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JACOB HITE has lived in Benton county nearly sixty years, and is himself a pioneer and represents one of the best known pioneer families who have promoted the development of the farming communities of the county. He was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1835. His grandfather, Christopher Hite, served seven years in the Revolution and Indian wars.
His parents were David and Margaret (Stephens) Hite, who came to Iowa and located in Benton township of this county on May 4, 1850. David Hite bought eighty acres from the government, which he later sold, but remained a resident of Benton township until his death, when about seventy years of age.
Jacob Hite lived at his father's home until he began independently, and then bought a farm of eighty acres on sections 28 and 29 in Benton township. This was his home for about fifty years, and he was an industrious and successful farmer. He sold his homestead in 1908, having some years before retired to reside in Vinton. He has been engaged in farming most of his life, with the exception of about ten years following his return from the army, when he worked in the mill at Benton City. In 1862 he enlisted in Company D, Twenty-eighth Iowa Infantry, and served until wounded at Champion Hill, receiving his honorable discharge in 1864. He is a member of the P. M. Coder Post No. 98, G. A. R. In politics always a Republican, he has been an active citizen of his locality, and has served as township trustee and in various school offices. He is a member of the Methodist church, as was his wife.
Mr. Hite married, in 1857, Miss Susan Thompson. She was born in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, in 1836, and died in November, 1908. They reared eight children: Mattie, wife of S. E. Railsback, of Taylor township; Lottie, wife of Grant Carrier, of Vinton; Mollie, wife of Sherman Richart, of Benton township; Lulu, wife of James Maxson, of Benton township; Minnie, wife of Burt Sheely, of Canton township; Clyde C., of Eden township, whose first wife, Lucy Markham, is deceased, and he then married Edna Haven; Richard E., of Eden township, who married May Sanders; and Nannie, wife of Harry McClintock, of Canton township.
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