Book, John (1843-1917)

BOOK

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/16/2019 at 00:36:52

John Book
Apr 5, 1843 - Mar 8, 1917

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.466)
John BOOK. In sketching the lives of the pioneer settlers and prominent citizens of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, the writer finds the name of John BOOK among the early residents of Waveland Township. He has made his home here since 1865.

Mr. BOOK was born in Clarke County, Ohio, April 5, 1843, son of William H. and Mary (LEFFEL) BOOK, natives of Botetourt County, Virginia, and Ohio respectively. Both his paternal and maternal grandfathers, John BOOK and Daniel LEFFEL, were natives of Pennsylvania. The subject of our sketch was reared in Ohio and Indiana, as his father moved back and forth two or three times. He was brought up on a farm, and educated in the common schools of those States. His father was a carpenter by trade, for a time was in the mercantile business, and later in life turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He died in Pottawattamie County, Iowa, October 11, 1884. His wife died when John was five years old.

In 1865 Mr. BOOK came to this county, and, in partnership with his father, bought some wild land. Some time later he sold his interest to his father, after which he bought 200 acres where he now lives, and since has sold ten acres of timber. In 1889 he purchased eighty acres more, now owning 270 acres of well-improved land. He has a good frame house, the main part a story and a half, and a one-story L. Other improvements are a beautiful grove and orchard of three acres, a barn, 36 x 50 feet with sixteen-foot posts, cribs, granary and good fences. His farm is divided into several fields, and every thing is arranged with reference to convenience. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising.

Mr. BOOK was married May 15, 1872, to Miss Sally Maria POTTER, daughter of H. C. and Caroline (PARMLEY) POTTER. Her father is one of the prominent citizens of Waveland Township. Mr. and Mrs. BOOK have four children: Arthur Benton, Orrin Orlando, John Ray and Ruth. In his political views Mr. BOOK is a dyed-in-the-wool Republican. He has served in some of the township offices, always with credit to himself and for the best interests of the public. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Walnut Valley, in which he has served as steward. Broad and progressive in his views, he favors education, good morals and religion, and gives an earnest support to all worthy causes.