Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 761
JOHN L. SKELTON

A native of Indiana, John L. SKELTON has been a resident of Iowa for more than 60 years, and of Missouri Valley for more than a quarter of a century. He followed the blacksmith trade for more than 30 years, but since 1912 has been serving as Justice of the Peace in Missouri Valley and in connection with this does a general real estate, insurance and loan business. He is a man who is well known throughout the county, as is shown by the remarkable vote which he has polled making the races for various county offices.

John L. SKELTON, son of Josiah and America (JONES) SKELTON, was born near Reelsville, Putnam County, Indiana, April 19, 1854. His father was born in Virginia and his mother in Indiana, in which latter state his father located when a young man. After Josiah SKELTON was married, he located in Putnam County, Indiana, and in 1854 decided to go west and enter government land in Iowa. He finally settled in Pottawattamie County on a farm, where he lived until his death in 1886. His widow is still living in Missouri Valley, where she makes her home with her daughter. Josiah SKELTON was a member of the Primitive Baptist Church, as is his wife. Eight children were born to Josiah SKELTON and wife, and seven of them are still living: John L., Lewis F., Mrs. Jane MACE, Mrs. Alice REEL, Josiah J., Albert D., Mrs. Margaret WILLIAMS and W.A. Mrs. WILLIAMS is deceased and all the other children are living in Iowa, with the exception of Josiah J. of Walla Walla, Washington, and Albert D. of Oklahoma.

Josiah SKELTON had been previously married. He was first married to a Miss JONES and to this union five children were born. His second wife also had been previously married to a Mr. ALDRIDGE and she had two children by her first marriage, Mrs. Mary E. FRAZIER of Missouri Valley, and Hardin L. ALDRIDGE.

John L. SKELTON was less than one year old when his parents moved from Indiana to Pottawattamie County, Iowa. He was reared on the farm and was educated in the common schools of Pottawattamie county. He attended the Honey Creek school and had to walk two and one half miles in order to reach the school house. Before reaching his majority, he started to learn the blacksmith trade, and for 30 years was engated in this occupation. He worked at Loveland, Pottawattamie County, until 1879. He bought a farm in Pottawattamie County and carried on farming in connection with his blacksmithing. After moving to Missouri Valley he continued to follow his trade until 1897, when he was nominated by the Democrats and elected Sheriff of Harrison County, a county which was normally Republican by at least 700 majority. He is one of the three Democratic sheriffs who have held that office in this county. He gave his fellow citizens satisfactory service during his first term and was re-elected in 1899. In 1901 he was elected a third time by a majority of five votes, but his election was contested and he was compelled to leave the office after serving one year on his third term, leaving office December 8, 1902.

Upon retiring from the Sheriff's office, Mr. SKELTON returned to Missouri Valley and again engaged in the blacksmithing business, which occupation he followed for five or six years. He was then again nominated for the office of Sheriff, but was defeated by 74 votes, although the county was Republican at that time by nearly one thousand. In 1910 he was forced to take the Democratic nomination for county treasurer, but on account of the overwhelming Republican majority, went down to defeat. In 1912 he was appointed Justice of the Peace in Missouri Valley and retired from the blacksmithing trade, and has since been doing real estate, loan, and insurance business in connection with his duties as a justice of the peace.

Mr. SKELTON has been twice married. He was first married in 1873 to Clara J. HATCHER, a native of Indiana, and to this union four children were born: Mrs. Cora C. BALL of Missouri Valley; Arthur J., a lumber merchant in Alta, Iowa; Clara C., who was the wife of Charles FAITH, and died in 1906; and Floyd L., who is now 16 years of age. The mother of these four children died July 7, 1899, and on August 20, 1900, Mr. SKELTON married Lora FARLOW of Logan, Iowa.

Mr. SKELTON has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for many years. He also holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of America. He has taken an active interest in the Christian Church and is now one of the deacons and a member of the board of trustees of the congregation to which he is attached. Mr. SKELTON is a man of unusual energy and is one of the most popular men in the county. He is genial and unassuming in his manner and kindly disposed toward those less fortunate than himself, a man of many excellent qualities of head and heart.

Return to 1915 Biographical S Surnames Index

Back to 1915 Biographies Index