties in such a manner as to win the approval of his constituents. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has taken a number of high degrees, and he also belongs to the auxiliary order, the Daughters of Rebekah. He is also affiliated with that great beneficial fraternal order, the Modern Woodmen of America.

Mr. Odekirk has ever had the welfare of the community at heart and has always been found willing to devote his time to any movement looking to the development of the public weal, and as a result of his genuine worth, his pleasing demeanor, integrity of principle and honesty of purpose, he is today recognized as one of Center township's foremost citizens.