For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 453
JESSE VANHORN....The owner of a valuable farm and one of the highly respected citizens of Goshen township, Jesse Vanhorn has no cause to regret that he cast his lot in Muscatine county. He is a native of Louisa county, Iowa, born February 10, 1853, and is a son of Jesse and Elizabeth ( Bender ) Vanhorn, the father having been born in Ohio and the mother in Pennsylvania. They were married in the Buckeye state and in 1846 came to Louisa county, Iowa, where the father entered government land, becoming one of the well known farmers of the county. He was an industrious and enterprising man of good business ability and at one time was the owner of four hundred and eighty acres. He passed away in 1886, having been a resident of Iowa for forty years. The mother remained upon the home place for several years and then lived with her children, continuing with them until 1901, when she was called to her reward. There were twelve children in the family, of whom five are deceased : John B., Sidney A., George, Sarah, and Priscilla. Those living are : James, of Texas ; Susan Jane, wife of H. King, of Parsons, Kansas ; Louisa, wife of Newell Paulin, also of Parsons, Kansas ; William, of Morehead, Iowa ; T. J., of Parsons, Kansas ; Jesse, the subject of this review ; and Mary, now Mrs. Joseph Lumbeck, of Parsons, Kansas.Jesse Vanhorn was educated in the district schools and assisted his father until twenty-one years of age, when he rented the homestead upon which he continued for twenty-five years. In 1899 he moved to a farm in Goshen township, which he purchased in 1904, and he is now the owner of one hundreed and forty acres of land, all of which he has brought to a high state of cultivation. He has also made many improvements in buildings, fences, drainage, etc., and has one of the most desirable places of the size in the township. He is an admirer of fine horses and will have no other kind on his farm. As an agriculturist and stock-raiser he has justly attained a high standing and financially has met with gratifying success in his business.
On the 7th of October, 1880, Mr. Vanhorn was united in marriage to Miss Eugenia V. Smith, who was born upon the farm on which she now lives, December 27, 1860. She is a daughter of Benjamin and Sarah ( Drake ) Smith, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of New York state. Mr. Smith came to Iowa in 1852 and after spending one year in Cedar county purchased a farm in Muscatine county, which he cultivated until his death, which occurred in 1889, at the age of sixty-three years. His wife died in 1902, at the age of seventy-three years. Their remains lay side by side in Overman cemetery, Goshen township. By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born six children, namely : Luna, now thw wife of George Coverston, of California ; Lovisa, now Mrs. J. E. Parker, of Moscow, Iowa ; Mary E., the wife of John Walters, of Tipton, Iowa ; L. B., of Nichols, Iowa ; Eugenia V., now Mrs. Vanhorn ; and Henry C., of Fallon, Nevada.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Vanhorn has been brightened by the arrival of seven children : Pearl E., born in 1881, who was a student of the high school and is now the wife of Erle Turkle of Atalissa ; Wima C., who was born in 1883, and died in 1884 ; John B., who was born in 1886, and is now at Atalissa ; Carl, born in 1888, who received a high school education and is now living at home ; Jesse L., who was born in 1890, and is now the wife of Don Hargraves, of Muscatine county ; Ernest Ray and Erma Mae, twins, born 1894, still at home.
Mr. Vanhorn's family are members of the Christian church and stanch believers in the inspiration of Holy Writ. Politically he gives his support to the democratic party, and that he possesses the confidence of the people of the township is indicated by the fact that he has served for six years as a member of the school board. He is connected with the Lodge of Modern Brotherhood of America at Atalissa and is an earnest admirer of the beautiful teachings of that order. Industrious, energetic and progressive, he, years ago, won an enviable place in the estimation of the community and is regarded as one of its most valued members. He owes his success to a worthy ambition and a stability of character, two of the most desirable attributes that any man can possess.
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