born in Indiana and she died in Independence township, this county, June 24, 1896.

To Mr. and Mrs. Connelly one son has been born, Alden M., born January 9, 1896, who is now a student in the Baxter high school, and he is a lad of much promise.

Politically, Mr. Connelly is a Republican and while he has never been especially active in public affairs, he has ever taken a good citizen's interest in the affairs of his county, always supporting such measures as made for the upbuilding of the locality honored by his residence. He owns a substantial, cozy and well furnished home in Baxter. He has been very successful in his life work and has accumulated a competency. Although his primary schooling was not what he desired or should have obtained, he has, by actual contact with the world and by close study in a miscellaneous way at home, become well advised and is a man whom it is a pleasure to meet.

GEORGE W. LOAR.

Among the strong and influential citizens of Jasper county the record of whose lives have become an essential part of the history of this section, the gentleman whose name appears above occupies a prominent place and for years has exerted a beneficial influence in the community where he resides. For many years Doctor Loar was a leading physician, later a successful druggist, and now in his declining years he is living practically retired from the active duties of life, merely looking after his fine farming interests. His career has been fraught with good to those who have come into contact with him, for his example has ever been salutary and his bearing in society that of a man of proper ideals and a wholesome nature.

Dr. George W. Loar, living near Baxter, Jasper county, like many of the worthy pioneer citizens of the section of which this history treats, is a native of the old Keystone state, his birth having occurred in Greene county, Pennsylvania, December 27, 1845, and he is the son of Jacob and Maria (Nelson) Loar, both natives of Maryland where they spent their early lives. The elder Loar devoted his life to agricultural pursuits and when a young man he came to Pennsylvania and settled on a farm which was heavily timbered. He was not a man to shrink from hard work or obstacles, so in due course of time he had a good home and a well improved, productive farm there on which he spent the rest of his life, dying at the age of seventy-one years. He became well known in his vicinity and took an active part in the upbuilding of the same.

An evidence of the confidence his neighbors reposed in his ability and integrity is shown by the fact that he held the position of justice of the peace for a period of twenty years. His wife died when forty-five years of age. Sub

sequently Jacob Loar was united in marriage with Sarah Applegate, a widow. John Loar, the paternal grandfather of the subject, was also a man of influence in his community and his wife had a local reputation as a midwife.

There were ten children in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Loar, George W., of this review, being the fifth in order of birth. The others are: John, a farmer in Ohio; Nelson, a physician of Bloomington, Illinois, where he has practiced forty years; Mrs. Margaret Allen, deceased; James, who spent his life on a farm, is deceased; Mrs. Henter Cribben was killed by a gas explosion; her son, Harvey Cribben, is deputy clerk of Jasper county, and formerly he was deputy auditor; Mrs. Ann Burns, who lived in Pennsylvania, is deceased; Mrs. Katharine Templeton, who also spent her life in that state, is deceased. By the second marriage there were two children in Jacob Loar's family: William C., a physician at Beloit, Wisconsin; he was formerly a lecturer in a Chicago medical school; Ora died when fifteen years old.

George W. Loar, of this review, grew up on the home farm in Greene county, Pennsylvania, and there became acquainted with hard work in the field when but a boy, and this training was not without its beneficial consequences. During the winter months he attended the common schools there. Being ambitious to secure a higher education and actuated by a laudable ambition to enter the medical profession, he took a course in Westmoreland College, at Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania, then entered the Physio-Medical Institute at Cincinnati, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1869, after a satisfactory three years' course. Soon afterwards he began the practice of his profession at Fairbury, Illinois, with his brother, Nelson, this partnership lasting a year and a half. In November, 1869, he came to Hixon Grove, southeast of Newton, Jasper county, Iowa. He had but fifty cents when he reached there, but he soon had a good start. Seeking a wider field for his operations, he moved to Newton in 1871, where he continued successfully in the practice until 1873, when he moved to the town of Monroe, where there existed a good opening. Just as he was becoming one of the leading medical men of this locality misfortune overtook him, he having been thrown from a horse and his hip injured, which continued to trouble him, so he was forced to give up the active practice of medicine in 1875, and he then launched out in the drug business in Monroe, which he continued for a period of twenty-five years, enjoying a liberal patronage, retiring in 1903, when he traded his business for a farm of one hundred and ten acres of valuable land in Henry county, Missouri, which

he still owns. He also owns a well improved and very productive farm near Monroe in this county. He helped to organize the State Savings Bank of Monroe, and is a director in the same. He has been very successful in a business way, and is one of the substantial men of this part of the county.

Doctor Loar was married in 1870 to Sarah Fenner, who was born March 3, 1846, in Highland county, Ohio, the daughter of Adam and Susanna Fenner. Her family came to Iowa in the sixties and settled at Murphy. Their seven children are all deceased, including the Doctor's wife, who passed away many years ago.

Seven children were born to Doctor Loar and wife, namely: Martin D. died in infancy; Effie died in infancy; Myrtle was born December 25, 1873, married John Vandermast, son of the editor of the Monroe Mirror, and they live on a farm in Fairview township; Gertrude, born August 30, 1875, married Fred W. Shaw, of Monroe, formerly in the drug business there; Harry, born in 1877, conducts a grocery store at DeSoto; Robert N., born October 13, 1881, died on April 6, 1911; Maybel married Virgil Hummel.

