Henry J. Beyer, one of the prominent and
progressive men of Danville township, devoting his attention to general
farming on section 36, has been a resident of Iowa for more than a half
century and of Worth county for forty-seven years. He was born in
Clearfield county, Pennsylvania, on. the 4th of May, 1857, and is a son of
Abraham and Barbara Ann (Keagy) Beyer. The father was a native of Medina
county, Ohio, born November 20, 1822.
He was but four years of age when
his parents returned to their old home in Clearfield county, Pennsylvania,
where he was reared to manhood and assisted his father in the operation of
a grist mill and lumber mill. Those were the days of the old log cabin and
he aided in building many such pioneer homes. In March, 1865, with his
family he removed to Rock Falls, Iowa, where he engaged in merchandising,
and extending his efforts into other lines of business, he also bought two
farms of one hundred and sixty acres each, one of which adjoined the town,
while the other was situated three-quarters of a mile southwest of the town.
He thus divided his time between his agricultural and his commercial
interests.
In 1871 he moved across the line into Worth county, taking up
his abode on the northwest quarter of section 28, Danville township, which
he had purchased two or three years before. In the spring of 1894, after
having devoted twenty-three years to general agricultural pursuits in Worth
county, he retired from active farm life and removed to Mason City, where he
resided to the time of his death, which occurred February 16, 1905, when
he was eighty-two years of age. His wife passed away on the 16th of
January, 1907.
Mr. Beyer was one of the organizers of Danville township,
Worth county, and later held every office within the gift of his fellow
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| MR. AND MRS. HENRY J. BEYER |
townsmen of that district. Few men were more interesting companions.
It was always a matter of pleasure to his friends to enjoy his conversation,
which was enriched with a fund of anecdote and reminiscences of the early
pioneer days. His life was largely spent upon the frontier and he was one
of Worth county's most valuable and respected citizens. His labors
contributed in marked measure to the substantial development of Worth
county in the early days and thus he aided in laving broad and deep the
foundation upon which has been built the present progress and prosperity
of this section of the state.
Henry J. Beyer, his son, was reared upon the
old homestead farm and pursued a common school education. Through vacation
periods he assisted in the work of the fields and after his textbooks were
put aside he continued upon the old homestead, cooperating with his father
in the cultivation of his land until his thirtieth year. Previous to that
time the father had purchased the west half of section 36, Danville township,
and Henry J. and Abraham K. Beyer had remained at home, assisting their
father in paying for that tract. In the spring of 1888 the father deeded
this land to the two sons and they took charge thereof, beginning its
operation. The northwest quarter became the property of Abraham, while
the southwest quarter was deeded to Henry J. Beyer. The brother, however,
was not married and the two carried on their farming interests jointly for
eight or ten years and for six years they lived together on Abraham Beyer's
quarter section.
In 1894, however, Henry J. Beyer built a residence on
the southwest quarter and removed to his new home. Through all these years
he has carefully, persistently and successfully carried on general farming
and his labors have brought excellent results. He and his brother, S.W.
Beyer, own the farm formerly in possession of their brother, Abraham K.,
who passed away on the 2d of January, 1918. Henry J. Beyer is also a
stockholder in the Farmers' Cooperative Elevator Company at Manly and in
the Farmers' Cooperative Elevator Company of Hanlontown. He is likewise a
stockholder in the Farmers' Cooperative Creamery Company of Manly, a
stockholder in the Manly Lumber Company and is one of the most progressive
and enterprising business men of Danville township.
On the 21st of December, 1898, Mr. Beyer
was united in marriage to Miss Maud Agnes Spickerman, of Danville township,
a native of East Chatham, New York, and a daughter of Justus and Carrie
(Hoag) Spickerman, who came to Worth county in 1878. To Mr. and Mrs. Beyer
have been born ten children, namely: Jennie A., Henry D., Myron L., Glen A.,
Arthur L., Samuel W., Jessie E., Edna B., Marian A. and Helen C., All are
still under the parental roof.
Mr. Beyer gives his political allegiance to
the Republican Party and served for a short time as a member of the board
of township trustees and as township, assessor, making an excellent record
in both connections. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Manly Lodge No. 561. Mr. Beyer indeed
deserves prominent recognition as a leading citizen of Worth county, for
his success has been the direct result of untiring effort, persistency of
purpose and capable business management.
