Few men are more prominent or more widely known in Bingham than J. B. MARINER who, for many years, has been closely connected with various business interests of this village and from its organization has taken an active and helpful interest in its affairs. He was born in Fulton county, Illinois, October 16, 1851, a son of Eliphalet and Julia C. (LORD) MARINER, the former a native of New York and the latter of Connecticut. In 1836, as a young man, the father settled in Fulton county, Illinois, and four years later returned east for his bride, whom he brought back with him to the little Illinois home which he had prepared and in which they resided until his death in the early '8os. The mother then removed to Shenandoah, Iowa, making her home for some time with her daughter, Mrs. H. M. AYERS. She still survives at the ripe old age of eighty-eight years and divides her time among her various children. The father was one of the first contractors on public works in Fulton county and also operated the first groundhog thresher in that county.

Reared upon his father's farm J. B. MARINER pursued his education in the public schools of his native county and remained at home until twenty- one years of age. In the meantime he had become familiar with all of the tasks which fall to the agriculturist, learning valuable lessons concerning the best methods of plowing, planting and harvesting, and thus, upon attaining his majority, he was well equipped to enter upon an independent agricultural career and assume the practical and responsible duties thereof. He first rented a farm in Fulton county, Illinois, for two years, and then in the spring of 1875 he came to Page county, Iowa. Many years prior to this his father had purchased soldiers' declaratories, locating his claims in Morton township, this county, and he had secured more than one thousand acres in Page, Fremont, Mills and Ringgold counties. Upon his arrival in Page county J. B. MARINER purchased from his father eighty acres in Morton township, upon which he located, and later his father gave him another eighty acres. Soon after he traded his tract of one hundred and sixty acres for another quarter section, upon which he was engaged in general agricultural pursuits for four years.

Since that time Mr. MARINER has been variously engaged. For seven years thereafter he operated a store at Bingham and then became identified with grain interests, operating an elevator at Bingham, with which he is still connected, while for thirteen years, at intervals, he has run a thresher. He and his brother, Louis L. MARINER, in conjunction own three quarter sections of land and handle coal, farm machinery, etc., having established a large and flourishing business along that line. Indeed throughout all of his various enterprises and activities Mr. MARINER has been signally successful, his keen business sagacity and careful management of his affairs proving salient elements in his success, while his combined business interests have made him one of the substantial and affluent citizens of Grant township [Page County, Iowa].

It was in 1886 in Taylorville, Illinois, that Mr. MARINER was united in marriage to Miss Rachel E. MILLER, of that city, a lady of excellent traits of character who is highly esteemed wherever known. She is a member of the Congregational church of Shenandoah, the teachings of which form the guiding influence of her life.

Politically, Mr. MARINER is a stalwart republican, having served on the school board for some time, while he has likewise been treasurer of the board for the past twelve years, the cause of education finding in him a warm champion. He is a prominent figure in fraternal circles, holding membership in Shenandoah Lodge, No. 261, I. O. O. F., since 1877, while he was a charter member of the encampment of the Odd Fellows of Shenandoah. He likewise was a charter member of Juniata Lodge, No. 195, K. P., of Shenandoah, and is heartily in sympathy with the spirit of humanitarianism and brotherhood upon which these orders are founded. Preeminently a public-spirited man, he has been a potent factor in the public affairs of Bingham since its organization, at all times doing all in his power to promote progress, reform and improvement, while his name is enrolled high on the list of Page county's valued and representative citizens.

SOURCE: KERSHAW, W. L. History of Page County Iowa: Also Biographical Sketches of some Prominent Citizens of the County Vol. 11. Pp. 88-89. The S.J. Clarke Publ. Co. Chicago. 1909.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2009