Doctor Loar married, on September 2, 1903, Emma Ruth, daughter of Hugh and Elizabeth (Funk) Ruth, the father born in Maryland about the year 1808, and the mother in Pennsylvania, on July 25, 1824. The father, who was a farmer, came to Iowa in May, 1855, and retired many years ago, dying in January, 1896. The mother's death occurred in March, 1911. Mrs. Loar is a member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and the Ladies' Aid Society of the Baptist church, and both the Doctor and Mrs. Loar are prominent socially in Monroe.

Fraternally, the Doctor is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Fairview Lodge No. 194, also of the chapter. He is a member of the Baptist church at Monroe. Politically, he is a Democrat, and while he takes the interest of a good citizen in political and public affairs, he is not ambitious to be a leader in these matters.

FREDERICK S. FELDSCHNEIDER.

The gentleman whose name heads this sketch has long enjoyed prestige as a leading citizen of the community where he resides. This is the result of genuine merit and ability, but is not to be wondered at when we learn that in his veins flows the blood of a long line of sterling Prussian ancestors, and many of their praiseworthy attributes seem to have outcropped in him, so

that the courage he has displayed in the battle of life has won him definite. rewards.

Mr. Feldschneider was born in Stephenson county, Illinois, June 18, 1854. He is the son of Frederick and Rekka (Houseman) Feldschneider, both born in Prussia, now a part of Germany, the father's birth occurring on August 11, 1828, and there they grew up and married. The father learned the trade of stone mason, which he followed with success. In 1849, soon after he was married, he emigrated to America on an old-fashioned sailing vessel, the voyage requiring forty-five days. They landed at New Orleans and later came up the Mississippi river to St. Louis, in which city they spent three and one-half years, then went to Freeport, Illinois, where they lived until 1866, working at his trade. Then he and his family loaded their household effects in two covered wagons and drove through to Jasper county, Iowa, and bought eighty acres in Mariposa township. Here they prospered by hard work and they added to their original purchase until the home farm consisted of an entire section of good land. This the father operated successfully and accumulated a competency and lived here the balance of his days, dying on April 2, 1899. He was well known and influential in his community. He served in several local offices, such as township trustee, school director, and he took an active part in the affairs of the Democratic party. He and his wife belonged to the German Evangelical church. Their family consisted of two sons and three daughters, namely: Mrs. Louisa Lorenzen, deceased; Frederick S., of this review; Mrs. Mary Heinke; Henry, deceased; Mrs. Rekka Reichter, deceased.

Frederick S. Feldschneider grew up on the farm and was educated in a German school in Illinois and district No. 4, in Mariposa township, Jasper county, Iowa. He remained at home and worked for his father until he was thirty-one years old, then rented land of his father for twelve years. He inherited one hundred and twenty acres of the old home place, and to this he has added eighty acres, and the two-hundred acre farm which he is now successfully operating is one of the best in the vicinity. He has placed it under excellent improvements and keeps it well cultivated. He built a substantial and attractive dwelling in 1900 and he has good outbuildings. In connection with general farming he makes a specialty of raising Light Brahma chickens, and he raises various kinds of good live stock. He is now serving as township trustee and as school director in his district. Politically, he is a Democrat and he attends the German Evangelical church, assisting liberally in its support.

On December 16, 1885, Mr. Feldschneider was united in marriage with Sophia Klein, who was born in Freeport, Illinois, on May 18, 1859, and her

death occurred on March 17, 1908. She was the daughter of Friedman and Louisa (Khoete) Klein, both natives of Germany. To the subject and wife the following children were born: Clara, John (deceased), Grace and Freda.

The subject is interested in the People's Savings Bank of Laurel, also in the Farmers' Elevator at that place. He is regarded as one of the progressive business men and citizens of his township. The subject's nephews, Frederick and William Feldschneider, sons of his brother Henry, who is now deceased, make their home with him, our subject having reared them from babyhood.

JOHN KOOISTRA.

Jasper county, Iowa, can boast of no better class of citizens than those who have emigrated there from Holland. Thrifty, industrious and honest, they are fast forging to the front. The subject of this sketch is a fine example of this, the success he has achieved being proof of his energy, good judgment and management.

Born in Holland on October 20, 1874, John Kooistra came to the United States with his parents, William and Bankje Kooistra, about the year 1889, when he was about fifteen years of age, coming across the water on the ship "Rotterdam." There were four children in this family besides the subject of this sketch, namely: Kate, living near Sully, Iowa, the wife of Frank Ellscott; Richard, also living near Sully; Herman, living on a farm near Sully, this state, and Dora, the youngest daughter, who lives at home.

Soon after landing in this country the family came to Sully, Iowa, and settled on a farm near the latter place, the father buying two hundred and thirty-four acres; this land he farmed with the assistance of his sons until his death, which occurred about three years ago, when he was about sixty-one years of age. The mother still lives at Sully, Iowa, and is now fifty-four years

of age.

When John Kooistra was twenty-two years old he began working for himself. He worked as a farm hand for a while, afterwards renting land, which he farmed, and by energy and industry he now is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of fine land in Buena Vista township. On March 12, 1900, he was united in marriage with Minnie Brand, daughter of Jacob and Jane Brand, both natives of Holland, the father coming to the United States with his parents when a child of seven. They settled on a farm in Wisconsin, where they carried on agricultural pursuits for many years. The