Zearing, Iowa 1956 History

Henry died on June 28, 1944. Elva Edith died on February 22, 1949.

Holcomb :

Members of the Holcomb family came to Iowa from Ohio in covered wagons. They were among the first settlers in our community.

Homer Holcomb was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on June 2, 1814. He moved to Ohio in 1838. Ellen Foster was born near Otsego, Ohio, on October 15, 1823. We do not have the date of the marriage of Homer and Ellen. They moved to Illinois Grove in 1868. They moved to Lincoln township several years later.

Homer and Ellen were the parents of nine children. They were James, Charles, Smiley, John, Henry, Ann, Harriet, Claria, and William.

James was a local Civil War veteran. William established a permanent home in this community. Harriet was the wife of Edgar D. Reed. John was called “Little John,” to avoid confusion. His cousin was also named John. The cousin was called “Big John.”

Homer died on January 21, 1901. Ellen died on April 15, 1890.

We do not have complete information about the William Holcomb Sr. family. William was the brother of Homer. William married Lydia Bainter in Ohio. They moved to Illinois Grove in 1855.

William and Lydia were the parents of fourteen children. We have the names of seven of the children. They were George, John, Garry, Fremont, Barton, Electa, and Julia.

William died on September 22, 1882. Lydia died on April 12, 1886.

HORST :

Jacob S. Horst was a farmer and banker in our community. He was a prominent resident of Story county before he moved to his farm in our community in 1890.

Jacob S. Horst was born in Pennsylvania on November 6, 1852. He was the son of Christian and Lydia Horst. The family moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, when be was a small boy. Later they moved to Polo, Illinois.

Jacob married Florence Welty of Story county, Iowa, on November 7, 1875. Jacob and Florence had a son, Daniel. Daniel died in May, 1927. Florence died on May 10, 1896.

On September 15, 1897, Jacob married Mary Belle Shaw of our community. Jacob and Belle were the parents of two children. They were John S. and Anna Ailene.

Jacob died on December 4, 1934. Belle is living at Iowa City, Iowa, in 1955,