Charles Herbert Rathbun

Although yet a young man, Mr. Rathbun has already entered the ranks of the landowners of Allamakee county by purchasing, in 1912, an eighty-acre farm, upon which he engages in general agricultural pursuits, giving considerable attention to the raising of high grade shorthorn cattle. A native of Winneshiek county, Iowa, he was born three miles west of Postville, November 4, 1885, and is a son of Bradshaw Rathbun, a native of New York state. His mother, who bore the maiden name of Hall, was born in Iowa. In 1843 the father became a resident of Iowa, locating on the farm upon which our subject was born and on which he settled with his father, Bradshaw Rathbun, Sr., thereby establishing title to the family as early pioneers of the state. Upon this farm the father grew to manhood and there he continued in his agricultural pursuits until he retired to Postville. Mr. and Mrs. Bradshaw had six children: May, a resident of Los Angeles, California, where, in connection with her brother, she conducts a mercantile establishment; Hall, of Los Angeles; Frederick, who resides in Winneshiek county, Iowa; Bessie, the wife of Welton Cornell, who owns a farm on the Military road, near Ossian, Winneshiek county; Blake, on the home farm; and Charles Herbert, our subject.

In the acquirement of an education Charles H. Rathbun attended the district school in his home township in Winneshiek county. He remained at home until the age of twenty-one and then worked as a farm hand, saving his earnings so that he was enabled in the spring of 1912 to purchase the eighty-acre farm upon which he now resides and which is highly improved and cultivated. Substantial buildings can be found upon his place and he has installed the latest machinery to facilitate the farm labor. He makes a specialty of shorthorn cattle, as his father did before him, and keeps a number of high-grade stock on hand. Practically all of his attention is given to the improvements of the farm and he has already succeeded in such a measure that a bright future may be prophesied for him.

On February 23, 1912, Mr. Rathbun was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Nancy Huffy, who was born in Clermont, Fayette county, Iowa, January 3, 1890, a daughter of Charles and Ella (Gordon) Huffy, both natives of this state. The mother, however, is at present residing in Allamakee county.

The political views of Mr. Rathbun are independent, his support being given to the best candidates available, irrespective of party lines. He shows a deep interest in the cause of education and at present efficiently serves as president of the school board of the Highland district in Post township. Yet a young man, he has already attained to a position of financial independence and is as highly esteemed and respected for the success he has attained thus far as for those qualities of his character which have made that success possible.

-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich

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