JOHN ARCHER
John Archer, justice of the peace of Edna township, was born in Clay county, Indiana, on November 23, 1842, and is the son of Benjamin Archer, a native of Ohio. When about eleven years of age, John emigrated with his parents to Iowa, and settled in Montgomery county, where his father bought a farm, and there remained until the time of his death. John enlisted in July, 1861, in company H, Fourth Iowa Infantry, and served until the close of the war. He was wounded once in the service, and was in thirty-two battles. Among the most important battles in which he took part were Pea Ridge, siege of Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain, and was with Sherman in his march to the sea. After his discharge he spent two years in Montgomery county, and then came to Cass county, where he purchased land on section 9, Edna township. In the spring of 1878 he came to Reno, and is now operating the Edna flouring mill. He was married in 1864 to Miss Mary Whisler, a native of Ohio. They have six children--Samuel, Bertie, Tillie, Ellery, John W. and Orpha L. Mr. Archer was elected justice of the peace in 1882, and is the present incumbent.
Contributed by Lisa Varnes-Rex, from "History of Cass County, Iowa. Together With Sketches of its Towns, Villages and Townships, Educational, Civil, Military and Political History: Portraits of Prominent Persons, and Biographies of Old Settlers and Representative Citizens." Springfield, Ill.: Continental Historical Company, 1884, pg. 754.
