[page 538] W.E. Keister. Early realizing that there is no royal road to wealth, W.E. Keister in his business career has put forth strenuous and consecutive effort for the attainment of that success which is the goal of all laudable endeavor. He is now a member of the firm of Keister, Collins & Company, lumber dealers of Essex. His life record began on the 2nd of April, 1856, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, his parents being David and Anna (Lauffer) Keister, both of whom were natives of Westmoreland county, and were of German lineage. The father spent his entire life in his native county, where he followed the occupation of farming. The mother still survives and makes her home with her children.

At the usual age W.E. Keister was sent to the public schools and supplemented his preliminary course by an academic course in the Laird Institute. At twenty years of age he left the parental roof and came to Iowa, working for one year as a farm hand at Randolph, Fremont county. He then went to Imogene in the same county, where he secured a position as yard man in connection with the lumber business. He remained there, however, for only one year, after which he came to Essex and found employment in the lumberyard of Mr Poe, with whom he remained for seventeen years. At that time Mr Poe failed in business and for two years thereafter Mr Keister was employed by other parties. In company with A.M. Stearns he then purchased the lumber business of Beach & Sederburg and started out upon an independent business venture, conducting the enterprise under the firm name of Keister & Stearms. They remained together for two years, at the end of which time Mr Keister purchased Mr Stearm's interest and for six months conducted the business alone. He then sold a half interest to A.D. Collins, since which time the firm has been Keister & Collins. They have a large and well equipped lumberyard, in which they carry all kinds of lumber and building supplies. In January, 1909, they purchased the lumberyards of Frank Weidman, of Coburg, Iowa, and Mr Keister's son-in-law, W.J. Parrott, bought a third interest in the firm at that time. The name was then changed to Keister, Collins & Company and they own and control a business at Essex and at Coburg. Mr Keister is also the owner of a quarter section of land in Sully county, South Dakota. The years have chronicled his success which comes from his ability to correctly judge of life's contacts and its experiences and to utilize every favoring opportunity.

In 1880 Mr Keister was united in marriage to Miss Ida M. Baird of Essex, and unto them have been born eight children, of whom five are living. These are: Muriel J., the wife of W.J. Parrott of Coburg, who is third partner in the business and has charge of the lumberyards of the firm of Keister, Collins & Company at Coburg; Delmont C., of Omaha, Nebraska; James D., who is living in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Frank D., who is an assistant in the Coburg lumberyards; and Baird V., at home.

In his plitical views Mr Keister is a stalwart republican where national issues are involved but at local elections casts an independent ballot but his fellow townsmen's appreciation of his public-spirited citizenship and his devotion to the general good is indicated in the fact that he was elected to the office of mayor, in which connection he gave a public-spirited and beneficial administration. He belongs to Mountain Lodge, No 360, A.F. & A.M., and is a member of the Presbyterian church, in which he is serving as elder. His success has followed as the logical sequence of his close application and business probity and in other relations of life as well he has enjoyed the unqualified esteem and confidence of his associates and colleagues.

[page 551] Christian W. Fishbaugh, a banker and land proprietor, who until recent years was the largest landowner of southwestern Iowa, has in life record proved the efficiency of indefatigable and intelligently directed industry in winning success. He was born in Crawford county, Ohio, on the 20th of February, 1847, his parents being Christian and Mary (Gross) Fishbaugh. The father was a native of Bavaria, Germany, while the mother's birth occurred in Columbiana county, Ohio. Having spent the first fifteen years of his life in his native country, Chriatian Fishbaugh, Sr., then accompanied his parents to the United States and after his marriage located upon a farm in Crawford county, Ohio. His remaining days were devoted to general agricultural pursuits in that county, where he passed away at the comparatively early age of forty-five years. After the father's death the family removed to Tiffin, Ohio, where the mother died at the age of sixty-one years.

Christian W. Fishbaugh was reared at home, acquiring his education in the district schools of Crawford county. He was fouteen years of age at the removal to Tiffin, at which time he began work in his brother's wagon manufacturing plant, being there employed until his twenty-first year. On obtaining his majority he was admitted to a partnership under the firm name of Fishbaugh Brothers, the firm owning and controlling the patent wagon hound, the best wagon hound ever producted. This brought to their business a world-wide acquaintance and insured their success. C.W. Fishbaugh was identified with this manufacturing interest until 1885 but in the meantime, in 1882, he had removed west to Shenandoah. He retained his financial interest in the Ohio business for three years and it is still in operation in Tiffin under the name of the Fishbaugh Bent Works.

