The Lust Family of Jasper County, Iowa

ALFRED T. LUST.

Without searching for lineage in must times or the less satisfactory authority of tradition, it suffice to state in writing this brief sketch of a practical man and a master of his craft, that his progenitors were in the broadest sense high and their influence salutary and whose characters and sterling worth have been reproduced on their descendants. Alfred Lust, farmer of Elk Creek township, Jasper county, has shown himself to be ready at all times to encourage and aid all laudable measures and enterprises for the general

7l6 good. By a life consistent in motive and because of his many good qualities he has earned the sincere regard of all who know him, and his success while yet a young man bespeaks for him continued advancement and a higher sphere of usefulness.

Mr. Lust was born on the place where he still resides in this township, on March 30, 1876, and here he has been content to spend his life. He is the son of Riley and Amanda (Pender) Lust, a well known pioneer family of this locality. The father was born in Ohio and the mother in Indiana. The paternal grandparents were natives of Germany. Riley Lust is one of the best known and most substantial farmers in Jasper county, besides being one of our most extensive land owners. He is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accomplished, having hewn out his own fortune without depending on anyone for aid; however, he is very modest regarding his achievements, being a plain, unassuming gentleman, content to be an unobtrusive citizen of what he considers one of the very foremost localities of our great sisterhood of states. He is largely interested in a great number of investments and enterprises aside from his extensive farm holdings, among others being the implement business in the town of Reasnor, in which his son, Elmer, is a partner. He is also a stockholder and director in the Reasnor Savings Bank, and has at all times stood ready to serve his township in any capacity. At the present writing he is leading a practically retired life in his beautiful and modernly furnished residence in Reasnor. He has the confidence and esteem of all who know him and his character has ever been above civil.

To Mr. and Mrs. Riley Lust ten children have been born, all still living, namely: Fred E, born July 22, 1874; Alfred T., subject of this sketch; John W., born June 20, 1878; Arthur J., born July 4, 1885; Mamie born September 19. 1887, is the wife of Elmer Mercer, a farmer of Jasper county; Katherine S., born March 5, 1890, is the wife of Carl Trout, a banker residing in West Grove, Iowa; Myrtle M., born August 19, 1893, is living at home; Carl M., born May 31, 1896, also lives at home; Elmer B., born February 18, 1883, is engaged in the implement business at Reasnor, this county.

Alfred Lust grew up on the home farm and assisted with the general work about the place, attending the Sand Point district schools in the winter months. At the age of twenty-one he began renting land of his father, of whom he has been renting four hundred acres ever since and operating the same in a most successful manner. In connection with general farming he carries on stock raising. He feeds cattle every year, making a specialty of raising Herefords.

Politically, Mr. Lust is a Republican and fraternally he belongs to the Woodmen of the World and the blue lodge of Masons. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Reasnor.

Mr. Lust was married on June 27, 1900, to Martha Earp, who was burn in Elk Creek township, this county, and here she grew up and was educated. She is the daughter of Walter Earp, an early settler in Jasper county. A sketch of Mr. Earp appears on another page of this work.

To the subject and wife three children have been born, Edith, Mildred and Lester R.

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

JOHN W. LUST.

One of the worthiest young farmers and enterprising" citizens of Elk Creek township, Jasper county, is John W. Lust, who, never cured away from the pleasant prairies of the Hawkeye state by the wanderlust spirit, has been content to spend his life here at home, and he has succeeded because he early grew familiar with the local conditions governing soils, crops and the various phases of the calling which he has been pleased to follow. It would seem that he has been thus wiser than so many of his contemporaries who have in their boyhood left the old home and gone out into other states to seek their fortunes where conditions and people are alike strange and where so many fortunes assume the marsh-light aspect — alluring to the sight, but hard to grasp in tangible form.

Mr. Lust was born in this township on June 20, 1878, and here he grew up. received his education in the common schools, and worked on the home place during his boyhood days, in fact he has ever been identified with agricultural pursuits in this vicinity.

The subject is the son of Riley and Amanda (Pender) Lust, his father being a native of Ohio and his mother of Indiana. His father, whose parents were natives of Germany, is one of the best known men in all Jasper county, besides being one of its largest land owners. He is a man who is extremely modest regarding his achievements and he has the respect of all who know him because of the sturdiness and true worth of his character. He is largely interested in a great number of investments and enterprises aside from his extensive farm holdings, among others being the implement business in the little city of Reasnor. He is also a stockholder and director of the Reasnor Savings Bank. He is a man who does not seek public praise, but has always stood ready to assist in any way the upbuilding of his community and to serve his fellows in whatever capacity they called him. At present he is leading a more or less retired life in his beautiful and modern residence in Reasnor.

Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Riley Lust, namely: Fred E., born July 22, 1874; Alfred T., born March 30, 1876; John W., of this review, being third in order of birth; Arthur J., born September 21, 1880; Elmer B., born February 18, 1883; Roy R., born July 4, 1885; Minnie J., born September 19, 1887, is the wife of Elmer Mercer, a farmer of Jasper county; Katherine S., born March 5, 1890, is the wife of Carl Trout, a banker living in West Grove, Iowa; Myrtle M., who is at home, single, was born August 19, 1893; Carl M., born May 31, 1896, is with his parents.

John W. Lust attended the Sand Point district school and the Newton Normal College three winters. In 1899 he began renting on the same place where he now lives, which belongs to his father. He is now successfully engaged in farming one hundred and twenty-five acres.

Politically, Mr. Lust is a Republican and he belongs to the blue lodge of Masons. '

Mr. Lust was married on March 3, 1904, to Grace Romans, who was born in Fairview township, Jasper county. Iowa, July 16, 1882, the daughter of James M. Romans, now a resident of Grinnell, Iowa. He was born in Fairview township, Jasper county, Iowa, on July 1, 1855. He married Mary Eleanor McCuen, who was born in Ashland county, Ohio, August 23, 1857. William Green Romans, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Lust, came to Jasper county in 1843, locating as one of the earliest pioneers on the wild Iowa prairies. Mrs. Lust's folks lived on the old Highland farm, on which place the first white child was born in Jasper county, as the Highlands were the first settlers here, and Mrs. Lust grew to womanhood and was educated in the common schools of this county.

Mr. Lust is a young man of engaging personality and is a man whom a large circle of acquaintances delight to call friend.

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

While yet young in years, Elmer Lust, one of the honored native sons of Jasper county, has shown what talents coupled with energy can accomplish when rightly directed, and when one is governed by proper ideals.

Mr. Lust was born on February 18, 1883, in Jasper county, Iowa, and he is the son of an excellent old family here, his parents, Riley and Amanda (Pender) Lust, having been well-known in the early history of the locality. The father was born in Ohio and the mother in Indiana. The paternal grandparents were natives of Germany. Riley Lust is one of the most substantial and best known men in Jasper county as well as one of her largest land owners, although he is extremely modest regarding his achievements. Because of the sturdiness and genuine worth of his character he has the good will and esteem of all who know him and is a public-spirited citizen of which any community might well Ije proud. He is largely interested in a great number of investments* and enterprises aside from his extensive farm holdings, among others being the implement business in the town of Reasnor, in which his son, Elmer, of this review, is a partner. He is also a stockholder and director in the Reasnor Savings Bank, and has at all times been willing to serve his township in any capacity. At the present time he is leading a more or less retired life, having purchased a comfortable residence in Reasnor and moved thereto. He is a splendid example of hardy, honest German citizenship and is highly respected by all who know him.

Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Riley Lust, all of whom are living, namely: Fred E., born July 22, 1874; Alfred T., born March 30, 1876; John W., born June 20, 1878; Arthur J., born September 21, 1880; Elmer B., born February 18, 1883; Roy R., born July 4, 1885; Mamie J., born September 19, 1887, is the wife of Elmer Mercer, a farmer of this county; Katherine S., born March 5, 1890, is the wife of Carl Trout, a banker residing in West Grove, Iowa; Myrtle M., born August 19, 1893, is living at home; Carl M., born May 31, 1896, is also living at home.

Elmer Lust received a good education in the local schools and the Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant, making a good record; in 1903 he began life for himself on a farm, which he continued to run for two years, after which he engaged in the implement business with his father and W. E. Caldwell, the last named leaving the firm two years later, since which time the subject has had the general management of the store, which is one of the busiest places in Reasnor and a large and carefully selected stock of goods is carried at all seasons, handling up-to-date implements of all kinds, principally farming machinery, also wagons, buggies and vehicles of all kinds, and the trade they enjoy is an extensive and ever-increasing one.

On February 18, 1901, Mr. Lust was united in marriage with Bessie Jarnagin, the daughter of Henry and Elvira (McDufT) Jarnagin, both of whom were natives of Ohio; they have spent their lives on a farm and are still living, being highly respected in their neighborhood. They came to Iowa in an early day and are living at Monroe, Jasper county. Five children were born to them, all living, namely: Bert is on the home farm; June is the wife of H. V. Gating, a farmer near Galesburg; Clyde is a ball pitcher and travels; Vern, the youngest, is at home; Bessie, wife of the subject.

To Mr. and Mrs. Lust the following children have been born: Tracy, born June 11. 1903, and [name withheld], born March 18, 1907.

Mrs. Lust is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Reasnor. Mr. Lust belongs to Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 277, at Monroe. He is director of the independent school district of Reasnor, and politically he is a stanch Republican. Owing to his uniform courtesy and his honest dealings with his fellow men, Mr. Lust has the confidence and good will of the entire community.

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