BIOGRAPHIES
Iowa State Representatives
Iowa Official Register 1927-1928

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John H. Aiken
Representative from Ida county, was born at Iowa City, March 27, 1875. He was taken by his parents, Benjamin Franklin Aiken and Patience (Williams) Aiken, to Ida county in 1876, where he has since resided. In October, 1903, he was married to Henrietta Hass, of Holstein, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Aiken have three daughters, Patience Louise, thelma Norine and Virginia Helen. Mr. Aiken is a republican in politics and was elected representative in 1920. Re-elected in 1922, 1924 and 1926.

Louis L. Akin
Representative from Carroll county, was born in that county, November 29, 1890; has resided on the farm of his nativity nearly all his life. Received his education in the rural schools of Carroll county, graduated from the Glidden high school in 1909; entered the State University of Iowa the same autumn, where he remained for about three months. He left the state university and enrolled at Drake University of Des Moines, Iowa, in which college he spent about five years in the liberal arts and Bible departments. Was married to Clara M. Olson of Goldfield, Iowa, November 20, 1912. Four sons were born, three of whom are now living. Besides having been an active farmer for thirteen years, he has also been a minister, having been so recognized by the Christian church in the spring of 1910. He later became state editor for the state organ of that church. Has been an active member and officer of the Farmers Cooperative association, Farmers Union, and the Farm Bureau, and is now amember of the school board and of five Masonic fraternity bodies. Elected representative in 1926. Republican in politics.

Byron G. Allen
Representative from Pocahontas county, seventy-seventh district, was born at Laurens, Iowa, September 13, 1901. He is the son of ex-Senator Joseph H. Allen, who served the fiftieth senatorial district from the thirty-second to the thirty-seventh general assemblies and is the nephew of Senator F.C. Gilchrist, who now represents the same district. Educated in the public schools of Pocahontas and graduated from West high school, Des Moines, and Pocahontas high school in 1919. Upon leaving college he returned to Pocahontas and engaged in farm management work. On December 18, 1926, he married Miss Elsa Erickson of Laurens, Iowa, whom he had met in college. A republican in politics but was elected to the forty-second general assembly as an independent candidate.

C.C. Anderson
Representative from Montgomery county, was born in Sweden, June 8, 1873. Received his early education in the rural schools of that county. Came to the United States in 1890 and worked as a farm laborer in Mills county. Was naturalized and cast his first vote for president in 1896. In 1901 he bought a farm in Montgomery county, on which he is still residing. He was married to Miss Mary Jones, August 25, 1897. His wife lost her life in an automobile accident April 20, 1914. He has one son and four daughters. Served on township board eight years. Member of the M.E. church and Masonic lodge. elected representative in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Republican in politics.

J. Park Blair
Representative from Buena Vista county, was born March 17, 1864, at Newport, Pennsylvania. When he was a year old the family moved to the Shenandoah valley, West Virginia, and when six years old to Bedford, Indiana. Until he was twenty-one he lived near Bedford, obtaining his education in the county schools and at the southern Indiana Normal school at Mitchell. He taught school two years. Moving to Arcola, Douglas county, Illinois, he was married to Clara Belle Louthen. Four children were born of this union, one dying at the age of seven years. For fourteen years he engaged in farming in Illinois, moving to Storm Lake in 1901, where he purchased a farm of 320 acres, selling it a year later. For fifteen years he was engaged in buying and shipping live stock and in the past twelve years has been operating his eighty-acre farm adjoining the city of Storm Lake. Has served on the board of supervisors of Buena Vista county, has been township trustee, school director, and city councilman of Storm Lake. Was elected member of the legislature in 1926.

S.A. Barnes
Representative from Wright county, born in Kendall county, Illinois, June 22, 1877. Moved to Minor S.D., in 1882, living upon the farm, going to school in the winter and tilling the soil in the summer. Educated in the public school and high school of Howard, S.D. Came to Iowa in 1897. He worked in his father's printing office, learning the printer's trade. In 1900 was appointed to a government position at Washington, D.C., through the courtesy of Speaker David B. Henderson, holding this position four years. In 1905 was elected cashier of the Security Savings bank at Eagle Grove, Iowa, resigning that position May 18, 1925, and retiring from the banking business. He received the republican nomination for state representative June 7, 1926, and was elected the following November. He is a bachelor. Republican in politics.