After arriving in Shenandoah, Christian W. Fishbaugh turned his attention to the live-stock business and to farming, in which line he was actively engaged until 1903, when he withdrew from active connection with agricultural pursuits and became one of the heaviest stockholders in the Commercial Savings Bank, now the Commercial Nation Bank of Shenandoha. He was elected vice president of the institution, in which capacity he was identified with the bank for three years. In 1906, however, he sold his bank stock and for two years thereafter gave his undivided attention to his landed interests. In the fall of 1908 he was instrumental in the organi-[page 552] zation of the Security Trust & Savings Bank of Shenandoah, his associate in this venture being his son, Earl C. Fishbaugh. On the 6th of January, 1909, they opened their doors for business and in the management of the bank have shown themselves familiar with the demands of the financial world. Already the institution has secured many patrons and its business is constantly growing. In all of his operations Mr Fishbaugh has been very successful and at one time was the owner of over nineteen hundred acres of the most valuable farming land in Iowa, located in Fremont and Page counties.

In October, 1873, Mr Fishbaugh was married to Miss Melinda Angene, of Broken Sword, Crawford county, Ohio. Unto them were born two sons, Warren P., a stockman, who is looking after the interests of his farms, and Earl C., cashier of the Security Trust & Savings Bank.

In his political views Mr Fishbaugh is an earnest republican and served for nine years as a member of the town council of Shenandoah, during which time he labored effectively and earnestly to introduce many needed reforms and improvements. For three years he was a member of the school board and the cause of education has ever found in him a stalwart champion. He likewise belongs to the Congregational church and is greatly interested in the material, intellectual, social and moral progress of the community. Starting out in life at the age of fourteen years without any special advantages he has made steady progress in the business world nor has his path ever been strewn with the wreck of other men's fortunes. He has sought his success in the legitimate lines of trade and commerce, and at all times his commercial probity has stood as an unquestioned fact in his career.

[page 555] Earl C. Fishbaugh. Banking institutions are the heart of the commercial body and indicate the healthfulness of trade. The bank that follows a safe, conservative policy does more to establish public confidence in times of widespread financial depression than any other one thing and the men who control its affairs are looked upon at such times as the promoters of stability and the guardians of trade interests. Well qualified by his experience and his training for the conduct of banking interests, Earl C. Fishbaugh is now serving as cashier of the Security Trust & Savings Bank of Shenandoah. He is yet a young man but has given manifestation of many sterling business qualities. He was born in Tiffin, Ohio, on the 7th of March, 1880, and is a son of Christian W. and Malinda (Angene) Fishbaugh, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume.

Earl C. Fishbaugh was only two years old at the time of his parents' removal to Iowa and it was in Shenandoah that he was reared to manhood, acquiring his education in the public schools. He passed through consecutive grades until he was graduated from the high school with the class of 1898, at which time he turned his attention to farming and was identified with agricultural interests through five summers. In November, 1902, he became connected with the banking business, securing a position as bookkeeper in the Commercial Savings Bank, now the Commercial National Bank of Shenandoah. He had acted in that capacity for ten months, when he was made assistant cashier of the institution, so continuing until January, 1906, when he resigned his position to become assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Shenandoah. His time was thus occupied until April 1908, and in the fall of that year the organization of the Security Trust & [page 556] Savings Bank was effected, Mr Fishbaugh being connected with the work. On the 7th of January, 1909, the doors of the new institution were thrown open to the public, with Earl C. Fishbaugh as cashier, and already the business has made rapid strides, the possiblilities and indications of future success being most favorable.

Mr Fishbaugh is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge and also of Juniata Lodge, K.P.; of Page Camp, No 1049, M.W.A.; the Woodmen of the World; the Ancient Order of United Workmen; the Royal Neighbors; and Shenandoah Lodge, No. 1122, B.P.O.E. He likewise belongs to the Congregational church and is interested in those movements which tend to promote humanitarianism and uphold the moral standard. His political allegiance is given to the republican part where state and national questions are involved but at local elections he casts an independent ballot, voting for the candidate irrespective of party ties if he believes that the best interests of the community will be conserved thereby. In the spring of 1909 he was nominated and elected on the labor ticket to the office of city treasurer and his personal popularity and the confidence reposed in him were indicated in the fact that he received the highest vote of any candidate at the election and is the youngest treasurer that has ever filled the office.

