in his home township and at one time was a candidate on the Democratic ticket for county recorder. His wife, mother of the subject of this sketch, died in Newton in June, 1902, at the age of fifty-five. Both were faithful and consistent members of the Christian church at that place. To them were born six children, only two of whom lived to grow to manhood: George T., lived at Madison Lake, Minnesota, where he died May 15, 1912; Frank W., of this review.

Frank W. Swearingen was born August 24, 1871, in McDonough county, Illinois, and in early childhood came with his parents to Jasper county, Iowa, and there grew to maturity on the farm. He received a good education and graduated from the law department of Drake University in May, 1895. After his graduation he opened a law office at Fonda, this state, and practiced his profession for three years, when he removed to Mitchellville. Here he continued the practice of law for about the same length of time, and then removed to Newton, continuing his profession at practice in that city for two years, at the expiration of which time he abandoned the law, and moved to Killduff and engaged in a general merchandise business, which enterprise proved to be very lucrative. In 1909 he started a private banking business, and he is now engaged in carrying on both of these branches of industry, being very successful in his undertakings.

On March 15, 1900, Mr. Swearingen was united in marriage to Ernestine Langworthy, daughter of Oscar and Jennie (Alexander) Langworthy, both natives of Iowa, having been early settlers of Dubuque county. Mrs. Swearingen is the only surviving child of a family of three, and was born July 30, 1879. in Dubuque county, Iowa. The family moved to Fonda, Pocahontas county, where the father engaged in the hardware business. Mr. Langworthy has been dead for a number of years, but Mrs. Langworthy still survives and resides at Fonda, this state.

To Mr. and Mrs. Swearingen have been born three children: Cecil, born December 28, 1900; Freeda, born April 3, 1904; George, born May 26, 1910.

Mr. Swearingen is a man of broad public spirit. He was elected mayor of Fonda and also of Mitchellville. He is interested in politics, although not a rabid politician, his sympathies being with the Republican party. Fraternally, he is connected with the Masonic Lodge No. 59, at Newton, also a member of the Eastern Star and Modern Woodmen of America. Both Mr. and Mrs. Swearingen are identified with the Christian church at Newton.

On the death of his father, Mr. Swearingen and his brother, George, came into possession of the old home farm and the property in Newton, which property they held in conjunction. Mr. Swearingen also owns a fine home in Killduff.

EDWIN S. HAINES.

The record of Edwin S. Haines, of Sully, Jasper county, is one that indicates that he has tried to do his duty in all life's relations in a faithful, honorable manner, which has resulted in a comfortable income since he started in life for himself and also in winning the confidence and good will of his wide circle of acquaintances.

Edwin S. Haines was born in this county on May 11, 1869, the son of Timothy and Eliza (Van Voorhis) Haines. The paternal grandparents, Edwin and Rebecca Haines, who were natives of Ohio, moved to Indiana in an early day, and in 1872 came to Iowa and located in Jasper county, and here spent their last years. The father of the subject was reared in Indiana and when he was only sixteen years of age enlisted in Company K, Fortyseventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he served very creditably for twenty-one months when he was discharged for disability. He was in a number of hard-fought engagements and saw considerable hard service. After he returned home from the army he came to Jasper county in 1864 to recuperate from the effects of his service in the army; two of his uncles had located here and were doing well. He liked the new country and saw that it had a great future, so he decided to make his permanent home here, and soon purchased forty acres in Lynn Grove township. To this he added from time to time until he owned one hundred and sixty acres, which he later sold and, retiring from active life, moved to Sully. His death occurred on March 27, 1909; his widow is still living, being now sixty-seven years of age. Timothy Haines was a Republican, but no politician, preferring to lead a quiet, retired life. He was a member of the Methodist church, to which Mrs. Haines also belongs. Their family consisted of nine children, one of whom died in infancy; the other eight are still living. Mr. Haines started life here as a pioneer and it was some time before he was comfortably situated. The effects of his service in the army rendered him an invalid later in life and he did not work after 1881.

