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John W. Mumby

It is improbable that a better informed man on general agricultural and stock raising topics than John W. Mumby, of Eden township, Fayette county, could be found, as those familiar with his record will readily attest. He believes in doing everything well and, taking a deep interest in his work at all times and being a man of good judgment and persistent energy, he accomplishes a great deal more than the average man in this line of endeavor. As superintendent of the large Harris stock farm at Eden, Eden township, he fills a very responsible position to his credit and to the satisfaction of his employer.

Mr. Mumby was born in Winnebago county, Illinois, November 17, 1864, and is the son of Edward H. and Christie Ann (Elliott) Mumby, the father born in England in 1837, coming to Quebec, Canada, when a young man, working at the blacksmith's trade, which he learned in his native country. He came to Rockford, Illinois, in 1860, locating on a farm near there, and in 1869 he moved to Eden township, Fayette county, Iowa, and for twenty-one years rented one of the Harris farms. He now lives on a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in this township, which Mr. Harris gave him in recognition of his valued and faithful services.

Mr. Mumby and Christie Ann Elliott were married on December 10, 1863, in Winnebago county, Illinois, where he lived several years. His wife, who bore him the following five children, died in 1880: J. W., of this review; Frank E., a farmer in Morton county, North Dakota; Zilla, wife of James Prouty, of McGregor, Iowa; Mary Olive, wife of L. C. Gifford, of West Union; Herbert, who is farming in Eden township. The father was a soldier in an Illinois regiment during the Civil war. He is a Republican, a Mason and an enthusiastic member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and a man well liked by everyone. See his sketch in this work.

John W. Mumby, of this review, remained at home until past twenty-one years of age, assisting his father in the farm work and attending the common schools of Eden township. Early in life he began to work for J. Harris and has been in his employ for a period of twenty years on his large farm. For the past fifteen years he has been superintendent of about twelve hundred acres, which he has managed very successfully, all of this fine tract being under his supervision. He keeps about two hundred and fifty head of cattle, is a good judge of the bovine tribe and knows well how to properly care for stock and prepare them for the market. He trades continuously, and is at all seasons a very busy man. He has four men under his direction in working the place. He grows from one hundred and fifty to two hundred and twenty-five acres of corn each season.

Mr. Mumby was married on August 26, 1894, to Gladys A. Roberts, daughter of H. N. Roberts and wife, of Eden township, this county, near Waucoma, where Mrs. Mmumby was born and reared, receiving her education in the local schools. Four children have been born to this union: Glennie A.; Howard W. was born November 17, 1898, on his father's thirty-fourth birthday; Lee H. and Fay B.

Politically, Mr. Mumby is a Republican, but he has been too busy all his life to seek public office or mingle much with politicians, if he had had the desire to do so. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Waucoma, also the Rebekahs.


~transcribed for the Fayette Co IAGenWeb Project by Tom & Sharon Dorland