On the 15th of December, 1908, Mr Fishbaugh was united in marriage to Miss Irene Fender, a daughter of Martin Fender, a farmer of Page county, now residing in Shenandoah. Like her husband Mrs Fishbaugh is a member of the Congregational church and they are prominent socially. He is a young man of strong personality and of marked individuality and is classed with the able young financiers of southwestern Iowa. Everywhere he is held in high regard and his friends are legion.

[page 558] Henry E. Deater, who since January, 1906, has capably served as the postmaster of Shenandoah, is the secretary, assistant editor and assistant manager of the Sentinel Post Company. His birth occurred in Lagrange, Indiana, on the 18th of April, 1862, his parents being John and Nancy J. (Leighter) Deater, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. They were married in Indiana, to which state they had removed in early manhood and womanhood. The father, who established his home in Lagrange, was an agriculturist by occupation and filled the office of county judge for some years. He passed away at the comparatively early age of forty years, his demise occurring in 1862. The mother of our subject afterward married again, her second union being with Thomas Bean, who died in the year 1870. Mrs Bean still survives, however, and is a resident of Abingdon, Illinois.

Henry E. Deater was but eleven years of age at the time his stepfather died, leaving a widow and four children in straitened circumstances, and it became necessary for him to aid in the support of the family as best he could. He manfully shouldered the responsibility and assisted in the maintenance of his widowed mother and her children until he had attained his twentieth year. His stepfather had establised the family home in Appanoose county, Iowa, but subsequently Henry E. Deater removed to Warren county, Illinois, with the mother and her four children, there continuing to reside until 1882. In that year he started westward with the intention of reading law under the direction of Judge E.G. Godfrey, of Minden, Nebraska, who had been his last school teacher. He had a sister living at Shenandoah, Iowa, and, stopping here on a visit, determined to remain for a time in order to attend college during a term of ten weeks. He had thirty dollars on his arrival, which he gave for tuition and worked in the dining room to pay for his board. On the expiration of his term the president of the college, William M. Crone, insisted that he continue his studies there and when Mr Deater told him that he had no money the president said he would personally furnish the necessary funds to complete the four years' course even if it required a thousand dollars. Through his influence Mr Deater obtained a position in the college which enabled him [page 559] to pay for his board during his student days and he remained at the institution until the time of his graduation with the class of 1886, while subsequently he continued his studies there for two more years. Following his graduation he procured a position as a school teacher and in this manner finally discharged an indebtedness of between six and seven hundred dollars, which he had incurred in order that he might have a college education.

On taking up his duties as an instructor Mr Deater first had charge of the "Sunny Slope School," which, though so unruly that two former teachers had been compelled to abandon their work, he succeeded in subduing. Having proven that he was a man of firm purpose, who knew how to enforce discipline and obedience, his services were sought as teacher in another school of this character, the Imogene, the principal of which had resigned. Subsequently he was employed by the college for a year, traveling through Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri and giving lectures on the work being done by the institution. During the fall of 1888 he taught in the Mount Hope school and in December of that year secured a position on a newspaper--the Shenandoah Sentinel, with which he remained until March, 1889. He then bought a half interest in the Blanchard Sentinel and on his return to Shenandoah in 1890 sold out the publication, of which he had become sole proprietor by the purchase of his partner's interest.

On his return to Shenandoah, through the solicitation of Mr Marvin, he was made assistant editor of the Sentinel, acting in that capacity until the fall of 1895, when he was elected county superintendent of schools. He remained the incumbent in that position of six years or through three successive terms and on severing his connection with educational interests was made assistant editor and assistant manager of the Sentinel Publishing Company, which had just been organized and of which firm he became a member. About a year later, however, he withdrew from the concern, selling his stock to Mr Marvin in November, 1902. He then bought the old Shenandoah Post and organized the Post Publishing Company, with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars. This paper, though the oldest in the town had been allowed to run down and Mr Deater determined to devote his efforts and energies to its upbuilding. a new printing plant was bought and the paper was soon established on a paying basis, the first issue being sent forth on the 11th of December, 1902. Mr Deater was made president, editor and manager of the company, thus serving until the 1st of April, 1905, when the Sentinel and Post were consolidated under the name of the Sentinel Post. He has since been the secretary, assistant editor and assistant manager of this paper and is widely recognized as a most prominent and successful representative of journalistic interest in the county. On the 16th of December, 1905, he was appointed postmaster of Shenandoah and entered upon the duties of that office on the 5th of January, 1905, having filled the position to the present time in a highly satisfactory and efficient manner.