J.C. Bauer
Representative from Washington county, was born in Germany, April 19, 1868. Came to Iowa in 1885, locating in Washington county. Attended the rural schools and also Elliott's Business college at Burlington. Has been actively engaged in farming since that time. Was married in 1892 to Victorine Davis. they had five cildren, four of whom are living. Has held the various township offices. A member of the Methodist church, also a Knight of Pythias. elected to the legislature in 1924, re-elected in 1926. Republican in politics.

H.S. Berry
Representative from Monroe county, was born on a farm in Wapello county, Iowa, July 22, 1857, moving with his parents to Monroe county in 1865. Received his education in the country schools; taught school four years; served as member of the board of supervisors six years; served as mayor of the city of Albia eight years. Is married and has three children. His occupaton is that of a farmer and live stock dealer. Elected representative in 1920, re-elected in 1922, 1924 and 1926. A republican in politics.

John M. Bixler
Representative from Adams county, was born on a farm in that county December 23, 1867, the son of John and Savila Bixler. His parents were pioneer residents of Adams county, settling there in 1854. Attended the rural schools and later the Western Normal college at shenandoah, Iowa. Graduated from Highland Park college, now known as Des Moines University, in 1891. Was elected county superintendent of schools in Adams county in 1892, serving two terms. Was journal clerk inthe house of representatives in the 26th and 26th extra sessions. Married Miss Fannie L. Day, March 13, 1892. They have six children, Fern, Marjorie, Mary, Carl, neal and Blanche. At present engaged in general farming. Member of the Masonic lodge and of a community church. Republican in politics.

Aaron Vale Blackford
Representative from Van Buren county, born on a farm near Hellsboro, Iowa, December 18, 1871. His parents, natives of Pennsylvania, came to Iowa in the early '60s and settled in Van Buren county. His father, John W. Blackford, was a member of the thirty-fifth general assembly representing Henry county. He was graduated from Iowa Wesleyan college in 1897, and is a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. After leaving college, he taught school for a few years, then entered the hardware, implement and automobile business at Bonaparte, Iowa, in which he is still engaged. He is also engaged in farming on the stock-partnership plan, and is vice president of the Bonaparte State bank. For a number of years he has served on the Bonaparte school board, is active in the Methodist church, of which he is a member, is a thirty-second degree Mason, a Knight Templar, a member of the Mystic Shrine and the Order of the Eastern Star. A republican in politics. Mr. Blackford has one son, Kenneth.

Fred R. Blythe
Representative from Iowa county, was born in 1890 of Scotch-Irish parentage, on the farm he now operates. Graduated from the University of Iowa 1913, and Columbia Law school, 1916. Admitted to Illinois bar 1916, and practiced law a short time in Chicago. Married Bertha von Schrader of Jackson county, Iowa, 1916, and has three children. Member of Presbyterian church and Masonic Order. Elected to the legislature in 1924, reelected in 1926. A republican in politics.

R.M. Buchmiller
Representative from Greene county. Born on a farm in Greene county, Iowa, January 12, 1880. Of American parentage. He lived on this farm until 21 years of age. Attended the rural school. On January 30th, 1901, was married to Miss Sadie Downing. Continued farming until the present time. In 1911 was elected a member of the school board and in 1912 elected member of board of trustees, serving two terms. In 1920 was chosen president of the local shipping association, serving five years. In 1924, elected president of county farm bureau, serving two years. Republican in politics.

C.C.R. Bush
Representative from Cherokee county, was born in Sandy Creek, N.Y., September 30, 1882. In 1884 he moved with his parents to a farm near Washta, Cherokee county, Iowa, which farm he now owns and operates. He received his early education in a rural school, graduated from the Washta high school in 1903, taught school and farmed. Graduated from Iowa State college in the department of animal husbandry in 1909; worked for the agricultural extension department from September 1909 until September 1910, also during the winter months of 1910-11 and 1911-12. Has been continously a member of his local school board or secretary since 1912. Helped organize the Cherokee county farm bureau and was vice president of that organization for several years. Member of the Unitarian church and Masonic and Eastern Star orders. Married Jessie B. Fogleman of Washta, March 20, 1912. Has two sons; Kenneth L. and Donald M. Was elected representative in 1926 on the democratic ticket.

