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Avert J. Schoonover
Born February 20, 1846 |
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| AVERT J. SCHOONOVER, who is engaged in general farming and stock-raising on section 11, Wayne Township, is one of the practical agriculturists of Jones County. He was born in Franklin County, Ind., on his father's farm, in an old log cabin, February 20, 1846. The family on the paternal side is of Dutch ancestry, they having been residents of Van Schoonhoven, and the spelling of the name was originally that of the district which was their home. Our subject's grandfather changed the name to the present style.
Thomas Schoonover, the father of our subject, was born in Broome County, N. Y. and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Jane Wiggins, was a native of Bath, N. Y. They were married in Bradford County, Pa., and by their union were born four children, three sons and one daughter. Mrs. Schoonover was the daughter of Lawrence Wiggins of English descent, and her death occurred August 12, 1894, when she had nearly reached the age of eighty-five years. The father was born in 1806, and died on the old homestead in Wayne Township, April 22, 1890. He removed to Jones County in 1855 from Indiana and entered a tract of land on section 14, Wayne Township. The patents which he obtained from the Government are now in the possession of his son, the property involved comprising one hundred and sixty acres, and he was actively engaged in its cultivation until shortly before his death.
The gentleman of whom this is a brief life history resided in the county of his birth until about nine years of age, at that time corning to Iowa. He received a good common-school education, and supplemented the same by a course of study in the Iowa State University of Iowa City, where he was enrolled in the academic department for three years. Returning to the farm, he soon secured a certificate to teach, and for fifteen terms successfully conducted schools in Jones County, being considered an able educator.
Since that time he has devoted his attention to farming, and has been very fortunate in the management of his affairs. He has also made a success of raising hogs, and keeps twenty-five cows, selling milk to the Diamond Creamery. His farm contains within its boundaries two hundred and eighty acres, besides which he has a tract of forty acres of timber land. Running water affords ample means for supplying the stock, and on the place are good improvements in the shape of barns and outbuildings. Mr. Schoonover has become the owner of the Leonard Hitchcock farm, and is rapidly becoming wealthy by means of his good business methods.
In October, 1883, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Schoonover and Carrie, daughter of Charles R. Applegate. This worthy couple have become the parents of two daughters, Frances E. and Sadie C. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which they are active workÂers and in which they are highly esteemed. The brothers and sisters of Mr. Schoonover are Lawrence, of Anamosa; George, of Monticello; Catharine E., who married W. R. Richison. They had one son, Thomas G. The parents are both deceased,
Fraternally Mr. Schoonover is identified with the Odd Fellows' society, being a member of Monticello Lodge No. 117. He uses his right of franchise in favor of the Republican party, and has served satisfactorily in township offices. For the past year he has been an efficient Justice of the Peace, and was formerly Township Clerk. A gentleman of the most thorough integrity and high sense of honor, he has long borne a reputation which might well be envied by any one.
Source: Dubuque, Jones, and Clayton Counties History, 1894, pgs. 274-275
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