JOHN M. HUNCHIS

The student of history cannot carry his investigations far into the records of Worth county without learning of the close connection of the Hunchis family with its agricultural development. Upon the old family homestead in Union township, where he now resides, occurred the birth of John M. Hunchis, whose natal day was June 4, 1876, his parents being Joseph and Catherine (Heiny) Hunchis, who are mentioned in connection with the sketch of Joseph George Hunchis on another page of this work. On the old farm John M. Hunchis spent the days of his boyhood and youth, early gaining practical knowledge of the best methods of plowing, planting and harvesting. He assisted in the work of the fields through the summer months and in the winter seasons attended school. He remained upon the farm until 1896, when, having reached the age of twenty years, he was married and removed to his present farm, which his father had previously purchased and on which he has erected new buildings. The place comprises two hundred acres of rich and productive land, which was the share of John M. Hunchis in the estate of his father, which embraced five hundred and sixty acres of land. In connection with tilling his soil and caring for his crops Mr. Hunchis also operates a threshing outfit and shredder machine. He is a most progressive agriculturist, using the latest improved farm machinery in carrying cm his work, and everything about his place is indicative of his care, his energy and his enterprise. Aside from his farming interests he is a stockholder in the Plymouth Bank, a stockholder in the Plymouth Creamery Company and a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company at Plymouth. His business interests are thus broad and varied and substantial success has attended his investments and his labors.

In 1896 Mr. Hunchis was united in marriage to Miss Nora Michalek, a daughter of John and Barbara Michalek. Mrs. Hunchis was born in Plymouth, Iowa, while her parents were natives of Bohemia and came to the United States in early life. They first settled near Bristol, in Worth county, where the father purchased government land. Later they removed to Mitchell county, Iowa, where he again carried on agricultural pursuits, and later he purchased the home farm upon which Mr. Hunchis now resides, there retaining his residence until his death, which occurred November 30, 1914. To Mr. and Mrs. Hunchis have been born two children, Fred and Dorothy.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Hunchis gives his political endorsement to the democratic party. He has led an active and useful life and his success is the direct outcome and result of his perseverance and labors. He early recognized the eternal principle that industry wins and that fate yields its rewards to the man of earnest, persistent purpose. He has therefore cultivated those qualities which lead to the attainment of prosperity and as the years have gone by his labors have brought good results, gaining him a place among the prominent and representative farmers of his native county.

SOURCE: HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1918, VOL. II; PAGES 585 & 586

Transcribed by Gordon Felland, October 26, 2006