The Axmear Family of Keokuk County, Iowa

JOHN AXMEAR, SR.

It is astonishing to witness the success of young men who have emigrated to America without capital and through their own unaided efforts have arisen to positions of wealth and prominence. The readiness with which they adapt themselves to circumstances and take advantage of the opportunities offered brings to them success and wins them a place among the leading men of the community in which they reside. To this class belongs John Axmear, Sr., a prosperous citizen and retired farmer now living in the village of Keswick, Iowa.

He was born in Amsterdam, Holland, on the 30th of November, 1822, and was reared and educated in his native land, attending school until sixteen years of age and acquiring a good knowledge of the common branches of learning. He then clerked in a store for two years, and at the end of that time entered the army, in which he served for four years. On leaving the service he resumed clerking and was thus employed for five years. In the meantime he was married, the lady of his choice being Duty Deline, by whom he had five children, four sons and one daughter, namely: John, Emily, Jacob C, William and George W. The mother of these children died in 1860, and for his second wife Mr. Axmear married in 1861 Julia Ann Martin, a native of Bavaria, Germany, and by this union he has one daughter, Malissa, wife of T. A. Morgan, of Webster, Iowa.

It was in 1850 that Mr. Axmear emigrated to the new world and took ii]) his residence in Baltimore, Maryland, but after a short time spent in that city he removed to Cumberland, the same state. In the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad he was later sent to Virginia, where he held the position of boss of a gang of seventy-five Irish laborers, who were employed in laying the first track at Oakland, Maryland. For thirteen years he remained in the service of that company, during which time he had charge of the workmen laying the track from Oakland, Maryland, to Wheeling, West Virginia.

Seeking a home in the west, Mr. Axmear came to Keokuk county, Iowa, in 1863. and bought a farm of one hundred and four acres of land in Adams township, which he at once began to improve and cultivate. Meeting with success as an agriculturist, he has added to his property from time to time as his financial resources have increased, until to-day he and his sons together own about two thousand acres of valuable land, most of which is in Adams township, this county, though three hundred and twenty acres are in Minnesota. Mr. Axmear continued his farming operations until 1890, when he removed to Keswick and retired from active labor. His property in town consists of thirteen acres, it being one of the finest places in Keokuk county, as the grounds are laid off into a beautiful lawn, which show the skill of an expert landscape gardener. Here, surrounded by all the comforts which make life worth the living, Mr. Axmear expects to spend his remaining days, enjoying a well-earned rest. He deserves to be classed among the purely self-made men who owe their advancement entirely to their own well-directed efforts. Industry, enterprise and good management have been the means whereby he has achieved his success, and his course in life has ever been such as to win for him the confidence and high regard of all with whom he has been brought in contact. In his political affiliations Mr.

Axmear is a stanch Republican, who has ever taken a commendable interest in the affairs of his adopted country.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN AXMEAR, JR.

This well-known and prominent agriculturist, residing on section 3, Adams township, has shown in his successful career that he has the ability to plan wisely and execute with energy, a combination which, when possessed by men in any walk of life, never fails to effect notable results, and Mr. Axmear is to-day one of the most prosperous citizens of his community. He was born in Cumberland, Maryland, October 3, 1850, and is the oldest son of John Axmear, Si\, whose sketch appears above. During his boyhood the family made their home in West Virginia and in the subscription schools of that state he acquired his primary education. He was twelve years of age on the removal to Iowa, and be was later a student in the district schools of Adams township, this county, and the high school of Sigourney. When out of school he assisted his father in the operation of the home farm.

In 1882 Mr. Axmear was united in marriage to Miss Cordelia Wyant, who was born and reared in White Pigeon, this county, and they have become the parents of five children who are still living, namely: Jennie, Etta, Katie, Clara and John. There was also one child that died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Axmear began their domestic life upon the farm in Adams township, where they still reside. In connection with his farming operations, our subject engaged in teaching school for twenty-two terms, two of these being in the village school of South English, and the remainder in the district schools of this county. He taught his last school in the winter of 1882-. During his vacations and out of school hours he engaged in feeding cattle, chopping wood and working at various occupations whereby he might increase his income. Since 1882, however, he has given his undivided attention to general farming and stock raising and has met with most gratifying success in his labors. He is to-day the owner of a very valuable and highly productive farm of six hundred and sixty-nine acres, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation, transforming it into a model farm with the best of improvements. In 1893 he erected an elegant ten-room house and the other buildings upon the place are in keeping therewith. In addition to the raising of crops best adapted to the soil and climate, he gives considerable attention to the raising of stock, making a specially of polled Angus or Aberdeen cattle, having a fine herd of about one hundred and twenty-five. Mr. Axmear is also a stockholder. director and president of the Farmers' Savings Bank of North English, which was organized October 1, 1897, and has a capital stock of ten thousand dollars. He was one of its organizers, and it owes its success largely to his capable management and good business ability.

