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History of Adair
County, Iowa, 1915.

Biographical.  Volume 2.

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Elmer J. Oshel.

Elmer J. Oshel, who has devoted his time and energies to general agricultural pursuits throughout his entire business career, is now the owner of five hundred acres of valuable land in Richland township.  His birth occurred in Union county, Iowa, on the 26th of September, 1865, his parents being John W. and Mary V. (Beam) Oshel, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of West Virginia.  In the year 1854 they took up their abode on a farm in Union county, Iowa, where Mrs. Oshel passed away in 1879.  The death of John W. Oshel occurred in Union county in January, 1912.  They became the parents of eleven children, nine of whom survive.

Elmer J. Oshel attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education and when fifteen years of age began providing for his own support by working as a farm hand by the month, being thus employed for seven years.  Subsequently he cultivated rented land in Taylor county, Iowa, for four years and on the expiration of that period purchased the farm in Richland township, Adair county, which he is now operating.  The place comprises five hundred acres on sections 23, 22 and 26 and he has greatly improved the property by the erection of handsome buildings.  Mr. Oshel cultivates the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and also makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock, both branches of his business bringing to a gratifying annual income.  He is also a factor in the financial circles of his community as vice president of the Nevinville Savings Bank.

In 1886 Mr. Oshel was united in marriage to Miss Emma Reed, a native of Union county, Iowa, and a daughter of J. H. and Demaris G. (Bliss) Reed.  To our subject and his wife have been born ten children, as follows:  M. Hallie, who gave her hand in marriage to C. B. Williams, of this county;  Edith P., the wife of M. L. McCracken;  Belva E., who is a graduate of the Orient high school and also pursued a college course and who is now engaged in teaching school;  Clara D., who is also a graduate of the Orient high school and follow the profession of teaching;  Floyd E.;  Anna G.;  Bernice L.;  Ralph R., who died at the age of ten years;  Helen M.;  and Doris Irene.

Mr. Oshel gives his political allegiance to the republican party, has ably served as trustee for nineteen years and has also held the office of school treasurer.  Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, belonging to the blue lodge at Orient and also the Eastern Star.  He is likewise a member of the local organization of the Modern Woodmen of America, and his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church.  Mr. Oshel has won a gratifying degree of material success and a high place in the respect and esteem of all who know him, and he deserves great credit for what he has accomplished, for all that he today possesses has been acquired through his own careful management and well directed labors.

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