John Davis, who resides on section 9, Buena Vista Township, is one of the honored pioneers of Jasper County. As he has witnessed the growth and development of the county for many years, and has borne his part in its upbuilding, he well deserves representation in this volume, and it is with pleasure that we present his sketch to our readers.

A native of Kentucky, Mr. Davis was born in Montgomery County, July 7, 1820, and is a son of Nathan and Nancy (Kidd) Davis, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Virginia. The Davis family is of Welsh origin, and the father was a soldier in the War of 1812. He removed with his family to Montgomery County, Ind., becoming one of its early settlers. John was there reared to manhood and experienced the usual hardships and trials of life on the frontier. His education was acquired in a log schoolhouse, with its slab seats, puncheon floor, huge fireplace and other rude furnishings. The advantages of that day were not equal to those of the present, but through life he has been a great reader, and as he possesses a retentive memory he has made himself a well informed man. The occupation to which he was reared has been his life work and we recognize in him a practical and progressive farmer.

Mr. Davis was married in Indiana in September, 1844, to Miss Elizabeth Fleece, a native of Kentucky, who went to the Hoosier State with her parents and there grew to womanhood. By their union were born three children, two of whom are yet living: Mary C., wife of Milton Vanscoy; and Benjamin. George W. is deceased. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Davis was again married, in 1854, his second union being with Mary Zimmerman, who was also born in Kentucky. They became the parents of ten children, seven of whom are now living: Henry C.; Uriah, Trustee of Buena Vista Township; Nancy J., Josephine, Anthony, Antoinetta and Charles. Isabella, Ulysses S. and Robert F. are now deceased.

In 1854, Mr. Davis came to Jasper County, Iowa, and settled upon his present farm, but in its condition at that time it bore little resemblance to the highly improved and valuable place of to-day. Mr. Davis at one time owned three hundred and eighty-five acres of land, but he has given a considerable portion to his children and now owns one hundred and twenty-eight acres. He is a self-made man and in his business dealings has been very successful. Walnut Grove Farm, which he now owns, is one of the most desirable places of the community and in connection with its cultivation he engages to some extent in raising stock. He possesses good business ability, and his well directed efforts have brought him a handsome competence.

In religious belief Mr. Davis is a Methodist, and in political sentiment he is a stanch Republican. His wife, too, was a faithful member of the Methodist Church. She passed away January 19, 1892, amid the deep regret of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances, who esteemed her highly for her many excellencies of character. This community has ever found in our subject a valued citizen, who manifests a commendable interest in everything pertaining to the general welfare. Honorable and upright in all things, alike true to public and private trusts, he has the confidence and good wishes of all who know him, and is respected by young and old, rich and poor.

L. B. Davis has spent his whole life in ceaseless activity and it has not been without substantial results, as will be seen from a glance at his farm of two hundred and forty acres. His career is an example of industry, perseverance and good management, rewarded by substantial results, well worthy the imitation of all who start out in life as he did, with little capital except a good constitution, a fair education and a liberal supply of pluck and energy. He is a native of Quebec, Canada, born in 1844, and is a son of Phineas and Betsey (Poole) Davis, and grandson of Phineas and Lydia (Remick) Davis. The grandfather was a native of the United States, and was holding an official position at the breaking out of the Revolutionary War. Soon afterward he emigrated to Canada. His father, Theodore Davis, was a native of England and came to America in Colonial days. To the grandfather's marriage were born seven children: Artemus, William, Betsey, Susan, Johanna, Phineas and Aaron, all of whom are now deceased. The grandfather was a blacksmith by trade, but also followed the occupation of a farmer. In his religious views he was a Congregationalist.

Phineas Davis, the father of our subject, was a native of Vermont. He was born in 1806, and was reared to manhood in Canada, where he received his education in the common schools. He was left motherless when but five years of age, and when nineteen years had passed over his head he went to Upper Canada, where he was engaged in lumbering, in this way accumulating a little money. About 1826 he was married to Miss Betsey Poole, a daughter of Theodore C. and Sally (Lee) Poole. Mrs. Davis was born in the province of Quebec, Canada, in 1808. Her parents were natives of the Old Bay State, and were of English descent. After marriage, Mr. Davis bought a farm and tilled the soil in the province of Quebec until his death, in 1885. He was a well educated man and had held many public positions. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Six children were born of this worthy couple, two of whom died young. Phineas T. is deceased; Lucerna was the wife of Col. William Wright; Adalaide, deceased, was the wife of Philo Cole; and L. B. is our subject.

Until twenty-one years old our subject remained with his father. During that time he attended the district school, and later attended the academy at Stanstead. He accumulated some means by renting land of his father and by teaching school in his native country, and in 1869 went to Illinois, where he rented land for two years. In that state he was married to Miss Mary J. Smith, daughter of Thomas and Ellen (Kinery) Smith, and to this union was born one son, Emery E. In 1869 Mr. Davis bought his present farm in Grundy County, Iowa, and four years later brought his family to this county. Here he has made his home ever since. For six years he resided in the village of Morrison, where he was in the lumber and stock business. He now makes a specialty of stock-raising. Mrs. Davis died in this state, and Mr. Davis took for his second wife Miss Bertha E., daughter of August Litzkow. Two children have been given them, Almeda A. and Ruth A. In politics Mr. Davis is a member of the Democratic party. He is a public-spirited citizen and has held a number of local offices, one of which was Assessor of Lincoln Township. His eldest son is on the farm with him.

William A. Davis, a well known and leading farmer of Timber creek Township, Marshall County, owns a well improved farm of two hundred and eighty-one acres, located on section 4. The most of his attention is given to raising stock, and he keeps a high grade of the same. In 1889 he erected, at a cost of $5,000, a substantial and pleasant residence, which is supplied with all modern conveniences and is one of the best houses in the township. Good barns and other farm buildings are to be found on the place. The farm, which is one of the most fertile of the district, is situated only three miles from Marshalltown.

Our subject is a son of William D. Davis, a native of Rhode Island, who was born and reared on a farm. He received a fair education, and started out to make his own living at Davisville, R. I., in the woolen mills of the place. From there he went to Centreville, R. I., where he married Miss Mary Elinor Congdon, who was born in Wickford and came from a prominent Rhode Island family. Mr. Davis, after his marriage, purchased a woolen mill, which he engaged in operating until 1864, when he located in Providence, having sold his mill a year previous. He became the owner of a well equipped mill at Uxbridge, Mass., which he managed for several years and then disposed of. Later he re-purchased the same mil, which he finally sold in 1883. He next became the owner of a cotton mill at Quidnick, R. I., which was owned by the A. & W. Sprague Manufacturing Company. Mr. Davis formed a stock company under the name of the Quidnick Manufacturing Company, in which he is a two- thirds owner, and is still engaged successfully in business.

Mrs. Davis, who died in 1877, became the mother of four children, three of whom are yet surviving. Mary C. died in 1865; Jeffrey is Treasurer of the Quidnick Manufacturing Company; Elizabeth L. is the wife of the Hon. August S. Miller, attorney, and now State Senator from Rhode Island; and our subject is the youngest of the living children. His birth occurred July 30, 1854, in Centreville, R. I. His education was acquired at Mory & Goff's English and Classical High School. When eighteen years old he went into the manufacturing business at Uxbridge, Mass., and there continued to reside until 1881, when he went to Wyoming Territory, and was there extensively engaged in the cattle business for several years. In 1888 he sold out his interests in the northwest and went to Chicago, where he remained until the following year. He has made his home on his present farm only since 1889, but in the four years that have elapsed he has made numerous improvements upon the place, and though not brought up to agricultural pursuits, he is rapidly developing into a first-class farmer, with modern ideas and enterprising methods.

The pleasant home of Mr. Davis is nicely furnished in modern style, and has many comforts and luxuries not usually found in farmers' homes. He has a good and well selected library, comprising a wide range of subjects, and one can find in the owner a well posted man on general topics. The lady who presides over the home of our subject was formerly Miss Jennie Hodgson. She became the wife of Mr. Davis in 1889. Her parents are John and Anna V. Hodgson, of Mason City. Mrs. Davis was born in New Jersey in 1861, and is a lady of culture and good education.

In local matters Mr. Davis is public spirited, and takes great interest in the welfare of the community in which he makes his home. He has served his fellow-citizens as Road Supervisor. He deposits his ballot in favor of the nominees and principles of the Republican party.

L. B. and G. W. De Seelhorst reside on section 7, Palermo Township, Grundy County, where they own three hundred and twenty acres of good land, all under a high state of cultivation and well improved. Their father, J. K. De Seelhorst, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., was there reared, and in October, 1842, was married to Miss Susan Beach. In the same year they went to Wisconsin, and became early settlers of La Fayette County, where the father purchased land and engaged in farming. The tract of which he became the possessor was a wild and unbroken one, but he improved it and made of it a good homestead of one hundred and sixty acres. Our subject's father crossed the plains with a wagon train to California in 1849, and spent eighteen months in the gold mines, when he returned and resumed farming. In 1872 he left Wisconsin and came to Grundy County. For a year and a- half he lived in Melrose Township, and then removed to Eldora, Hardin County, Iowa, where he made his home until his death, which occurred in December, 1876. His widow still survives him and is living in Grundy Centre.

Eight children were born unto them, of whom six grew to manhood and womanhood. Those living are C. F., a business man of Grundy Centre; L. B. and G. W., well known farmers of this community; Mary, wife of R. H. Curkeet, a retired farmer, residing in Eldora; Mattie, wife of J. M. Crary, who holds a responsible position in a wholesale house in Sioux City, Iowa; and Carrie, who is living in Grundy Centre. The father of this family was a member of the Congregational Church, and was a very successful farmer.

G. W. De Seelhorst was born in La Fayette County, Wis., on the 20th of June, 1852. He acquired his education in the public schools and in the State Normal School, and remained with his father until he had attained his majority. In the year 1872, he came to Grundy County, and located in Melrose Township. When he had arrived at man's estate he formed a partnership with his brother, L. B., in the spring of 1874, and they purchased their present farm in 1881. On January 31, 1884, G. W. married Miss Millie E., daughter of J. F. Brasted, a prominent farmer of Essex County, N. Y. They have one child, Vera May.

L. B. De Seelhorst, the senior member of the firm, was born in Elk Grove, La Fayette County, Wis., December 8, 1849, and remained on the old homestead during his youth. He was educated in the district schools and in the State Normal School in Plattville, Wis. In 1869, he came to this county and broke land upon the farm where he now lives. His father had bought the tract the year previous. Our subject then returned to Wisconsin, but the following year he again came to this place, and with his brother located in Melrose Township, where he lived until the spring of 1877. He followed teaching for six terms in the schools of this county, meeting with good success in this line of work. When the brothers took possession of the farm it was in its primitive condition, not a furrow having been turned or a rod of fence built. They have made all of the improvements upon it, and through their efforts it has become one of the fine farms of the community.

On October 31, 1878, was celebrated the marriage of L. B. De Seelhorst and Miss Nellie Fenton. Her father, Elias J. Fenton, is a leading farmer and stock-raiser of Eldora Township, Hardin County, and is also one of the early settlers of that part of the state, whither he removed from Janesville, Wis., about 1873. He was a native of New York, and his daughter was born in the Badger State. By her marriage she became the mother of three children: Edna M., Harry F. and Florence E.

The cause of education finds in L. B. De Seelhorst a warm friend. He has served as Secretary of the School Board of his township for fourteen years, has been Trustee of the township for six years, and is the present nominee for that office. For two years he has been President of the Agricultural Society, and he also holds membership with Grundy Centre Lodge No. 285, I. O. O. F., of which he has been a Noble Grand. Both brothers are supporters of the Republican party and its principles and are men of good business ability, straightforward in their dealings. Through enterprise and well directed efforts, they have achieved a success which ranks them among the substantial citizens of the community. They take an active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of town and county, and in the history of this community they certainly deserve representation.