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biography from Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
JOHN J. ELSE, a resident of Madison Township, was born in the State of Ohio, Oct. 6, 1835, and is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Whitaker) Else, who were natives of Pennsylvania. Our subject came to Iowa with his parents in the year 1852, lived with them until he had attained his majority, and then purchased some land and began the business of life on his own account July 4, 1858, he was married to Miss Susan Gearhart, a daughter of Ezekiel and Susanna (Bateman) Gearhart, the former a native of Delaware, and the latter of New Jersey. By this union there have been seven children: William is a resident of Kansas; Eddie is deceased; Minnie is the wife of W. Carroll, and lives in Nebraska; Cora is the wife of Frank Shoemake, of this township; Lewis, Fred and Frank are living at home. The mother of these children died in April, 1873, and Mr. Else was again married, in 1879, to Miss Jennie Greene, a native of Illinois, born in 1845. By this latter marriage there are two children-John and Alfred. Politically Mr. Else is a Republican, and the present Treasurer of Madison Township. He is the owner of 765 acres of land in this county, and 400 in Washington County, Kan. His home farm is very fine land, in an excellent state of cultivation and well improved, and, while he engages in general farming, makes a specialty of raising hogs and cattle. He brings to the discharge of the business of life a high order of intelligence and ability, has prospered well, and is not only one of the best farmers of that section, but also in the county. He is a high-minded, honorable citizen, of the strictest integrity, and fully deserving of the esteem and confidence in which he is generally held.
Portrait & Biographical Album of Mahaska Co., Iowa, 1887
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy