I was born 2 miles north of Arispe to James Harold and Edith HOLT CHICKEN on October 1, 1908. I started school at Grand Prairie Country School at age 4.

In 1913, my grandfather, Daniel CHICKEN, died and our family moved 21/2 miles east of Arispe, which my folks had purchased from the rest of the heirs. I attended Sand Creek Center Country School until the Arispe Consolidated School was organized in 1914.

Following graduation from Arispe High School in 1925, I enrolled at Iowa State College [present-day Iowa State University] and graduated March 19, 1930. I graduated in Agriculture and Manual Training and was on the varsity swimming team where I lettered in Fancy Diving and Breast Stroke. I was the Big Six Intercollegiate One Meter Diving Champion in 1929. One of my roommates in college was Stanley BALLOUN, who later became Dr. BALLOUN and was a Poultry Science Specialist and world-wide soybean meal authority.

Following graduation from college, I coached, was high school principal, and taught math and shop at Irwin, Afton, and Macedonia, Iowa. Whie teaching at Afton I met and married Harriet PIKE on May 29, 1933. In 1935, I decided to start teaching vocational agriculture and we moved to Alleman, Iowa. We stayed there 2 years and then moved to Manila, Iowa for 4 years. Following that 4 years, I started a new vocational agriculture department in Harlan, Iowa where I stayed one year before moving to Greenfield, Iowa. I was employed by Iowa State College as County Extension Director. I remained in the position in Adair County for 7 years. In 1947 we purchased an 80 acre farm 11/2 miles northeast of Greenfield and on July 1, 1949, I resigned as County Extension Director and devoted my time to farming. In addition to farming my own farm, I was in stock-share partnership with J. R. HAMILTON on his 400 acres for 14 years. In 1960 poor health forced me to leave the farm. Iowa State University hired me as County Extension Director in Ringgold County, a position I held until I had to resign because of age in March 1975. On July 1, 1975, I was asked to be magistrate judge, a position I held for 8 years, but again was forced to retire because of age.

Our marriage was blessed with 3 children, all girls, Betty Jo born 12/3/35, Patricia Jean born 9/17/42, and Carol Jane born 1/9/45.

Betty Jo attended John Hopkins School of Nursing in Baltimore, Maryland and graduated in 1957 as an R.N. In 1958 she enlisted as an Air Force Nurse and she was assigned to Harlingen, Texas where she met and married John SESTAK, a maintenance officer and mechanical engineering graduate for Michigan Tech. She and John have 4 girls, Julie, Jackie, Kathy and Karen. The two older girls have graduated from the University of Hawaii where the two younger girls are now students. Betty, when her girls were out of grade school, took a B.S. in Psychology and 2 Master's Degrees, one in Vocational Rehabilitation and one in Hospital Administration. John retired from the Air Force in Kailua, Hawaii where Betty continues to work for International Rehabilitation Associates.

Patricia Jean graduated from Greenfield High School in 1960, and graduated from Iowa Methodist School of Nursing in Des Moines as an R.N. in 1963. In 1984 she received her B.S. in Health services. She was married to Arnold BEATH in 1964, and to this union 2 boys were born, Scott and Jeff. Arnie taught at Buena Vista College for 3 years and received his PhD. from Kansas State in English. Following his graduation from Kansas State they moved to Northbrook, Illinois where Pat nursed and Arnold worked as a civilian employee for the Army. Pat was selected to attend Ravenswood Anesthesia School in Chicago and graduated in 1979. She obtained a job as anesthetist at the Greene County Hospital in Jefferson, Iowa and the family moved there as soon as school was out. Arnold and Patricia were divorced in 1984. Scott is a freshman at the University of Iowa and Jeffery is a sophomore in high school.

Carol Jane graduated from Mt Ayr High School in 1963, and Iowa State University in 1967, with a B.S. Degree in Home Economics Education. Carol was married to Loren MAHR of Indianola in December, 1966. Loren graduated from Iowa State University with a B.S. Degree in Dairy Science the same day as Carol. Following graduation Loren enlisted in the Army as a food inspector and spent 3 years at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs. Following his stint in the service he was herdsman for the Dr. PERKINS Farm near Fremont and Carol taught home economics at Fremont. Carol and Loren started farming near Carlisle for 2 years and then he and his brother formed a farm corporation southeast of Indianola which they dispersed in 1985. They have 2 daughters, Janelle, 11, and Lesley, 9. Carol now teaches Vocational Home Economics at Southeast Warren Community Schools and has been for the past 8 years. Loren is employed as a construction foreman for Central Paving Corporation of Indianola.

Harriet has been active as a homemaker and when Carol graduated from high school in 1963 she was asked to teach in the elementary schools of Mt. Ayr which she did until she retired. She has been active in P.E.O., Order of Eastern Star, Daughters of the American Revolution and the Methodist Church.

I have been active in Masonry and was awarded my 50 year Masonic Certificate April 5, 1985. In addition, I have been active in Scottish Rite work in the Des Moines Consistory. I was invested with the Knight Commander of Honor in 1971 and the Inspector General Honorary 33 degree in 1977. I also belong to the York Rite Bodies in Leon and the ZaGaZig Shrine in Des Moines.

SOURCE: Arispe [Iowa] Centennial: 1887-1987 Pp. 95-96. 1987