Edwin S. Haines, of this review, grew up on the home farm and assisted with the work on the place when a mere boy. He received his education in the public schools of his native community, but being the oldest son, he had more work to do than the other children. As a young man he engaged in farming, later ran a livery barn and a restaurant. On August 1, 1906, he began carrying the mail on route No. I out of the town of Sully and he has discharged his duties in this connection very acceptably and faithfully. He owns thirty-four acres of valuable land, eight acres of which is within the

corporate limits of Sully. It is very productive and valuable land and he raises a variety of products on it from year to year. He built a modern, substantial residence on his land here and is very well fixed.

Politically, he is a Republican and he and his wife are members of the Congregational church.

Mr. Haines was married on March 15, 1892, to Laura Shafer, a native of Jasper county and the daughter of Asahel and Nancy Shafer, old settlers here from West Virginia and Illinois. He came to Iowa in 1858 and the mother came with her parents. They first moved from Illinois to Ohio, then to Marion county, Iowa, locating near the town of Pella, and there the parents of Mrs. Haines were married. They now live near New Sharon, Iowa. They have spent their lives on a farm. Their family consisted of four children, all of whom are living. To Mr. and Mrs. Haines have been born four children, namely: Myrtle, Harry, Walter and Tracy.

CHARLEY BURNETT ORTWIG.

As a rule the farmer boy who has to start at the very bottom of the road that leads up the hill of success, when he begins life's more serious work for himself, is bound to experience the greatest trials and to pass through the most severe schooling before he can rise above the surface and show his head; but in time true worth will always tell, as it did in the case of Charley Burnett Ortwig, a progressive and successful young farmer of Kellogg township, Jasper county, who seems to possess the stick-to-itive qualities characteristic of those born of German ancestry, and he is very deserving of the handsome rewards that have attended his efforts.

Mr. Ortwig was born in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, October 2, 1881. He is the son of Albert and Augusta (Reng) Ortwig, both born in Germany, the father in 1835, and the mother in 1832; the death of the latter occurred in 1894. They grew to maturity and were educated in the fatherland, in fact, spent their early lives there, emigrating to the United States in 1880. In 1881 they located in Jasper county, Iowa, where the father has since. remained, engaged in farming and stock raising, having become well situated. His family consisted of four sons and two daughters, namely: Ida, Minnie, Albert, Herman, Adolph and Charley Burnett, of this review.

The subject of this sketch came from his birthplace in the Badger state to Jasper county, Iowa, when a boy and here he grew to maturity and

received a good education, assisting his father with the general farm work when a boy. For some time he filled the position of fireman in the electric light plant at Newton, but finally returned to farming, locating on his present place in 1907. His father has a very desirable farm of one hundred and forty acres, one hundred of which lies in Kellogg township and the balance in Mariposa township. He is rapidly improving the same and is succeeding in all phases of his farm work.

Mr. Ortwig was married on May 16, 1905, to Marie Cornelia Cook, who was born in Pella, Marion county, Iowa, March 20, 1888, the daughter of Dirk and Nellie (Earley) Cook, both born in Holland.

Politically, Mr. Ortwig is a Republican, and while he takes more or less interest in public affairs, he is not a politician.

REV. JOHN POTTER.

There is no earthly station higher than the ministry of the gospel; no life can be more uplifting and grander than that which is devoted to ameliorating the human race, a life of service for the betterment of the brotherhood of man, one that is willing to cast aside all earthly crowns and laurels of fame in order to follow in the footsteps of the lowly Nazarene. It is not possible to measure adequately the height, depth and breadth of such a life, for its influences continue to permeate the lives of others through succeeding generations, so the power it has cannot be known until "the sun grows cold, and the stars are old and the leaves of the judgment book unfold." Rev. John Potter, a Methodist minister, known throughout Iowa, and who after many years. of strenuous endeavor is retired at Newton, Jasper county, is one of those self-sacrificing, ardent, loyal and true spirits that is a blessing to the race, leaving-in its wake an influence that ever makes brighter and better the lives of those who follow.

Rev. Mr. Potter was born June 7, 1843, at Thornton, Yorkshire, England, and he is the son of Henry and Mary (Elliott) Potter, natives of England, the father being the fourth child in order of birth in the family born to John and Elizabeth (Townson) Potter, his birth having occurred at Kirk-by-the-Moorside, now Kirby, November 14, 1814. Upon the marriage of Henry Potter with Mary Elliott, his grandmother Townson presented to him a Bible published in 1785 and it is now in possession of the subject of this sketch.