Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 752
JAMES EARLYWINE

The best corn grower of Harrison county, Iowa, is James EARLYWINE, who is not only the champion corn grower of his county, but one of the best in the state. He has the honor of raising a bushel of corn which sold for eighty-one dollars and fifty cents at auction, the highest price ever paid for corn in the state of Iowa. The farm of Mr. EARLYWINE lies in the Soldier River bottoms, and no better farming land is found in the world than that which he is now tilling. The success of Mr. EARLYWINE in his farming is well merited, since it was several years after his marriage before he was able to buy a farm of his own and now he ranks among the progressive farmers of his county, few farmers in the state having had better general success.

James EARLYWINE, the son of Thomas and Sarah (PARKS) EARLYWINE, was born on August 1, 1870 in Harrison county, Missouri. His parents were natives of Ohio and Indiana, respectively. Thomas EARLYWINE was a soldier in the Civil War, serving as a member of the 8th Regiment, Kansas Volunteer Infantry. He was at the front for four years, and was mustered out as a corporal. He was with Sherman on his campaign through Georgia and the Carolinas to Washington, D.C. Thomas EARLYWINE was married before going to war and he and his wife reared a family of eight children.

James EARLYWINE moved to Harrison County, Iowa, with his parents when he was about three years of age, and located near Mondamin. His father lived on this farm until the death of the mother, at which time he moved to Logan, Iowa, where he now resides. He is a Republican and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

James EARLYWINE received all of his education in the schools of Mondamin, and lived at home until he was married, after which he rented land for about 12 years. He was not satisfied to remain a renter, but saved his money with the intention of buying a farm of his own. He finally bought 40 acres of land in Morgan township, and later added to this a tract of 170 acres. He lived on this farm a few years and then bought 105 acres in the Soldier River bottoms, buying the land before it was drained, paying fifty dollars an acre for it. This land is now not only the most valuable land in the county, but as valuable, for farming purposes, as can be found any place. Since moving on this farm, Mr. EARLYWINE has built new buildings of all kinds. He has a nine-room modern house, equipped with every convenience which the fondest housewife could wish. He has a large barn, cribs, granaries, chicken houses, hog houses and every building which is demanded by the up-to-date farmer. He engages in general farming and stock raising and makes a specialty of Reed's Yellow Dent corn. He has shown his corn at all the corn shows in this section of the state and has won sweepstakes for the past five years. His hogs are all full blooded Duroc-Jerseys. In fact, all of his stock is high class and much of it is eligible to be registered. Mr. EARLYWINE is progressive and scientific in his farming, and a few years ago took the farmers' short course at Logan in order to better qualify himself for his chosen life work. He takes a great interest in farming, finding it a pleasure instead of drudgery, as do so many farmers. He is frequently spoken of as the foremost farmer in his township, and there are those who say that he should be classed with the best in the county. Mr. EARLYWINE was married on March 26, 1894 to Etta WILLS, who was born in Mondamin, daughter of Henry and Dora (SHEETZ) WILLS. Her parents were natives of Ohio, who came to Harrison county about 1858. Mr. EARLYWINE and his wife are the parents of two children, Gerald, born July 26, 195, and now a student at Mondamin, and Rhea, born on November 19, 1902.

The family are all earnest members of the Christian church. Mr. EARLYWINE is a member of the modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is a stanch Republican and has served as trustee of Morgan township with excellent satisfaction to his fellow citizens. Sufficient has been said concerning the career of Mr. EARLYWINE to indicate his value to the community in which he resides, and it is a pleasure to record in this volume his interesting career for the perusal of future generations.

Return to 1915 Biographical E Surnames Index

Back to 1915 Biographies Index