Personal History of
John C. Kartchner
Source: Biographical Directory, Page 1152-1153
| The life record of John C. Kartchner, a venerable farmer and honored pioneer of Poweshiek township, Jasper county, Iowa, demonstrates that the road to positions of influence among men, whatever the relation of life may be, is open to all who may possess the courage to read its pathway, besides serving as an incentive to the young of the present generation, teaching by incontrovertible facts that true excellence in any worthy undertaking is ambition's legitimate answer. |  |
His long and useful life was crowned with much good to himself, his family and his neighbors and the community at large, for he was industrious, honest, broad-minded and kind-hearted, and in the golden evening of his years he could look backward over a well spent career and forward with no apprehension.
Mr. Kartchner was born November 14, 1816, in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, the son of Christopher and Prudence (Wilcox) Kartchner, and there he grew to maturity and attended the old-time schools in the brief winter months, assisting his father during the balance of the year, remaining under his parental roof-tree until he was nine years of age. In 1835 he came to Perry county, Illinois, when that country was new, and there he engaged in farming, also worked in a carriage shop, making springs and became a very proficient workman.
Mr. Kartchner was married in 1846 to Nancy Ash, daughter of Hiram and Susan (Clingman) Ash, who moved from Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, to Illinois in pioneer days, when the subject's wife was fourteen years of age.
Mr. Kartchner came to Jasper county, Iowa in 1846 and began life in typical pioneer fashion, undergoing the usual hardships and privations, but nothing daunted, he remained and took part in the work of transformation of the wild prairies to fertile farms. He and his wife lived continuously in the same farm from 1846 until their deaths. He died on the 20th of June, 1911, and his wife died October 1, 1911. Their residence here thus covered a period of sixty-five years, a remarkable fact. During this time they became well known throughout this part of the county. They had worked hard and in their declining years they had plenty and, what is more to be desired, the good will and friendship of all who knew them, for their lives had been exemplary in every respect and they had been of great service to the community.
The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kartchner; Susannah married Joseph Scott and they are both deceased; Diadama married John Collins and they live in Poweshiek township; William Henry died when fifteen years of age; Elizabeth Prudence is at home on the old homestead; Frank Marion died in 1900, when forty-one years of age; he was never married; Christopher Columbus, who is yet single, is living in Poweskiek township; Nathan Oliver is single and living on the old homestead, having bought the same. John Wesley married Leaty Woodbury and is living on a farm near Colfax.
John C. Kartchner and his wife were both invalids, but their children took a delight in administering to their every want and they spent their last years serenly, he being in his ninety-fifth year at time of death and she was eighty-seven years old on September 24, 1911.
This article was sent to Gary Foster by James L. Collins, 3835 Easton Blvd, Des Moines, Iowa 50317 on July 7, 1999. This article was re-typed from a book "Biographical Directory," pages 1152-1153. You may contact James L. Collins by e-mail to thank him for this contribution to the Kartchner family.