On the 25th of November, 1886, Mr Deater was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie B. Spencer, of Creston, Iowa, by whom he has three children: [page 560] Earl J., a resident of New York city; Pearl O., who is employed as bookkeeper in the office of the Sentinel Post; and Eton R., who is attending the Shenandoah schools.

Mr Deater is a stalwart advocate of republican principles and is a prominent and influential factor in the local ranks of the party. He served as republican committeeman from 1903 until 1905, when he resigned to accept the postmastership and was secretary of the county committee for a number of years. Fraternally he is identified with Tricentum Lodge, No 300, F. & A.M.; Sheshbazzar Chapter, No 82, R.A.M.; Shenandoah Lodge, No 1122, B.P.O.E.; the Modern Woodmen of America; the Ancient Order of United Workman; and the Degree of Honor. He also belongs to the Easter Star, his wife acting as worthy matron of the lodge. Socially he is connected with the Shenandoah Commercial Club and the Boosters Club, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is serving as a steward. He has the largest private library in the county and is a member of a law class in Shenandoah. Handicapped in youth by difficulties and obstacles which would have disheartened many a man of less resolute spirit, Mr Deater deserves much credit for what he has accomplished. By sheer force of character, strong purpose and laudable amibiton he has forged ahead and commands the respect and admiration which is ever accorded those whose success has been honorably won.

[page 570] Joseph C. Journey, of Shambaugh, is an honored veteran of the Civil war and one of the old-time residents of Page County, where he has lived continuously for forty years. Through much of this period he was closely, actively and successfully assocatied with agricultural interests but is now living retired, having divided his land among his children. He has passed the seventy-sixth milestone on life's journey, his birth having occurred in Perry county, Ohio, September 21, 1833. His parents were John A. and Anna (Harkins) Journey, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Pennsylvania. Both had been previously married and Mrs Journey had one son by her first husband--Benoni Brown, while Mr Journey had two sons by his first wife. The children of John A. and Anna (Harkins) Journey numbered five sons and two daughters.

[page 571] Joseph C. Journey spent the first sixteen years of his life in the county of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Jay county, Indiana, in 1849. There the family lived until 1854, during which period Joseph C. Journey learned the plasterer's trade. He also learned the trade of shoemaking during the winter months, after which he traveled around and worked in different places as a journeyman, devoting his time largely to plastering. Going to Mercer county, Ohio, he was there married, after which he returned to Portland, Indiana, where he worked at his trades until 1861. After that year he removed to Sterling, Whiteside county, Illinois, and there resided during the early period of the Civil war but on the 7th of August, 1862, felling that his first duty was to his country he enlisted as a member of Company D, Seventy-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry under command of Captain McMoore. He thus served for three years and was honorably discharged on the 12th of June, 1865, at Nashville, Tennessee. While at the front he was attacked by a disease of the hip joint and was sent to the rear. After being treated in the hospital for a time he did guard duty but was permanently disabled by his military experiences. He took part in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Lancaster and other engagements and when the war was over returned to Mercer county, Ohio. There he resided until 1869, which year witnessed his arrival in Page county, Iowa, where he has since made his home. He had one hundred and forty acres of land in Buchanan and East river townships and for almost forty years successfully carried on general farming, during which time his well directed labors, careful expenditure and business ability brought to him a confortable competence. On the expiration of that period he disposed of his farm in October, 1908, dividing the land among his children. He now lives retired in Shambaugh and is pleasantly situated, his income being sufficient to supply him with all the necessities and many of the comforts of life.

In 1854 Mr Journey was married to Miss Samara Keyser, who was born in Miami county, Ohio, but was reared in Mercer county, that state, spending her girlhood days in the home of her father, Jesse Keyser. In 1869 she accompanied her husband on the removal to this county, where she died October 22, 1878. The children of that marriage were five in number: Martha Ann, now the wife of John D. Couch, of Phillipsburg, Kansas; Benoni B., a farmer residing in Shambaugh; Viola, the wife of A.W. Good, of Curtis, Nebraska; Pearl, the wife of James Stewart, of Clarinda; and Jesse F., who was drowned.