L.V. Carter
Representative from Hardin county, was born on a farm near New Providence, Iowa, January 30, 1879. He was educated in the public schools and in New Providence academy, and was graduated from Penn college in 1904. He was married to Myra L. Hadley in 1905. They have three children -- James, John and Martha. He taught school in New Providence and Oskaloosa for a few years. He has been engaged in farming and live stock feeding since 1907 near Lawn Hill, Iowa. He was director and secretary of the Lawn Hill Lumber company for twelve years; a township trustee for many years; has been a member of the New Providence school board continuously since 1908; was a member of the Hardin county board of education four years; was president of the Hardin county farm bureau two years; and for many years has been a member of the board of trustees of Penn college. Is a member of Friends church, and of the Masonic order. Elected to the legislature in 1920, reelected in 1922, 1924 and 1926. chosen speaker of the house of representatives of the forty-second general assembly. Republican in politics.

Clyde B. Charlton
Representative from Polk county, Iowa, was born on a farm in Pocahontas county, January 10, 1899. He graduated from high school at Rolfe, Iowa, and was graduated from the colleges of Liberal Arts and law at the University of Iowa in 1923. He has engaged in the practice of law in Des Moines since 1923. Republican in politics.

George W. Christophel
Representative from the seventy-second district, Bremer county, Iowa, was born December 7, 1881, in Pilot township, Kankakee county Illinois. He attended school in that county and later taught in the school from 1902 to 1905. He was married to Miss Edith Wehling of Reddick, Illinois, on January 23, 1906, when he moved to Iowa on a farm near Bremer, Bremer county. Has four children, Floyd, Clarence, Mildred and Luella. In 1913 he moved to a farm two miles northwest of Waverly. Elected secretary of the Bremer Creamery company for two years; made president of the Bremer county farm bureau two years and vice president two years. elected twice to the Iowa federation. Awarded a gold medal January 13, 1927 in master farmer's contest. Chosen state representative in the fall of 1924 and reelected in 1926. A republican in politics.

C.G. Cole
Representative from Delaware county, was born on a farm near South Owego, Tioga county, N.Y., October 4, 1890. Attended public school at Greeley and Dr. Holbrook's school at Ossining, N.Y. Graduated from Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn. June, 1916. Enlisted in the navy and was aboard the U.S.S. Aurore. Returned to Greeley where he is actively interested in Delaware county land. Is president of Delaware Savings bank, a member of the board of directors of Security Savings bank at Greeley, and treasurer of Delaware county farm bureau. A republican in politics.

Dr. E.J. Cole
Representative from Harrison county, was born in Harrison county, January 24, 1865. Attended the public schools in Woodbine, Iowa State college at Ames and Rush Medical college, Chicago, where he graduated in medicine in 1889. Has practiced his profession at Woodbine since that date. He is interested in farming and the banking business and is president of the First National and the Peoples Savings banks of Woodbine. In June, 1891, he was married to Maude Allen. They have four children, a son and three daughters. He is a Mason and a Knight of Pythias. A democrat in politics.

Harry F. Copeland
Representative from Dallas county, was born on a farm near Chenoa, McLean county, Illinois. He attended country schools in Illinois; moved to Waukee, Dallas county, Iowa in 1894. Was married to Abbie E. Jones, March 24, 1904, who died January 6, 1926. They had two children, Wilma A. and Ralph C. Has been actively engaged in farming and feeding stock since moving to Iowa. Held office of township trustee for three years and was member of county board of supervisors for six years, of which he was chairman three years. Elected February 7, 1927 to the house of representatives to fill vacancy caused by the death of D.H. Miller. A democrat in politics.

Coy Craig
Representative from Warren county, was born at New Athens, Ohio, in 1858. Came to Iowa in 1864. Was a farm hand for five years, then bought and operated a farm. In 1900, married Anna E. Kitchell. Has one daughter and three sons. Served two terms as county supervisor. Member of Presbyterian church. Republican in politics.

R.B. Crone
Representative from Emmet county, born in 1871 in Cedar county, died March 30th, 1927, in a Des Moines hospital, having been taken ill the previous evening. Funeral services were held in the house chamber the morning of April 1. Representative Crone's early education was secured in the rural schools in Tama county. He was graduated from the Dysart high school and the State University of Iowa. After his graduation from the state university he was superintendent of schools of Churdan, Fonda, Tipton, Washington and Fort Dodge. In 1912 he was elected president of Hastings college, Hastings, Nebraska. He resigned this position in 1920 and after twenty-five years in educational work returned to Iowa to take possession of his farms in Emmet county. He was president of the Emmet county farm bureau three years. Was a member of the Presbyterian church and of the Illinois branch of the sons of the American Revolution. His family consisted of a wife and three children.

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