JAMES HAROFF.

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         A good farm of one hundred and sixty-two acres on sections 11, 12 and 13, Grand View township, is the property of James Haroff, and in its cultivation and further improvement his time is busily occupied, with the result that he is meeting with success in his efforts. One of Iowa’s native sons, his birth occurred in Lake township, Muscatine county, on the 11th of February, 1868. His parents, David and Christina (Foster) Haroff, were born in Ohio, but were married in Iowa, and for a number of years resided on a farm in Muscatine county. After the retirement of the father from active life they took up their abode in Nichols, where he passed away on the 17th of September, 1898. The mother, . . .

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. . . who is still living, continues to make her home in that city. In their family were four children: Ella, who married Martin Laughlin, residing near Winfield, Iowa; James, of this review; Ida, the wife of William Dickerson, of Grand View; and Etta S., the wife of John McClure, of Nichols.

         When a lad James Haroff attended the district schools near his home, where he acquired his education, and, completing his studies, remained with his parents and engaged in the daily routine of the farm until he was twenty-three years of age, at which period of his life, being desirous of starting out in the world for himself, he left home and was engaged in farming on rented land for several years. Subsequently he purchased a small tract of forty acres, which he later sold, and then became the owner of his present farm, consisting of one hundred and sixty-two acres on sections 11, 12 and 13, Grand View township. Eighty acres of this farm are under a high state of cultivation, and the place, since coming into his possession and under his wise supervision, has yielded bountiful harvests which, from year to year, have enabled him to place himself in prosperous circumstances. He engages in stock-raising in addition to tilling the soil and is accounted one of the most enterprising and substantial agriculturists of this township.

         Mr. Haroff was married, June 21, 1895, to Miss Elmira Bernard, a daughter of Charles and Mary (Schneider) Bernard, natives of Illinois and Germany respectively. They were married at Port Louisa, Iowa, and were farming people, engaging in that pursuit until the death of the father in June 1910, since which time the mother has made her home with her daughter Mrs. Haroff. Their family consisted of eight children but only three are now living, the sisters of Mrs. Haroff being: Ella, the wife of Nicholas Yancy, of Port Roberts, Washington; and Millie, who married Clinton Cocklin, of Louisa county, Iowa. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Haroff has been blessed with one son, Earl David, who was born June 18, 1896, and is a high-school student.

         The family attend the Evangelical church and politically Mr. Haroff is a democrat, although the honors and emoluments of office have never held any attraction for him. With him perseverance, diligence and integrity have constituted the guiding posts of life, bringing him to the honorable position which he now occupies in the opinion of his fellow citizens, among whom he has long lived and labored.