GEORGE CHOWN.

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         The time and energies of George Chown are devoted to the cultivation of his farm which contains two hundred and twenty-eight acres of land. He was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, on the 29th of May, 1848, his parents being John and Eliza (Aplin) Chown, natives of Devonshire, England. There they were also reared, and immediately following their marriage on the 5th of July, 1843, they emigrated to the United States, first settling in Wheeling, West Virginia. After several years residence in that city they removed to Zanesville, Ohio, . . .

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. . . where they lived for five years, during which time Mr. Chown was engaged in gardening. In 1856 they went to Muscatine county, Iowa, settling on a farm which the father cultivated until his retirement shortly after the demise of his wife in 1874. Thereafter Mr. Chown made his home with his son until within two years of his death when he removed to Columbus Junction where he passed away on the 15th of February, 1904, at 11:30 A.M. Of this union there were born eleven children, among whom were three pairs of twins. Those surviving are as follows: George; Mary, the wife of William H. Foster, of Muscatine county; and Louis, who is a resident of Nichols, Iowa. Of the other eight but two attained maturity—William, who died in the army, and Elizabeth, who was the wife of George Breckenridge. The others all died in infancy.

         The education of George Chown was obtained in the common schools of West Virginia and Ohio, following which he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. He began his independent career as a farmer at the age of thirty years at which time he leased his present place, which he cultivated as a renter until 1904. He became the owner of the property in the latter years and now has one hundred and fifty acres, mostly under a high state of cultivation. Here he engages in general farming as well as stock-raising, both of which have proven to be very remunerative.

         Mr. Chown was united in marriage on the 16th of October, 1878, to Miss Mary Meyers, a native of Muscatine county and a daughter of Henry and Mary (Meyers) Meyers. Both Mr. and Mrs. Meyers are natives of Germany, whence they emigrated to the United States, going first to St. Louis and in 1854 to Muscatine, Iowa. There the father conducted a slaughter-house for several years and subsequently located on a farm in Lake township. He resided upon his homestead until his retirement after which he made his residence with his son. Mrs. Meyers passed away on the 27th of June, 1895, but the father’s demise did not occur until the 17th of September, 1899. They were the parents of nine children: Henry, who is a resident of Louisa county; William, living in Audubon county, Iowa; Louis, who resides in North Dakota; Elizabeth, the wife of L. D. Chown, of Nichols, Iowa; Jesse, who makes his home in Muscatine county; Alice, residing in the same county; Charles and Frank, who died in infancy; and Mary, now Mrs. Chown.

         The union of Mr. and Mrs. Chown has been blessed with seven children, all but one of whom survive. Ida E., who was born on the 2d of August, 1879, is a graduate of the high school and Iowa State Teachers’ College, and has been teaching for twelve years; Minnie L., was born on the 19th of May, 1882; Bessie M., who was born on the 16th of April, 1885, is a graduate of the high school of Columbus Junction; May, born on the 26th of September, 1887, is a high school graduate and taught for a term previous to her marriage on the 31st of December, 1905, to F. Shomberg, a farmer in the vicinity of Columbus Junction; Wilhelmina, who was born on the 20th of September, 1892, died on the 13th of June, 1893; Alice, born on the 6th of June, 1894, is attending high school; and Edith A., born on the 9th of May, 1899, is also in school. All of the family are at home with the exception of the one daughter who is married.

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         Mr. Chown exercises his political prerogatives in support of the candidates of the republican party but not being an aspirant to public honors or the emoluments of office does not prominently participate in local politics. Persevering and industrious he has become recognized as one of the capable and prosperous agriculturists of his community.