acres, in the spring of 1879, and he has ever since devoted his attention to tilling this land, and now has it well improved and under a high state of cultivation. Besides his farming operations, which he carries on quite extensively, he is interested in stock-raising, and is grading into the Polled Angus cattle. As he was reared on a farm, he was early initiated in the duties of farm life, and it is not to be wondered at that, upon attaining his twenty-first year, in 1856, he chose farming as his occupation in life, and has pursued this calling with such eminent success ever since. His marriage to Miss Mary McNeal, a native of the " Empire State," was consummated in 1857, and they became the parents of seven children: Roxie (now Mrs. Laundsbury), James (deceased), Lydia (now Mrs. D. W. Shaw, of this township), Ira (of Tama City), Jennie (now Mrs. Keith, of Larrabee, Iowa), Hattie (now Mrs. Eckels, of Nevada Township), and Ida. The wife died in 1879, and after remaining a widower for three years Mr. Danskin led to the altar Miss Elizabeth Clyde, of Kingston, Canada, and by this last marriage is the father of three children: Melville, Clyde and Roy, all at home. In his political views Mr. Danskin affiliates with the Republican party, and belongs to the Alliance. His wife is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. He helped to organize the school district, and has always been liberal in support of schools and churches, as well as all laudable public enterprises. His parents were James and Lydia Danskin, and both of them were natives of the "Empire State."
John E. Davis. In enumerating the enterprising and progressive agriculturists and stockmen of Story County, Mr. Davis must not be overlooked, for he is acknowledged by all to be one of the leading men of the community. He first opened his eyes to the light of this world in Ontario County, N. Y., August 18, 1833. His father, Cornelius Davis, was of English extraction. He was a farmer by occupation, and followed this pursuit in his native State (Connecticut), and later in New York. By his marriage with Miss Sabrina Hawley he became the father of eight children, five sons and three daughters, and but three of these sons are now living. John E. Davis attained his growth in his native county, where he also obtained a good common-school education. At the age of twenty-one years he went to Illinois, but after one year spent in that State he returned to New York, and the next fourteen years of his life were spent uneventfully in that State in tilling the soil. Being afflicted with the asthma, and thinking the climate of Northern Iowa would be beneficial, he disposed of his interests in New York, and in 1868 came to Story County, Iowa, where he has ever since been an honored resident. His farm comprises 252 acres of good tillable land, most of it under cultivation, and well improved with a fine two-story brick house, a barn 50x56x24 feet, besides a cow barn 16x48 feet, and a granary and shedding attached. For a number of years he has been devoting considerable attention to stock-raising ; he owns twenty-six head of horses, including some high-grade Norman mares and a trotting Morgan stallion and mares, about forty head of graded Shorthorn and Angus cattle, and some 200 head of registered Poland China and full-blood hogs. In Monroe County, N. Y., in 1859, his marriage with Miss Sarah A. Atchinson was consummated, and their married life was blessed with the following children: Herbert M. (now twenty-seven years of age, married Miss Carrie L. Nelson, and they make their home on his father's farm), George S. (born in February, 1866, was killed in a collision in December, 1888,) and Hugh C. (is now eighteen years of