Politically Mr Journey has long been a stanch republican, joining the party on its organization and never faltering in his allegiance thereto. He has filled some minor positions but has always preferred to leave office holding to others. He has been a Mason since 1868, at which time he was initiated into the order in Salina, Ohio, and he is now a member of Nodaway Lodge, No 140, A.F. & A.M., of Clarinda. While not identified with any church, he has been a close student of the Bible for forty years and his life has been in strict conformity to its moral teachings. He has always endeavored to do unto others as he would have them do unto him, [page 572] is just and fair in business, kindly and considerate in manner. Those who know him esteem him for his genuine worth and he has a wide acquaintance in the county where he has now lived for four decades.

[page 588] Stephen Mann. It is fitting that men in the evening of life should enjoy a season of rest. Nature seems to have intended that this should be so, for in youth he is full of energy and hope and in later years these qualities are directed by mature judgment and keen discrimination, resulting in the attainment of success. Such has been the record of Stephen Mann, whose years of activity are now crowned with an age of ease. He has lived in the county since 1859 and during this period has been identified with its agricultural and stock-raising pursuits. Moreover, he is entitled to mention in this volume from the fact that he was one of the first settlers in Page county and during his residence here has seen the county developed from comparatively unimproved prairie land into rich fields, while in the work of improvement he has taken his full share.

Mr Mann was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, March 3, 1830, a son of John and Elizabeth (Rich) Mann, natives of Holland, who located in Pennsylvania at an early date and were among the pioneer settlers of that state. The father was a farmer by occupation, and among the scenes and environments of rural life Stephen Mann passed the first fifteen years of his life, attending the district schools during the winter months, while he assisted his father in the work of the fields during the summer seasons. In 1845 he accompanied his parents on their removal to [page 589] Michigan, where they resided upon a farm in St Joseph county for three years. At the expiration of that period, thinking to start out in life on his own account, Mr Mann left his parents' home and went to Green county, Wisconsin, where for eleven years he was employed as a farm hand by the month. Being ambitious to some day own a farm of his own, during the intervening years he labored earnestly and diligently and carefully saved his earnings until he had accumulated sufficient means with which to accomplish his desire. The year 1859 witnessed his arrival in Page county, Iowa, where he purchased a farm on one hundred and forty acres on the line between Buchanan and Amity townships. A few years later he bought an additional tract of one hundred acres adjoining his original purchase, and on this farm of two hundred and forty acres he continued to reside throughout his active connection with business interests. He engaged for many years in general farming, bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation and becoming recognized as one of the progressive and successful agriculturists of the community. For several years he engaged extensively in the live-stock business, shipping hogs and cattle and making a specialty of raising horses. He had the reputation of being one of the best known stockmen of Page county and this branch of his business interests proved a most gratifying source of revenue to him. Three years before settling permanently in Page county, Mr Mann had visited Iowa for the purpose of selecting a suitable location, and he has never found occasion to regret his decision to take up his abode in Page County for here he has been very prosperous, attaining a measure of success that now enables him to live retired, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil. He now makes his home with his son, Samuel John, a resident of Braddyville. Aside from his valuable farming land he also owns considerable town property in Braddyville.

It was on the 22d of January, 1852, that Mr Mann was united in marriage to Miss Rebecca Blackford, a daughter of William and Rachel (John) Blackford, pioneer residents of Green county, Wisconsin. The ceremony was performed by Rev Patton, of the Baptist church. This union was blessed with the following children: Mrs Levina Alice Nicholas, residing in Braddyville; Mrs Rachel Celelia Yaples, also of that city; Samuel John; Enoch Alvah, who resides upon and operates the old homestead situated north of the town of Braddyville; Anna Melissa, who passed away in infancy, her death occurring December 14, 1868; Mrs Amy Rosilla McKee, a resident of Hopkins, Missouri; and Loretta Belle, who died Octobert 4, 1896. On the 22d of September, 1902, Mr Mann was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, whose death was a matter of regret to an extensive circle of friends who held her in high esteem.

