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J. M. Lauver
J
. M. Lauver, who carries on general agricultural pursuits on section 2,
Paton township, is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth having occurred
in Center county, that state, on the 25th of July, 1847. His parents
were Joseph and Elizabeth (Musser) Lauver, who were likewise natives of
Pennsylvania. Removing westward to Illinois, they settled in Stephenson
county during the infancy of their son, J. M. Lauver, and eighteen
years ago removed to Polk county, Iowa. There the father died in 1901
and the mother, surviving him for only about two months, passed away at
the age of seventy years. Throughout his entire business life he
followed the occupation of farming and made a good living for his
family. Unto him and his wife were born nine children, seven of whom
yet survive.
J . M. Lauver, however, is the only one now residing in Greene county.
At the age of nine years he went to live with his grandparents and when
thirteen years of age he started out in life on his own account,
being employed at farm labor up to the time of his marriage. In
February, 1871, he was joined in wedlock to Miss Sarah Klock, who was
born in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, on the 1st of April, 1854. Her
parents were Daniel and Elizabeth (Adams) Klock, both of whom were
natives of the Keystone state, while both died in Stephenson county,
Illinois, many years ago. In the year of their marriage Mr. and Mrs.
Lauver came to Iowa, settling in Polk county, where he cultivated a
rented farm for two years. He then removed to Dallas county, where he
again rented land for two years, after which he bought an improved farm
of forty acres, investing the capital which he had saved from his
earnings.
In 1878 he came to Greene county and purchased eighty acres where he is
now living. There was not a stick upon the place. In fact it was
entirely destitute of improvements and gave little promise of the rich
harvests which it was soon to produce. Mr. Lauver, however, at once
began cultivating the tract and in course of time transformed the raw
prairie into productive fields. He now owns one hundred and twenty
acres of good land, upon which he has erected a substantial dwelling
and other buildings. In addition to operating his home place he has for
thirteen years run a ditching machine in the county and has done many
miles of ditching, thus reclaiming wet and swampy land for the uses of
civilization. He has also been engaged in boring wells for several
years and for the past eight years has operated a thresher, owning a
complete threshing outfit. Upon his home place he carries on general
farming.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lauver have been born ten children, one now deceased.
The record of the living is as follows: Clarence married Anna Rhoda and
is a farmer of Paton township. Allison is a graduate of the Paton
schools and of
Barnes Medical College of St. Louis, Missouri, and for eight years has
been practicing medicine, being now located at Stronghurst, Illinois.
Daisy is the wife of Mack Goetzman, a resident of Gowrie, Iowa. Lottie
is the wife of Charles Woltz, whose home is in Grand Junction. Arthur
is yet with his parents, aiding in the work of the home farm. Myrle is
located in Missouri. Alice is the wife of Charles Sturdyvan of
Missouri. Pearl is yet at home. Ernest, fifteen years of age, completes
the family.
Mr. Lauver and his wife were among the pioneers of Paton township and
saw many hardships and trials here incident to the settlement of the
frontier but as the years have passed they have worked diligently and
persistently and are now comfortably situated. They hold membership in
the Methodist Episcopal church at Paton and Mr. Lauver is a republican,
who cast his first presidential vote for General Grant and has since
staunchly advocated the principles of the party. He has been road
supervisor and school director but has neither sought nor desired other
offices, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his
business affairs, which, capably conducted and ably managed, are
bringing to him success.
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