In his political affiliations Mr. Axmear is a stanch Republican, and he has taken quite an active part in local affairs, serving as assessor of Adams township and president and secretary of the school board. Fraternally he is an honored member of the Masonic lodge at Sigourney. In business affairs he is prompt, energetic and notably reliable and generally carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

J. C. AXMEAR.

J. C. Axmear, one of the representative citizens and successful farmers and stock raisers of Adams township, whose home is on section i. first opened his eyes to the light of day in Preston county, West Virginia, September 6. 1854. He is the second son of John Axnioar. Sr.. whose sketch appears above. From the age of nine years our subject lias made his home in this county, and is indebted to its public school system for his early educational privileges. Under the able direction of his father he acquired an excellent knowledge of all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and he continued to assist in the operation of the home farm until his marriage.

That important event in his life occurred December 4, 1879, Miss Rosa Brakel becoming his wife. She is a native of Johnson county, Iowa, and was there reared and educated. Seven sons bless this union, who in order of birth are as follows: Arthur, who is a graduate of the Keswick high school and now has charge of his father's farm in Wilkin county. Minnesota; William, who is also a graduate of the Keswick high school and is now at home; Fred and George, twins; Sidney, Bruce and Cecil, all at home.

Since leaving the parental roof Mr. Axmear has always resided upon his present farm on section 1, Adams township, and in its operation he has met with excellent success. He has erected thereon a good residence, barns and other outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock, and to-day he has one of the best improved farms of the locality. It comprises four hundred and thirty-nine acres, and besides this valuable tract Mr. Axmear owns a half-section of land in Wilkin county. Minnesota, and business property in North English, Iowa. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers' Savings Bank of that place and is recognized as one ot the leading business men of his community. He is actively interested in raising, feeding and shipping stock and at the present writing, in 1902, has a herd of one hundred and thirty cattle upon his place. This branch of his business has added very materially to his income, and he is one of the most substantial men of his community, as well as one of its most honored and highly esteemed citizens. The Republican party has always found in him a stanch supporter of its principles, and he takes a commendable interest in public affairs.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

GEORGE W. AXMEAR.

The subject of this personal narrative is one of the most successful and progressive farmers within the borders of Adams township, where almost his entire life has been passed. He is a native of West Virginia, however, born on the 17th of April, 1858, and is the youngest son and fifth child in the family of John Axmear, Sr., who is represented above in this work. George W. Axmear was only four years old when the family took up their residence in Keokuk county, and with its development and upbuilding they have since been prominently identified.

Our subject passed the days of his boyhood and youth upon the old homestead in Adams township and is indebted to the district schools of the neighborhood for his educational advantages. He labored in field and meadow, assisting in the operation of the farm for five years after his marriage, which important event in his life was celebrated in 1885 in Adams township. The lady of his choice was Miss Rosa Lane, who was born in Wisconsin in 1866 and was very young when brought to Iowa.by her parents, Hiram and Jane (Bennett) Lane, early settlers of Keokuk county, where Mrs. Axmear was reared, remaining under the parental roof until her marriage. Her father, who was a farmer by occupation, died in Woodbury county, Iowa, in 1897. Unto our subject and his wife have been born six children, one son and five daughters, namely: Lulu, Gale, Pearl, L. V., Bertha and Neva, all born and reared on the old homestead.

As previously stated, Mr. Axmear continued to engage in farming upon the old home place with his father and brothers for five years after his marriage, and in 1890 began farming alone upon four hundred and twenty-eight acres of the old homestead, a part of which he cleared, and he made a number of improvements thereon. He continued to reside upon that place until 1901, when he removed to his present home on a separate farm of one hundred and twelve acres of land, it being a rich and valuable tract under a high state of cultivation. Here he has built a nice home and good barns and other outbuildings, which stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise. In fact, he has made all of the improvements on the place, which ranks among the best farms of the neighborhood. In connection with general farming he also carries on stuck raising with good success. He is a stockholder of the Farmers Savings Bank of North English and is one or" the most reliable business men of his community. Both Mr. and Mrs. Axmear are members of the Methodist Protestant church of Adams township, and since attaining his majority he has always affiliated with the Republican party, taking quite an active interest in public affairs, as every true American citizen should.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.