In politics Mr Mann is a Jeffersonian democrat and has always taken an active interest in the affairs of his party. He served as township trustee for several years and for over twenty years was a member of the township board and of the town school board, holding those offices until compelled to resign on account of old age and general disability. Fraternally he was a member of Braddyville Lodge, I.O.O.F., and also of the Sons of Tem[page 590]perance of Green county, Wisconsin, continuing his membership therewith until unable to attend the meetings on account of old age. His association with these organizations, however, indicate somewhat the principles that govern his conduct. A man of unquestioned integrity, of unfailing courtesy and of unswerving honor, he stands as a splendid type of honorable manhood, of earnest effort and of high principle. During the last few years he has spent a portion of each year traveling throughout the United States and Canada, having visited practically all of the points of interest in these two countries.

[page 593] William Ward, who is owner of the bus line of Clarinda, in which connection he is conducting a substantial business, came to this city in 1881 and has since made it his home. He removed to Clarinda from Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he had previously been connected with the same line of business. He is, however, a native of Indiana, his birth having occurred in Miami county, that state, on the 12th of April, 1851. His parents were Hiram and Rebecca (Evans) Ward, both of whom were natives [page 594] of Ohio. In the year 1855 the father left Indiana and removed with his family to Iowa, so that his son William is indebted to the public-school system of this state for the educational privileges he enjoyed. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of life for him in his youthful days, which were devoted to the acquirement of an education, to the enjoyment of the pleasures of the playground and to the discharge of such tasks as parental authority assigned him. He remained for some time in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he was connected with the bus line, but in 1881 removed to Clarinda, becoming associated with the same business in this city. He was in the employ of another until June, 1890, when he bought the line and has since conducted it, his earnest desire and effort to please his patrons, his obliging manner and uniform courtesy having been valuable elements in his success and he now has a liberal patronage which makes his business a profitable one.

On the 24th of December, 1882, William Ward was united in marriage to Miss Etta May Shelenberger of Clarinda, a daughter of Abraham and Louisa Shelenberger, the former proprietor of a hotel at this place. Mr and Mrs Ward have many friends in Clarinda and enjoy the confidence and good will of those who know them. They are members of the Presbyterian church and Mr Ward belongs to the Knights of Pythias. That his fellow townsmen have faith in his public-spirited citizenship is indicated in the fact that they elected him councilman in 1909 but he resigned, caring little for political preferment. He is, however, never remiss in the duties of citizenship but prefers to give his support to measures for the general good in the capacity of a private citizen rather than as an official.

[page 594] J.F. Cozad. An excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 26, Grant township, annually pays tribute in bounteous harvests to the care and labor which is bestowed upon it by J.F. Cozad. He was born in Montgomery county, Iowa, on the 2d of May, 1868, his parents being Hezekiah and Sarah A. (Dukeshier) Cozad, both of whom were natives of Jackson county, Ohio. They were reared in that county and in 1856 came to Page county, Iowa, and were here married. Hezekiah Cozad, who is now deceased, made his home in Page and Montgomery counties during his lifetime and about 1890 took up his abode in Essex, this county. His demise occurred on the 17th of March, 1908, when he had attained the age of seventy-three years. His widow still survives at the age of sixty-eight years and resides in Essex.

J.F. Cozad attended the public schools in the acquirement of an education and remained under the parental roof until the time of his marriage. It was on the 18th of October, 1888, that he was joined in wedlock to Miss Grace Tyner, of Fremont county, Iowa. The following spring he started out as an agriculturist on his own account by renting a tract of land, to the [page 595] operation of which he gave his attention for about fourteen years. On the expiration of that period, in 1903, he purchased the Jim Stewart farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Grant township and has continued to operate it most successfully since. He follows modern ideas and methods of agriculture and uses the latest improved machinery to facilitate his labors, so that he is meeting with excellent results. He is likewise a director in the Security Trust & Savings Bank of Shenandoah and is widely recognized as a most substantial, enterprising and representative citizen of the county.

Unto Mr and Mrs Cozad have been born seven children, namely: Jennie, now the wife of Ernest McNew, of Shenandoah; Jonas, at home; Wilbur, who is attending the Shenandoah high school; Gilbert and Sadie, who are likewise still under the parental roof; Fern, who has passed away; and Eugene, also at home.

Politically Mr Cozad is a republican and has served for several years as a school director, the cause of education ever finding in him a stalwart champion. At the present time he is capably discharging the duties devolving upon him as a member of the board of township trustees, having been elected to that office in the fall of 1908. Fraternally he is identified with Shenandoah Camp, No 1049, M.W.A., and with Three Oak Lodge, No 56, Royal Neighbors. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, with which his wife is also identified. In social relations they are held in the highest regard, the circle of their friends being almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintances.