Charles F. Hesner has been a resident of Clayton county from the time of his birth and has here found ample opportunity for productive enterprise, not only in connection with the fundamental industries of agriculture and stock-growing, but also in the furtherance of business and capitalistic enterprises. He is now living virtually retired in the attractive residence which he erected in the village of Edgewood, in 1895, and he is also the owner of the modern theater or opera-house building which provides a medium for high-class entertainment for the people of his community. He is associated with his brother in the ownership of a valuable landed estate of three hundred and seventy acres, in Lodomillo township, and this includes the old homestead farm on which he was born, the date of his nativity having been October 8, 1861. Mr. Hesner is a son of John and Barbara (Goodyear) Hesner, who were born and reared in Germany, and who established their home in Clayton county in the early '50s, soon after their immigration to America. The father was a man of splendid energy and judgment and he accumulated and improved a large landed property, in the operations of which he held precedence as one of the substantial and progressive farmers of the county. He was one of the venerable pioneer citizens of Clayton county at the time of his death, which occurred April 9, 1901, the wife of his youth having passed away in 1867, and their children having been seven in number: Andrew is now a resident of Manchester, Delaware county; Margaret and Barbara are deceased; John resides at Strawberry Point, this county; Sophia is the wife of Luman S. Fisher, concerning whom individual mention is made on other pages; Charles F., of this review, was the next in order of birth; and Maria is the wife of L. D. Zahrndt, of Edgewood. After having duly profited by the advantages afforded in the schools of his native county, Charles F. Hesner continued his active association with the work and management of the old home farm and eventually he became associated with his brother John in the ownership of the valuable landed estate of three hundred and seventy acres. He continued his activities as one of the representative farmers in Lodomillo township until 1895, when he removed with his family to Edgewood, where he erected his present fine residence, one of the most modern and attractive in the village, and he has since continued to give his supervision to his various property interests, which are of substantial and important order. He is a Democrat in politics and is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. As a young man Mr. Hesner wedded Miss Clara Blanchard, and she is survived by two children, Herbert and Helen, who remain at the paternal home. On the 25th of December, 1906, Mr. Hesner married Mrs. Lillie (Smith) Cooper, her first husband having been Clarence R. Cooper, a native of Ohio, and the only child of that union being Martha Theresa, who remains with her mother. Mrs. Hesner was born and reared in Clayton county and is a daughter of Andrew and Martha Ann (Sergent) Smith, who came from Canada and established their home in Cass township, this county, in 1857, Mr. Smith having here passed to eternal rest in September, 1876, and his wife having survived him by nearly thirty years, her death taking place December 8, 1905. Of the four children, Mrs. Hesner is the youngest; Albert resides at Strawberry Point, this county; Wilbur is now a resident of Marion, North Dakota; and Louis died in childhood. source: History of Clayton County,
Iowa; From The Earliest Historical Times Down to the
Present; by Realto E. Price, Vol. II, 1916; pg.
177-178 |