tion, and served in the Revolutionary War. Of the large family of children born to the parents, three are now living, and Prof. Stanton is the only son. He became familiar with agricultural life at an early age, and received his primary education in the village school. He then attended the academy at Franklin, N. Y., and in the spring of 1870, entered the Iowa State Agricultural College in the sophomore year, graduating in the fall of 1872. While a student he was clerk in the cashier's office, and has been connected with the financial department of the college ever since. Immediately after graduating he was appointed assistant in the mathematical department, and in 1874 was elected secretary of the board of trustees, which position he has held for seventeen years. He was elected to his present position in 1878. He was married in 1877 to Miss Margaret McDonald, who was preceptress in the college for six years before marriage and two years afterward. She was also Prof. Stanton's assistant and instructor in French. They have three children: Edwin McDonald, Margaret and Edgar W., Jr. Of the faculty when Prof. Stanton came here, his wife is the only one left in Story County.
Jacob M. Stark, proprietor of the Kelly Tile and Brick Yards in Washington Township, Story County, Iowa, was born in Indiana in 1847, and was one of nine children who grew to maturity, the result of the union of Stephen and Elizabeth (Wagoner) Stark. The father was born in the Blue-Grass State in 1808, but was reared to manhood in Indiana, where he was married about 1833. His family consisted of the following children: Daniel (died in the Civil War), Mary (became the wife of John Curtis, of Warren County, Iowa, and she and her husband are both deceased), Rebecca (wife of John Cooper, of Maxwell, Iowa), John (died), Stephen B. (of Marquette, Kas.), Abraham (of Stockton, Kas.), Melinda (wife of Robert Nichols, of Des Moines, Iowa ; she is. now deceased), and Louisa (also of Des Moines, Iowa). The paternal grandfather was Abraham Stark. Jacob M. Stark moved with his parents to Illinois in 1849, locating in Mercer County, and in 1852 the family settled in Webster County, Iowa. Soon after they located in Warren County, where Jacob grew to mature years, and received his education in the common schools. About 1864 the parents removed to Story County, and settled at Iowa Centre, where Jacob M. followed his profession-wagon and carriage-making. In 1883 he engaged in his present business, and has followed it with marked success ever since, and, although there are other establishments of like character in the county, his is unsurpassed. He was married in 1866 to Miss Nancy G. Davis, daughter of Thomas C. Davis, of Nevada at that time, but now of Eldorado, Kas. To this union six children were born-Arthur D., Wilberth, Roy C., May, Nora, and Jesse. Politically, Mr. Stark traces his views back to the old Whig party, and is now a stanch Republican and a strong advocate of prohibition. Socially, he is connected with the I. O. O. F. His father died in Iowa Centre, Iowa, in August, .1870, and his mother, in April, 1890, at the age of eighty years. The father had been identified as a Baptist minister from early manhood, and was a pioneer preacher of Iowa, holding services in school-houses and private dwellings before the time of churches.
Sam S. Statler is agent of the American Express Company, and a dealer in groceries, and is one of the pioneers of the town of Nevada, Iowa. A native of Somerset County, Penn., he was born on the 2d of December, 1830, and is the only surviving member of a family of four children, born to Jonathan and Maria (Snell) Statler, who were born in Penn-