Henry Wallace, (p. 3): born 1836; rural school, a small college in Noble county, Geneva Hall, Jefferson College; taught one year; Theoretical Seminary at Allegheny, Monmouth Theological Seminary; minister in large towns; took up farming because of health; writer on farm subjects; agricultural experimentalist; editor of two farm journals; sat on state and federal commissions.

Family: father: "came over from County Antrim in the North of Ireland."
wife: daughter of a colonel.
sons: one editor of farm journal in St. Paul; one partner-successor to father's enterprises and national figure in Boy Scout and 4-H movements; one secretary of agriculture under Harding, co-editor of journals, agriculturalist.
grandsons: one Henry A. Wallace; one secretary of Wallace enterprises.

Evaluation: The essential data about the subject's background is missing, but one knows who the Vice-President's forebears were! Theirs is an aristocracy of "effective leadership," if not one of "exclusive swank."


Lewis Worthington Smith p. 11): born 1886; local schools, Beloit Academy, Fairfield College (Ph.B.), Univ. of Nebraska, Cotner College (MA.); taught in high schools and colleges; professor of English, Drake University since 1902; poet and writer of note (long bibliography); professional fraternities; clubs.

Family: "Mr. Smith represents a long line of American ancestors, representing business, the professions, and military life."
father: merchant and farmer, sergeant.
father: merchant and farmer, sergeant.
father's brother: clergyman and author of a volume of poems.
mother: daughter of a Conn. manufacturer.
mother's mother: daughter of clergyman and poet, descendant of prominent colonial family.
wife: writer, poet, dramatist, president of Iowa Press and Authors Club, 1919 - 1920; daughter of cattle-breeder and rancher.
daughter: AB., MA., assistant-secretary of National Board of Education of the Presbyterian Church.

Evaluation: This professor did not grow up in a sod house.


Hendrik Peter Scholte (p. 19): born 1805; "liberally educated"; took over father's factory, sold factory; resumed education, Univ. of Leyden, Doctor of Theology; clergyman, editor of church periodical; president of an emigration association; purchased a settler's claim "and all his belongings, acquired title to 18,000 acres of land for settlement"; one of founders of Central College; attorney, editor and publisher; dealer in farm implements; Republican convention of 1860.

Family: father: box manufacturer in Amsterdam.
mother: daughter of a broker.
wife: daughter of sugar refiner "to whom his father sold his cases."
daughter: mother of three sons, all of whom are listed in Who's Who: one Ph.B., president of Bankers Life Insurance Company, philanthropist, club man, civic leader; one president of the Equitable Life Insurance Company, clubs, welfare, churchman.
son-in-law: banker.

Evaluation: Pioneer had a good start; his daughter married well; her sons are among the socially most prominent people in Iowa.


James Augustus Howe (p. 28): born 1865; common schools, high school, Drake University (B.L.), lawyer, Republican county committee chairman, county attorney, district judge eight years; writer on probate law; lodge man.

Family: father: farmer all his life.
father's father: farmer and blacksmith.
mother's father: farmer.
brother: farmer and fruit-grower.
wife: daughter of farmer who became realtor and investor.
son: graduate of Culver Military Academy, commissioned officer in the World War; lawyer. Wife graduate of Iowa State U.

Evaluation: What kind of farms the ancestors had is not given. Through education and politics, subject doubtless rose above those who remained in agriculture. Subject's son, now partner of father, had a place in life cut out for him.