G. W ARONHALT.

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         From the rich farming district of Iowa there have come many men who have won success in agricultural lines and are now enjoying the fruits of their labor. To this class belongs G. W. Aronhalt, who is now living practically retired. He is yet in the prime of life and his well directed energy in former years has brought to him a competence that supplies him with all the necessities and many of the comforts of life without recourse to further work. Born in Ohio on the 17th of July, 1844, he is a son of John and Margaret (McKi) Aronhalt, natives of Ohio and Scotland respectively. The family was established in Louisa county, Iowa, in 1854, the father entering land in Marshall township upon which he and his wife spent their remaining days. Of their family of two children G. W., of this review, is the youngest; his sister, Mary J., is the wife of John Higgins of Louisa county.

         G. W. Aronhalt was a little lad of ten years when brought by his parents to Iowa, and his education, which had been begun in the schools of his native state, was completed in the schools of Louisa county. He passed the period of his boyhood and youth on his father’s farm, assisting more and more largely in the work of the fields as the years passed, and thus his early training in agricultural lines well qualified him to successfully carry on business on his own account. He remained at home until he attained his majority, when he embarked in an independent farming venture, purchasing two hundred acres in Madison county, Iowa. This he later sold, after which he bought a farm in Louisa county, upon which he resided for about five years. At the end of that time he disposed of that property and came to Morning Sun township where he invested in his present farm, consisting of two hundred and forty acres, located on sections 17 and 18. This is a well improved place, in the midst of which he has erected substantial and commodious buildings, while in the fields are found all of the modern accessories and equipment for facilitating farm labor. . . .

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. . . As a farmer Mr. Aronhalt has proved quite successful and, taking pride in the appearance of his farm, has added every improvement which might contribute to its neatness and fertility. He has also made such study of the soil as to enable him to so adapt his crops as to reap the maximum yield per acre. Although he gives careful supervision to his interests, he is now living practically retired, leaving the active work of the farm to his son.

         In 1870 Mr. Aronhalt was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Bevens, who was born in Peoria county, Illinois, on the 28th of May, 1851, a daughter of Asher and Ann (Stafford) Bevens. The parents, natives of Ohio and Delaware respectively, were married in Peoria county, Illinois, and in 1856 came to Iowa, taking up their abode on a farm in Louisa county. In 1880, however, they removed to Clarke county, this state, and there both passed away. Of their family of twelve children only six are now living.

         Unto Mr. and Mrs. Aronhalt have been born two children, but the eldest, Charles, who was born August 21, 1875, died July 31, 1878. The remaining son, Arthur, who was born January 3, 1880, resides with his parents and is engaged in the operation of the home farm. He is numbered among the younger representatives of agriculture in Morning Sun township and is progressive and practical in his methods. He was married, on the 25th of February, 1904, to Miss Amy Deal, who was born in Henry county, Iowa, on the 10th of March, 1886. Her parents, William and Jennie (Snyder) Deal, are yet living, making their home in Henry county, Iowa. Unto them have been born one daughter, Vivian Marie, who birth occurred on the 7th of September, 1906.

         Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Aronhalt are both members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the work of which they are deeply interested. In fraternal relations he is a Mason, and gives his political support to the democratic party, having served as school director for some time and also as superintendent of the school board. Alert and energetic, he is in close touch with all of the interests which are factors in the life of a progressive citizen and of the community at large, and is recognized as a helpful factor for development and improvement in the locality where he now makes his home.