reared and married. They arrived in Story county, Iowa, in the spring of 1857, traveling by boat to Keokuk and reaching their destination on the 1st of March. They located on the place where the birth of Hiram E. Emery occurred and five years later the father entered land in Grant township but never resided upon that farm. Subsequently he purchased a farm on section 32, Grant township, whereon he lived until 1882, when he took up his abode in Ames. In 1885 he removed to O'Brien county, Iowa, where he resided until 1895, when he went to live with his son Hiram in Poweshiek county. Later Hiram E. Emery returned to Ames, accompanied by his father, who passed away here on the 28th of December, 1908. Since the death of her husband the mother has resided with the daughter in O'Brien county. In their family were nine children: Mary, who died in Ohio in infancy; Hiram E.; Nettie B., the wife of Homer Morgan of Cherokee county; Charles F., also of Cherokee county; E. Grant, of Montana; Frank, a resident of Fort Dodge, Iowa; William, of Sanborn, Iowa; John, who died in infancy; and Florence, the wife of Fred Marunda, of Primghar, O'Brien county.
Hiram E. Emery was reared to farm life, remaining with his parents until twenty-two years of age, during which period he became familiar with all the labors of field and meadow. He then began working at the carpenter's trade in Ames and was employed by O. P. Stuckslager for three years. Subsequently he was employed at bridge work and building for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company for five years, and subsequently spent two years in similar service with the Milwaukee Railway Company. Since that time he has engaged in contracting and building on his own account and now has a liberal patronage. He has done much work in Ames and throughout the surrounding country, confining his attention largely to the building of houses. He has made judicious investments in property and is the owner of a good farm in O'Brien county and another in Minnesota, while in Ames he has three good residences and other business interests. His life has indeed been a busy and useful one, and the success which has come to him is the merited reward of earnest labor.
On Christmas Day of 1889 Mr. Emery was united in marriage to Miss Arminda J. Brown, who was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, December 27, 1862, but when 9 years of age went to Poweshiek county, Iowa, with her father's family. She was the daughter of Samuel and Victoria Brown. The mother died when her daughter was but five years of age, and the father afterward married again. Mr. and Mrs. Emery became the parents of two children but the younger, J. V., died in infancy. The elder, Samuel Orville, is now attending the high school.
Mr. Emery belongs to the Masonic fraternity in which he has taken the degrees of the lodge, chapter and council. He also holds membership relations with the Modern Woodmen of America and with the Homesteaders. His has been a well spent life, devoted to the duty close at hand. There is nothing hesitating or vacillating in his nature. When he sees that there is