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J. C. Balster
Born 2 December 1869 |
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| J. C. Balster is one of the representative farmers of Scotch Grove township, his home place comprising one hundred and sixty acres, which is the old family homestead. He was born on this farm December 2, 1869, a son of Arend and Mary (Jacobs) Balster, who were natives of Hanover, Germany, whence they emigrated to the new world in 1854. After arriving in the new world they made their way to Michigan, where they lived for thirteen years, and in July, 1867, removed to Jones county and located on the farm on which our subject now makes his home. The father is a shipbuilder by trade and throughout much of his life has engaged in that work. Unto him and his wife were born five children, namely: George H., deceased; Mary, the wife of Johnson Poppey, of Jones county; Anna, who has also departed this life; Louise, the wife of Fred Plueger, of Jones county; and J. C. of this review. The mother passed away in 1895, but the father is still living and makes his home on the farm with his son J. C. He is highly respected in the community and has ever taken a deep interest in his adopted country and in this section of the state where he has so long made his home.
J. C. Balster, the immediate subject of this review, was educated in the common schools near his father's home and he assisted in the work of the farm during the periods of vacation. In early life he learned the blacksmith's trade and followed that pursuit for several years. He is now giving his attention to farming, making a specialty of stock raising, feeding horses, cattle and hogs, For the past sixteen years he has operated a threshing machine and in this connection has become widely known in various sections of the county. In all branches of his business he is meeting with success and is numbered among Jones county's most representative citizens.
Mr. Balster was married in January, 1892, to Miss Gecena Heyen, who was born in Germany and accompanied a brother to the new world in 1888. The family numbers three sons and four daughters, Arend, Mary, Anna, Robert, Louisa, Louis and Johanna. The parents are members of the Lutheran church, in the work of which they take an active part. Having spent his entire life in Jones county, Mr. Balster is not unknown to many of our readers and his worth as a citizen is widely acknowledged.
Source: History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 517. |
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© Copyright 1997-2013, The Art Department, © Copyright 2014-2020, Richard Harrison.
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