DAVID E. SOAR.
A review of the life of David E. Soar, a pioneer harness-maker of Audubon, Iowa, must of necessity be brief and general in its character. To enter fully into the interesting details of Mr. Soar's career, touching the earnest and persistent efforts of his earlier years and the successes of his later days, would far transcend the limits of this article. He has filled a large place in the ranks of the enterprising and public-spirited men of his day and generation and has been an important factor in the growth and development of Audubon county's industrial and commercial interests. He is a representative of that type of the world's workers which has furnished much of the bone and sinew of the country and added to the stability of the county and its institutions. And yet, in spite of the multitudinous activities of his life, he has never allowed the pursuit of wealth to warp his kindly nature. He has preserved his faculties and the warmth of his heart for the broadening and helpful influences of human life and is a genial friend, a gentleman whom it is a pleasure to meet.
David E. Soar was born in Nottingham, England on August 15, 1843, the son of Charles and Sarah (Taylor) Soar, the former of whom was a lace manufacturer in Nottingham. The family came to America in 1850 and settled in Kanesville, Iowa, now Council Bluffs, Charles Soar there engaging in the mercantile business, the rest of his life being spent there, his death occurring in 1906, he being then ninety-six years of age. Charles and Sarah (Taylor) Soar were the parents of thirteen children, two of whom are still living, Ezra, who lives at Council Bluffs, and David E., the subject of this sketch.
David E. Soar received his primary education at Council Bluffs. His mother died when
he was thirteen years old and he came to this county and began doing
farm work near Exira, meanwhile continuing to go to school until he was eighteen years of age. He learned the harness-maker's trade in 1862, and in 1864 started out as a journeyman harness-maker. In 1868 he opened a harness shop in Exira, the first shop of its kind in this county. In 1879 Mr. Soar opened a harness shop in Audubon, the first shop of the kind in the new county seat, and in 1881 moved to Audubon and has since that time made his home there. He kept the shop in Exira until 1883. In the summer of 1902 Mr. Soar erected in Audubon a large brick building and has it completely stocked with products made both by hand and by machinery. During late years his assistants have done the work and he looks after the retail department of the business. Mr. Soar owns a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Greeley township. He has seen Audubon county grow from a treeless prairie waste to a prosperous and thriving agricultural and industrial community.
On July 19, 1868, David E. Soar was married to Rebecca N. Harris, of Exira, who was born in 1848 and died on January 12, 1904. She was a native of Braxton county, West Virginia, the daughter of Adonijah Harris, a very early settler in Audubon county. To this union four children were born, Cecilia I., Charles H., Beulah O. and Edward W. Cecelia I. has been married twice, first to Walter Connrardy, by whom she had one daughter, Beulah. She is now the wife of L. A. Jensen and they have two daughters, Audrey and Lucille. Charles H., who is a bookkeeper, married May Murray and lives at Butte, Montana. Beulah O. is the wife of J. S. Small and resides at Hudson, South Dakota. Edward W. lives at Butte, Montana.
David E. Soar is an ardent Democrat, and served as township clerk at Exira and as a member of the city council at Audubon, the latter important service covering a period of nine years. Mr. Soar is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks at Atlantic and is well known throughout the length and breadth of Audubon county as an honored and respected citizen of this community.
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Transcribed from History of Audubon County, Iowa Its People, Industries and Institutions With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by H. F. Andrews, editor, Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1915, pp. 351-352.
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