M. V. BEST

M. V. BEST is one of the intelligent and progressive citizens of the township. He came to the county in 1873. He was born in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, June 4, 1830, - a son of Robert Best, a native of Butler County, Pennsylvania, of German ancestry. His mother was Margaret (Van Horn) Best, a native of New Jersey, of a long line of Dutch ancestry. His father was twice married; by the first marriage three children were born. Our subject is the oldest of nine children born by the second marriage. He was fourteen years old when his parents moved to Cadiz, Harrison County, Ohio, in 1844. The father was a cooper by trade, but he learned the trade of coach-making. His education was received in the common schools of Pennsylvania and the Cadiz Academy. He was married January 1, 1852, to Miss Mary Ann Mercer, born in Belmont County, Ohio, a daughter of Elias and Mary (Randall) Mercer, both natives of Ohio. In 1854 our subject moved to Muscatine County, Iowa, on a farm, where he lived until he came to Shelby County in 1873. He bought 160 acres of wild land, and built the first house on the prairie where he now lives. He has since improved the farm and put it under good cultivation. He has a good dwelling-house, a fine orchard and grove of five or six acres, and barn for stock and grain-all betraying the thrift and enterprise of the owner. Mr. and Mrs. Best have eleven children, seven sons and four daughters-Ella Belle, Sarah Amanda, Jennie Ida, Nissie Ithalbert, Harry Sherman, Archie Mathias, Alvin Stuart, Ernest Legrande, Frank Clinton, Arthur Marshall and Charles Williams. There are two deceased--Martha Belle and Mary Adeliza. Mr. Best is a Republican. He has served as assessor and on the school board. No man in the township has taken a greater interest in education, or been more active in elevating the standard of the schools. His daughter, Ella Belle, was a successful teacher. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and a deacon of the same. His wife and daughters and one son are all members of the same church. He is well-informed on general topics, cordial and genial to all; is honorable and upright in his business transactions, and has the confidence and respect of all who know him.

Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 384-385. Transcribed and submitted by Marthann Kohl-Fuhs

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