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Below is a family biography included in History of Union County, Iowa published by S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., in 1908.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Hon. Scott Skinner, well known in the real-estate circles of Creston, is a self-made man who has worked his way upward from the humble position of railroad call boy until he has attained a place among the leading enterprising and successful businessmen of Creston. Moreover, he has figured prominently in public affairs and has been called to represent his district in the state legislature.

Mr. Skinner is one of Iowa’s native sons, his birth having occurred in Keokuk county in 1852. His father, Joseph Skinner, who was born in Indiana and died in 1897 at the age of sixty-eight years, was of German descent and belonged to a family represented in the Revolutionary war. For many years he followed the occupation of farming but eventually turned his attention to mechanical pursuits. He was only five years of age when his father’s family removed to Illinois and he there resided until 1844, when he came to Iowa with his parents, settling on a farm in Keokuk county, where his father, Joel Skinner, had entered land from the government. In 1868 Joseph Skinner removed to Union county and took up his abode in Highland township, where he purchased a tract of land which since the subdivision is in Grant township. In religious faith a Congregationalist, he was one of the charter members of the old Chapel church, and his influence was ever given in support of all that is right and honorable in man’s relations with his fellowmen. His political views were in accord with the principles of the republican party.

Joseph Skinner married Harriet C. Morgan a native of Indiana, who is living in Creston at the age of seventy-five years. She is of Scotch lineage and a daughter of W. F. and Elizabeth Morgan. Her father was a farmer by occupation, served as a member of the Iowa legislature, and was a man of affairs and influence in Keokuk county. His daughter, Mrs. Skinner, is a member of the Congregational church and is highly esteemed by reason of her many good traits of heart and mind. By her marriage she became the mother of seven children: Flora J., who is the widow of Andrew Johnson, who was a locomotive engineer, now makes her home in Grant township with her son, Charles E. Johnson; Elizabeth and John are deceased; Ina J. is a teacher in the public schools; Joel L. has also passed away; Rilla E. is the wife of Truman Shaw, a contractor of Creston.

Scott Skinner, the eldest of the family, was reared upon the home farm to the age of nineteen years and attended the country schools. He then accompanied his parents on their removal to Creston and became a call boy for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, discharging the duties of that position for about four months. He had proven his worth in that time and was placed on an engine as fireman, which position he filled for three years. He was then promoted to engineer, acting in that capacity for thirteen years, first on a freight and later on a passenger train, while before he left the road he was engineer on the fast mail. In 1888 he retired from railroading and turned his attention to the real-estate business in Creston, in which he is still engaged. He also has other business interests and is a stockholder and director in the Creston National bank. In his real-estate operations he shows himself thoroughly familiar with the best methods of promoting property interests, has thorough knowledge of realty values and has negotiated many important transfers.

In 1879 occurred the marriage of Mr. Skinner and Miss Mary Morey, who was born in Switzerland in 1856 and died in March, 1906, when about fifty years of age. Her parents were Henry and Mary Morey, the former an artisan who came to the United States and settled in Muscatine county. Mr. and Mrs. Skinner were the parents of four children, of whom Harriet, the eldest, is deceased, the others being Jessie, Emma and Margaret.

Mr. Skinner is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is a stalwart republican and one of the recognized leaders of the party in this county. He served as a member of the board of supervisors for six years, from 1893 to 1899, and during a part of the time was chairman of the board. In the latter year he was elected mayor of Creston and filled the office for four years, giving to the city a public-spirited and business-like administration which resulted beneficially in advancing municipal interests. He represented his district in the thirtieth and thirty-first general assemblies, and to each question which came up for settlement he gave earnest consideration, his labors proving an element in the adoption of much wise legislation. In February, 1906, he was appointed postmaster of Creston by President Roosevelt and is now serving in that capacity. Honored and respected in every class of society, he has for some time been a leader in thought and action in the public life of Union county and has done much to wisely mold its course and shape its policy. His record is another illustration of the fact that character and ability will come to the front anywhere, and though his start in life was a humble one he is today accounted one of the prominent citizens of this county.

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This family biography is one of 247 biographies included in The History of Union County, Iowa published in 1908.  For the complete description, click here: Union County, Iowa History and Genealogy

View additional Union County, Iowa family biographies: Union County, Iowa Biographies

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