JOHN B. LINE

One of the younger agriculturists of Des Moines county, a man who has won prominence in the political as well as the social and business affairs of the county, is John B. Lines, of Franklin township. John Barclay Lines, son of Allison and Elizabeth (Bishop) Lines, is a native son of Franklin township, being born there April 5, 1868. In boyhood he attended the public schools of the township, and being reared on a farm, learned the stern lessons of farm life at the same time. Always recognizing the many advantages of the free life of a farmer, as well as the less pleasant side of the hard work, he has chosen to follow that vocation for his life work. At the age of twenty-one years he left the parental rooftree, and started to fight the hard battle of life for himself. For the first six months he engaged as a farm hand, working by the month, and during the remainder of the year he found employment as a day laborer. On Dec. 18, 1890, the year following his majority, he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret May Herrill, of West Burlington. She was a daughter of Anderson and Charlotte (Davis) Herrill, being born in Flint River township, this county, Nov. 12, 1867. Her mother died when she was only eight years of age, and her father when she was eleven years old, both parents being buried in Flint River township. She received part of her education in the public schools of Flint River township, making her home with a brother after the death of her parents. When thirteen years of age she went with an old-time friend of the family to Yellow Springs township, finishing her education in the public schools of that township, and making her home with this friend until she reached years of maturity. Mr. and Mrs. Lines became the parents of six children, as follows: Grace, born May 5, 1892, died Sept. 19, of the same year; Clyde Allison, born May 13, 1893; Luella and Estella, twins, born Aug. 6, 1895; Port Leroy, born Dec. 22, 1899; and Charlotte, born Jan. 22, 1903. Immediately after his marriage, in December, 1890, Mr. Lines began farming for himself. At first he rented a farm, it being the same place which he now owns, and on which he lives. At that time he remained on the place for two years, after which time he rented another farm two miles farther north, living on it for about three years. At the expiration of that time he bought his present farm in Section 16, Franklin township. He has forty acres of fine fertile land devoted to general farming, all except about eight acres being under cultivation. He has put a portion of the improvements on his farm, and now has a cozy and comfortable home, and a wellimproved, thoroughly cultivated farm. Mr. Lines was brought up in the Baptist church, and has always had a strong sympathy for work done by that denomination. Politically he has affiliated himself with the Republican party, whose principles he considers most closely represent his ideal of a popular government. He has been a loyal and efficient worker for his party, and has served it in several capacities. He was elected clerk for Franklin township in 1896, and in 1898 the citizens of the township showed the esteem and confidence in which they held him by bestowing upon him the highest gift in the way of political preferment that was in their power to bestow, electing him township trustee. He served with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents and in 1902 was appointed to this same office, to fill a vacancy. In 1903 he was again elected trustee, and is still filling this responsible position, his present term expiring in the autumn of 1906. Although still a young man, Mr. Lines has won a position of prominence in the community that testifies to unusual business sagacity and political insight, as well as to the qualities of sterling integrity and upright manhood that have made his name a synonym for worthy citizen and stanch friend among all who know him.