For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 543
JOHN S. HITCHCOCK, the owner of a well improved farm in section 33, Lake township, is known as one of the substantial men of Muscatine County. He has devoted his entire life to agricultural and stock-raising interests and years ago secured a foundation for financial independence in the ownership of good Muscatine county land which has yielded to him abundant annual returns. Having been thoroughly trained as a farmer in his youth, he avoided the mistakes made by many who started under less favorable conditions and his progress has been without serious interruptions.He was born on the farm where he now lives, July 2, 1859, and is a son of John P. and Emily I. (Adams ) Hitchcock, the former a second cousin of John Quincy Adams, of Massachusetts. The father was born in Ohio, and came to Muscatine county in 1846 during the pioneer period, entering land and devoting his undivided attention to his farm. He passed away August 10, 1881, his beloved wife departing this life July 26, 1882. Nine children were born to them of whom five are now living: Lola E., the wife of Captain G. W. H. Lucas, of Kansas; Anna, now Mrs. William Riggs, of Muscatine county; John S., our subject; Emma L., the wife of F. D. Wood, of Muscatine county;and Edward, of Lake township, Muscatine county.
John S. Hitchcock began his education in district school and later attended high school and a business college at Davenport. He early became well acquainted with agriculture and stock-raising under the direction of his father. Arriving at twenty-one years of age, he rented the home farm which he cultivated successfully for several years, then purchasing a farm on section 34, Lake township, where he lived for thirteen years. At the end of that period he sold his farm and purchased the old home place, where he has since continued. He has added to his original property holdings until now he is the owner of three hundred acres in Lake township, which he cultivates with great success. He makes specialty of raising and feeding all kinds of stock and as he is well informed as to the markets, he generally commands a very fair price for what he has to offer. He is a lover of fine horses and has a number of them at all times upon his farm.
In 1883 Mr. Hitchcock was united in marriage to Miss Abbie P. McCloud, a native of Lake township and a daughter of David and Phoebe ( Chattaway ) McCloud. Her father was a native of Ohio but her mother came from England and located in Muscatine county in the early days. There were eight children in their family. One son, Bion H. has been born to Mr. and Mrs Hitchcock, and he is now attending the State Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa, and is a young man of high promise.
Mr. Hitchcock gives his allegiance to the Democratic party and has been honored by the voters of his township by being elected as trustee and school director. He and his wife are valued members of the Methodist Eppiscopal Church, to which they are contributors. He also holds membership in the Modern Brotherhood of America, and the esteem in which he is held by his brethren is indicated by the fact that he has filled all the chairs in the local lodge. Active and efficient in everything he undertakes, he has gained the confidence not only of his neighbors and friends but of a wide circle of acquaintances throughout the county.
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