My Genealogy Hound

H. R. Stalker, living on section 3, Douglas township, is an active and prosperous farmer and stock-raiser and one of the extensive landowners of the county, deriving his income from nearly nine hundred acres of land included in four well developed farms. He has made his home in the county for almost a third of a century, having arrived here in the spring of 1876.

He was born on the Isle of Man, February 10, 1852, and his father, Edward Stalker, was also a native of that isle, where he was reared and married. By trade he was a tanner, following that pursuit in his native land and also after his emigration to the new world. In 1852 he crossed the Atlantic and settled at Rochester, New York, where he resided for a number of years and worked at his trade. Subsequently he removed to Knox county, Illinois, about 1867 and there engaged in farming for nine years, on the expiration of which period he came to Union county, Iowa, in 1876. Here he purchased land and developed a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Douglas township, making his home thereon throughout his remaining days. His life’s labors were ended in death about 1903 when he was seventy-two years of age, and his wife survived him for but one week. They were worthy citizens of their community, much esteemed by those with whom they came in contact.

H. R. Stalker is the eldest in a family of four sons and four daughters, but one of the sons is now deceased. It was during his infancy that his parents came to the new world and he was reared and educated in Rochester, New York, and in Illinois. With his father he came to Iowa and purchased land where he now resides, first becoming owner of eighty acres which was unimproved when it came into his possession. This he broke, opening up a farm, and as his financial resources increased he added to his property from time to time until he now owns four farms comprising nine hundred and sixty acres. All are well improved with modern equipments and his property is very valuable and productive. In addition to the cultivation of the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he raises and feeds stock, fattening about one carload of cattle and about one carload of hogs annually. Splendid success has attended his efforts because of his unremitting diligence and perseverance.

Mr. Stalker was married in Council Bluffs, on the 5th of February, 1885, to Miss Lillie Grace Bevan, who was born in West Union, Iowa, and was reared and educated there, a daughter of Samuel Bevan, one of the early settlers of the state.

Politically Mr. Stalker is a stalwart republican and is much interested in education. He has served as director of schools and was school treasurer for several years. He gives stalwart support to every movement calculated to benefit the system of public instruction and believes in the employment of competent teachers. He served as road supervisor for about sixteen years and has been somewhat prominent locally in political circles, frequently serving as a delegate to the county conventions. His wife belongs to the Creston Congregational church. He became a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Creston and has filled all of the chairs in the order, being a past grand, and he and his wife are members of the Rebekah Lodge. Mr. Stalker is well known as one of the prominent farmers and business men of his county, having a wide and favorable acquaintance in Creston and throughout this portion of the state. He has labored diligently to achieve the success which is now his and which has made him one of the large land owners of the county.