The Hott Family of Lee County, Iowa

Peter Hott, an old and much esteemed resident of Cedar township, Lee county, Iowa, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio,.September 29, 1834, a son of George and Jane (Dean) Hott. both of whom were of German descent. The parents left Ohio with their family September 6, 1839, and drove through with team and wagon to Harrison township, Lee county, where the husband and father bought a claim of forty acres, which he later entered from the government. The wife and mother died the following March, leaving four children: Isaac, Peter, whose name introduces this article; Aaron died at the age of six years, and Henry, who died a baby. She was buried near their farm on the old Poole place. The father afterward married Mrs. Jane Warren, and moved to Cedar township, to set-* tie on the farm now occupied by the subject of this sketch. There he died January T9, 1889. full of years and honor. He was seventy-seven at the time of his death, and his ashes rest in the Palles cemetery, as does those of his wife, whose death occurred February 27, 1885. Politically he was a Democrat, and is remembered as a man of much character and energy. He was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, February 22. 1812, and his wife was born in Robinson county, Tennessee, September 6, 181 1.

]\Mr. Hott helped to develope a large farm, and he built a home on his forty-acre claim in Cedar township. He also bought out the different heirs to his wife's first husband, Mr. Warren. At the time of his death he owned 425 acres. He started out poor in this world's goods, though he was blessed with indomitable courage and a mighty persistence that carried him safely through all difficulties. Handicapped by a lack of education, when lie began fur himself he could not even sign his name, l)Ut he became a well-informed citizen, and mastered every detail of his calling. For some years he was engaged in the cooper trade, and was engaged in that work at farmington, Iowa. The cultivation of the soil was his master passion, and he devoted his life to general fa.ring. At the time of his second marriage he had 1)ut ten acres under cultivation. All the rest was wild [prairie and timber and he patiently and persistently worked at it luitil it was all under the domain of the plow and. the harrow.

Peter Hott attended school for a little time, when the building was burned with all the school books, and as his father would not buy more he had to go to work. This was known as the Bayles school, and when he did attend it he and his brother tock turns going on alternate weeks. They found it a hard school of instruction, but what they learned they prized, and it became the nucleus of a wider knowledge as the years passed until as they entered manhood they were able to take a stand as upright and intelligent citizens.

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Peter Hott and Miss Mary Harlan were married January 18, 1855. She was a native of Ohio, and after a brief matrimonial career passed to her rest, March 6, 1865, leaving two children: Dora, who married William Shaw, they had one child, Florence M. She married Lute Hixon, and has one child, Lester. Mr. Shaw is deceased and his wife's second marriage was to Mr. Samuel Huddleston, and they live upon part of her father's farm. To this union has been born the following children: Ora J., who married Samuel Maloy, and has one child, Kenneth; Sherman M., deceased; Cyrena M.; George P.; Blanche; Mary H.; Merle and Olive. The second child of Mr. Hott was Cyrena, who died at the age of twenty-eight. She was not married.

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To the second marriage of Peter Hott was lion one child. Isaac Henn, who has his Iionie on part of the paternal estate. He married Miss Elizabeth Yargus, who died, leaving two children. Boyd and Edith.

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As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ISAAC HENRY HOTT.

Isaac Henry Hott is a well-to-do farmer and stockman, residing on section 6, Cedar township, where his birth occurred in February, 1867. His father was the late Peter Hott, whose demise occurred April 15, 1912, and the last three years of whose life were spent with the subject of this review. Our subject has a half sister living. Mrs. Samuel Huddleston, of Hillsboro.

Mr. Hott was reared upon the home farm and since reaching mature years has continued in the calling in which he was trained as a youth. He owns five hundred acres of land in Cedar township, located on sections 5, 6, 7 and 8, and operates all of it except a tract of one hundred and eighty acres, which he rents. He raises grain and also stock, buying and selling some cattle and hogs in addition to what he raises. He resides upon his farm, forty acres of which was entered from the government by his grandfather. In December, 1898, the house was burned and the subject of this review erected his present fine modern residence. He keeps everything upon the place in excellent condition and his land is under a high state of cultivation.

Mr. Hott was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Yargus in 1887. She was a daughter of Michael Yargus, a pioneer of Henry county, and her demise occurred June 3, 1903. The two children born to that union are: Boyd, who assists in the operation of the home farm and who married Miss Pearl Wright, a daughter of Andrew Wright, of this county; and Edith, at home.

Mr. Hott is a member of the Christian church and is helpfully interested in its work. Politically he belongs to the republican party and fraternally is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, as is his son Boyd. Mr. Hott has ably carried on the work of developing the fine farm, which was begun by his grandfather and continued by his father. He holds to the fullest extent the confidence and goodwill of all who know him, as they recognize in him a man of sterling integrity.

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