Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 477
JOHN W. VARNS

John W. VARNS, a farmer residing on section 19, of St. John's Township came to Harrison County in 1870, when he located on eighty acres of his present farm, for which he paid $20 per acre. The place was partly improved at the time he bought it, but he has added many substantial improvements and added to his land from time to time, until at one time he owned seven hundred and twenty acres, but now has six hundred, all surrounded by a good fence, and two hundred and twenty acres under the plow, while the balance is in pasture and meadow land.

Our subject was born in Williams County, Ohio, February 18, 1866. John VARNS (grandfather of our subject?), a native of Ohio, and of German descent, and a farmer by occupation, married and was the father of eight children, five of whom are yet living -- Jacob, in Kansas; George in Missouri Valley; Margaret, Mrs. CORBETT, of Ohio; Mary, Mrs. SHAFER; Clara, of Ohio; and Albert of Ohio.

George VARNS, father of our subject, was born in Holmes County, Ohio, December 7, 1844, and there spent his early life. He married Caroline WEAVER, the daughter of William WEAVER, and they were the parents of seven children, of whom our subject was the oldest. The were born in the following order -- John W., February 18, 1866; Francis M., May 9, 1871; May M., March 4, 1876; Addie Florence, August 22, 1878; Bertha Pearl, September 1, 1883; and Hulda D., March 21, 1886.

Our subject accompanied his parents to this county when but five years of age. He attended the country and High School at Missouri Valley, after which he began work for himself, as the overseer of his father's large farm, which position he still holds.

Our subject was united in marriage November 20, 1890, to Nancy J. DEAL, daughter of Joseph and Mary (SMITH) DEAL who came to this county in 1853, and of whom a biography appears elsewhere in this book.

Politically Mr. VARNS is a firm believer in the principles of the Democratic party.

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