Joseph M. Eby obtained a good practical education in the common schools and remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority. When twenty-one years of age he went to Oregon, but at the end of a year came to Jones county, Iowa, and took charge of the mill on the farm which is now in his possession. At the present time he owns four hundred acres of rich and productive land in Scotch Grove township and, in addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, makes a specialty of feeding stock. Alert, energetic and enterprising, he has won a gratifying and well merited degree of prosperity in his undertakings and is widely recognized as a most successful agriculturist and substantial citizen.

In March, 1897, Mr. Eby was united in marriage to Miss Anna Espy, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1879, her parents being James and Elizabeth (Smith) Espy, both of whom are deceased. Mrs. Eby was one of a family of four children and by her marriage has become the mother of three, namely: Raymond L., Hazel I. and Dorothy.

Mr. Eby gives his political allegiance to the republican party and at the present time is serving as a School director, the cause of education ever finding in him a stalwart champion. His wife is a devoted and consistent member of the Presbyterian church and they are both people of the highest respectability, whose good qualities of heart and mind have won for them the confidence and friendly regard of all who know them.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 225.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 702.

Among the older generation of farmers of Clay township who have not yet completely given up interest in agricultural matters, despite his advancing years and the fact that others of greater strength and possessed of the enthusiasm of younger years have assumed their heavier, cares is William Eckler. He was long known as one of the most enterprising and successful farmers as well as one of the early settlers of his township. He was born in New York, June 16, 1822, and there grew to maturity, was married and lived until 1852, when he came to Iowa. Here he bought the farm of one hundred and sixty acres on which he is still living and also sixty-two and a half acres of timber. The fields, which have proved to be such rich, arable land, were at that date in the wild state, but as it was prairie, the work of preparation for the reception of seed was not as severe as if the land was wooded, yet there was much to be done in breaking the land before he might sow his crops. He built all the houses and barns which now cover the place and instituted whatever other improvements were necessary. As in his New York home, he followed other pursuits in conjunction with his farming, so, after coming here he engaged in milling. He erected a sawmill at Clay Mills, which he operated throughout the whole year and until within a few years ago when he sold it, that he might give more attention to purely farming interests, for he found that stock raising afforded an even greater opportunity for a fortune than did the cultivation of cereals, and each year he gave more and more attention to it, feeding a large number of hogs and cattle for the market. Recently he has abandoned all active participation in the work of the farm, feeling justified in retiring by the fact that he had won a fairly large fortune in return for his labors.

While still living in New York state, Mr. Eckler was married to Miss Mathilda Hall, also a native of that state, where she was born May 27, 1825. She died in 1898, having reared a family of five children, namely: Adelbert, who was born in Herkimer county, New York, April 30, 1845; Jane A., who was also born in Herkimer county, October 13, 1847, and has married George Hanna; Roseltha, who was born in Iowa, December 15, 1853, and is the wife of Peter Blackmer; Susan Josephine, who was born in Iowa, February 18, 1861, and became the wife of Archibald Robinson; and James, who was born in Iowa, July 19, 1867, and has also married.

Mr. Eckler is a republican in his political views and has participated in the public affairs of his township, for he served for a number of years as justice of the peace. Many years ago he gave land from his farm for the erection of a school and the Baptist church, contributing generously to the latter for its building and later for its support. Mr. Eckler has been deacon of that church for a long time, and is still active in its work. When he started upon his business career he was without a dollar, but through industry and good management, united to wise judgment, he has accumulated a bountiful property. As it is the result of his own efforts, it carries with it no bitterness as do frequently fortunes which have been accumulated upon the misfortunes of others, and the record of his life is one which commands the respect of all. Mrs. Eckler, too, had the love and admiration of all during her life and was a devout member of the Baptist church, in which faith she died.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 351.

John H. Eden was a man grown, who had already had some experience in life, when in 1877 he came to the United States. Almost immediately after his arrival in this land he located in Jones county, where he secured work as a farm hand. For four years he toiled in that capacity and then, having acquired some familiarity with the language and customs of the country of his adoption, he rented a tract of land, which he tilled for two years. Then he went to Le Mars, Iowa, where he purchased a farm and lived for four years. At the end of that period he returned to Jones county, married and rented the place which belonged to his father-in-law, it being his home at present. It is a tract of two hundred and thirty-three acres, situated on sections 35 and 36, Lovell township, and is now in the possession of Mr. Eden. In addition to this he owns ten acres near Monticello, twenty acres in Richland township, one hundred and eighty acres in Castle Grove township and eighty acres in Wayne township, all of which indicate the success with which he has followed his chosen vocation. In connection with the cultivation of cereals he has engaged in the dairy business, obtaining a profit from this field of operations that is equally as gratifying as that derived from his purely agricultural interests. His industry has ever been one of the important elements in his character, and this united with his economy has been the source of the good fortune that places him in the foremost rank of the farmers of Lovell township.

Mr. Eden was married March 8, 1887 to Miss T. Margaret Hanken, a native of this county and a daughter of Wesley B, Hanken, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this volume. Five children have been born to them: John H., Jr., Wesley B., Nannie, Eddie G. and Anna M. Nannie has passed away, but the others are living at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Eden are members of the German Lutheran church at Sandhill and are rearing their family in accordance with its teachings. Politically Mr. Eden is a republicans that being the party to which he looked for guidance when he was admitted to citizenship in this republic. Having received a good education in the land of his birth, where educational institutions are of the very highest kind, he has always evinced a. keen interest in the welfare of the school here and now enjoys the satisfaction of seeing his public spirit in this matter recognized by his fellow citizens who elected him president of the school board. In this capacity he has been able to exercise considerable influence for the improvement of popular instruction.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 103.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 601.