MABEN, Grover R.

  General Notes:

Born in Halcott, Greene Co., New York
died in Forest City, Iowa. buried in Madison Township Cemetery.

Both parents born in New York.

From Gary Maben, Grover's Great Grandson-

The town of Garner was platted in 1870 by John Maben who was a brother of Grover. Maben avenue was named for him.. It was only in the last 15yrs or so I discovered that Grove avenue was named for Grover who we nt locally by "Grove"!! His farm in Ellington was over 200 acr es at one time and Lime Creek (now known as the Winnebago River ) ran th ru it. Dad owned it yet when I was 12-16 or so and he would take me up there coming in from the east on the creek and hunt ducks and geese. a lso plenty of pheasants were put on the table from that place. Grover ran a fine heard of cattle back in his day that were well known,
I remember some of the old timers telling about the "ol d settlers picnic" held annually in the grove, complete with dancing, a band and the works..That was during OK and Jennies time. In 1924 OK a nd Jenny moved to a home in Garner; OK served one term in the IA legis lature; died in 1938 and Grandma move upstairs and rented out the downst airs to married teachers etc.

Notes on Grover:

In 1856, Grover went to Stephenson County, Illinois, stayed one year, t hen went to Hancock County, Iowa, in 1857. In Iowa, Grover bought 120 ac res of government land on sections 6 and 7, at Ellington, Township. Grov er broke up some of the land in the summer of 1858 for planting.

Grover returned to New York in the fall of 1858. He rode a horse to Fre eport, Illinois, where he left it to be picked up on his return. Grover married in March of 1859. Shortly after their wedding, Grover and Elvira traveled from colesville by train to the end of the line at East Dubuqu e. Elvira stayed with friends until Grover returned to get her. Grover t hen went to Freepot and rode his horse home. He put in the crops and ret urned to Est Dubuque by horseback where he joined Elvira. The trip to hi s "shack" on the prairies of Hancock County was made with two yoke of ox en and a prairie schooner., which they bought in East Dubuque. Some piec es of furniture were purchased there as well. The Mississippi River was crossed with Elvira on the back of an ox.

Grover and Elvira's house, "the shack" had two small rooms and a low ga rret; the conveniences were not numerous. The shack overlooked Lime Cree k, which is now named Winnebago River. Grover and Elvira were known for their hospitality in the territory, always having room for someone stopp ing over.

In 1868 Grover had the contract to build the courthouse and county offi ces at Concord, Hancock County, for the sum of $10,000.00. The timber an d the dimensional materials were cut from the farm and hewed there., the y were then sawed at the mill in Forest City. The brick used for the cou rthouse was made by Grover on his place. The clay was dug from what was to become the new house basement. Grover hauled the lumber and brick to the building sites with his own teams.

In 1869 Grover built a brick house, his residence, on the south=east qu arter of section 7, one half mile east of the original site. the brick f or the house was fired across the road for the swelling with soil taken from the basement of the house. the walls were a double brick wall with a 2 inch air space between them. Several partitions were about a foot th ick, due to the double brick construction with an air space, plaster, an d paper.

Grover and Elvira held Maben Day picnics in the grove behind the house. The people who attended the picnics came from miles around.

Grover acquired over 1,000 acres of Hancock County land where he raised Durham cattle. He sold on average, one hundred head of three year old s teers annually. His cattle were classified as the best stock in the coun ty. Grover owned several valuable farms in Minnesota as well, and was cl assified as one of the wealthiest citizens, and cattle king of the count y.

Grover held various offices. He was the first Superintendent of Common Schools in the county. Supervisor of Madison Township, County Supervisor , and County Superintendent 1958-1860. After 1858 the rural "Maben Schoo l" was built.

Additional information about the Maben house: the house and the barn a re the only two original buildings still standing. the house exterior ha s not changed much except a garage has been added to the south part of t he house.

The house was considered in 1954 "without a doubt, one of the most inte resting sights in the county."

  Noted events in his life were:

• Occupation: Farmer, School teacher, Stock Dealer, Builder, Contractor.

Grover married Elvira T "Ella" PIKE, daughter of William PIKE and Persis "Tessie" CRAWFORD. (Elvira T "Ella" PIKE was born on 20 Mar 1838 and died on 1 Dec 1926.)