DAVID E. STRAWHACKER.

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         David E. Strawhacker, who has lived retired in Oakville for the past two years, was formerly identified with agricultural interests as a farmer and stock-raiser and now owns from six to seven hundred acres of valuable land in Louisa county and more than eleven hundred acres in North Dakota. His birth occurred in Pennsylvania on the 4th of February, 1860, his parents being Benjamin and . . .

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. . . Mary Ann (Miller) Strawhacker, who were likewise natives of the Keystone state. Leaving Pennsylvania, they took up their abode on a farm near Millersburg, Mercer county, Illinois. Benjamin Strawhacker, who was a blacksmith by trade, worked at that occupation and also at farming until 1886, when he came to Louisa county, Iowa, where his demise occurred on the 7th of March, 1893. His widow, who makes her home in this county, has attained the age of eighty-one years. Unto them were born seven children, as follows: John Ambrose, who is a resident of New Boston, Illinois; Elizabeth, the wife of J. R. Minor, of Louisa county; William Jefferson, who makes his home in North Dakota; James P., who is deceased; David E., of this review; Henry E., likewise living in North Dakota; and Rose E., the wife of Victor Swafford, of Morning Sun, Iowa.

         When a young man of twenty years David E. Strawhacker started out in life on his own account as an agriculturist, renting an Illinois farm of three hundred and twenty acres in association with his brother and devoting his attention to its operation for two years. On the expiration of that period he purchased a tract of one hundred and sixty-five acres, owning and operating the farm for ten years. Disposing of the property, he embarked in business at New Boston, Illinois, where he remained for three years and then sold out. Subsequently he bought over four hundred acres of land and was busily engaged in its further cultivation and improvement until 1893, when he sold the property and came to Louisa county, here also purchasing a tract of four hundred acres. As time passed he augmented his holdings by additional purchase until he now owns from six to seven hundred acres of rich and productive land in Louisa county as well as over eleven hundred acres in North Dakota. In 1909 he left the farm and took up his abode in Oakville, purchasing a valuable tract of land of seven and a quarter acres and erecting thereon an elegant two-story residence. His home is equipped with an individual light plant and is up-to-date and modern in every respect. He is now serving as a director and vice president of the Farmers Bank of Oakville and also of the Farmers Grain Company of the same place.

         Mr. Strawhacker has been married twice. On the 30th of December, 1886, he wedded Miss Lilly Smith, by whom he had two children: Edna May, the wife of R. R. Severly, of Louisa county; and Eva Lena, the wife of Andrew Ellsworth, of this county. The wife and mother passed away on the 22d of March, 1890, and on the 19th of December, 1894, Mr. Strawhacker was again married, his second union being with Miss Emerance Herr, a daughter of Gregor and Augusta Herr, both of whom were natives of Germany. Emigrating to the United States, they took up their abode in Louisa county, Iowa, Mr. Herr here becoming identified with general agricultural pursuits. He still makes his home in this county but his wife is no longer living. They were the parents of five children, namely: Joseph, who is a resident of Hamilton, Iowa; George, who died in infancy; Mrs. Strawhacker; Sophia, the wife of Frank Searls, of Oakville; and Anna, the wife of Harry Munson. Unto our subject and his second wife were born eight children, as follows: Emery G., and Emma, who . . .

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. . . died in infancy; Marshall, who is a resident of Oakville; Frank H., who has passed away; and Cleo Irene, Mark C., Paul D. and Roy B., all at home.

         Since age conferred upon the right of franchise Mr. Strawhacker has supported the men and measures of the democracy. He is now serving as a township trustee and has held other minor positions, ever discharging his official duties in a most prompt and able manner. For ten years he was school-director while living in the country. In religious faith he is a Methodist, while his wife is a devoted communicant of the Catholic church. In all relations of life in which he is found, whether social, business or public, he has been true to high principles of manhood and his salient characteristics are such as have won for him the honor, respect and good will of his fellowmen.