LIZER, Horatio B.

LIZER, ALLEN, WILKINSON, FENNER

Posted By: P. Bergmeier (email)
Date: 5/15/2005 at 17:08:26

Horatio B. Lizer, editor and publisher of the Progress-Review, at La Porte City, Iowa, and one of the prominent educators of the State, was born February 19, 1864, in Buchanan County, Iowa, and is a son of John H. and Emma(Allen Lizer.

The Lizer family removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio, prior to the birth of John H. Lizer. It is of Pennsylvania Dutch extraction, and has been mainly an agrictultual one. John H. Lizer was born in Wayne County, Ohio, April 13, 1841, and in 1852 he moved with his family to Buchanan County, Iowa, passing through Waterloo when it was but a hamlet of three dwellings. He still owns a farm in that locality but has retired from the farm, and is living in Vinton, Iowa. In politics he is a Democrat, and fraternally he is an Odd Fellow. In 1863, he married Emma Allen, whose ancestry is traced to the gallant Ethan Allen, of Green Mountain fame. She was born April 19, 1845, at Ticondroga, New York, and died in Iowa in 1896. Their children were as follows: Horatio B.,; Myrtie, wife of W.D. Wilkinson, of Shady Grove, Iowa; Jay D., of Cleghorn, Iowa, where he is engaged in mercantile pursuits with his younger brother; Lee O., engaged in business with his brother Jay D., and Maude, who died, aged 19 years.

Horatio B. Lizer was reared on a farm and prepared for entrance at the Iowa State Normal School in 1883 by study in the public schools. He was graduated in 1891, after a four-years course of study, with the degree of Master of Didactics, in the meantime having taught school for a considerable period. Subsequently he became principal of the Winthrop schools for two years, and the Quasqueton schools for one yar, and for a like period was principal of the Hubbard schools. In the fall of 1892 he came to La Porte City as the principal of the public schools here, and his long association with the public school system here, covering a period of nine years was brought to a close by his resignation, which was reluctantly accepted. In 1901, he purchased his present plant and since that time has devoted his time and ability to the development of the Progress-Review, of La Porte City, and the News, of Mount Auburn, Benton County, Iowa.

In 1903, Mr. Lizer was the Republican candidate for county superinendent of schools, but has not been a public office-holder, although deeply interested in the furthering of all progressive movements relative to the city's welfare, wielding a facile pen in the cause.

On June 23, 1898, Mr. Lizer was united in marriage with Mary Fenner, who was born August 17, 1870, at Montezuma, Iowa, and is a daugher of Charles W. and Mary Fenner, natives of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Lizer are members of the Presbyterian Church. Fraternally, he is a Mason, a member of Trowel Lodge, No. 216; a member of the Order of the Eastern Star; K.O.T.M., and of the K. of P.

Hitory of Black Hawk County and It's People
1915