J[oseph] O. SCHOONOVER, dealer in furniture and undertaker, Garrison, established his present
business in 1882. He was born in Hardin County, Ohio, Sept. 7, 1840, and is a son of David and
Mary (Pierce) Schoonover. He came to this county in 1865 in company with his parents, his
father entering 240 acres of land in Big Grove Township, where he is still living.
J. O., the subject of this sketch, remained a citizen of that township until 1874, when he
moved to Vinton, where he made his home for one year. He then moved to Eden Township and
farmed one year, and then went to the village of Garrison, where he has since resided. Soon
after the breaking out of the Rebellion he enlisted in the 13th Iowa Infantry and served one
year. In the battle of Pittsburg Landing he was wounded by a musket ball in the right leg,
which disabled him from further active service. He was therefore discharged, and returned home.
Aug. 3, 1862, he married Victoria Smith, a native of Ohio. Her parents were among the early
settlers of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Schoonover have a family of six children — Rose E.,
Mary E., Charles O., Edith M., Eva R., and Joseph Wesley. The mother of Mr. Schoonover died
in 1847. Mr. Schoonover is one of the leading business men of Garrison, and has been Mayor
of the village and Township Trustee. In politics he is a Republican and at the same time is
a strong advocate of temperance. Mr. and Mrs. Schoonover are connected by membership with the
Methodist Episcopal Church.
Source Citation: "1887 Benton County, Iowa Biographies" [database online] Benton County IAGenWeb Project. <http://iagenweb.org/benton/>
Original data: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Benton County, Iowa." Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887, p. 253.
Transcribed by: Sue Soden. Submitted to the Benton County IAGenWeb Project on January 28th, 2009. Copyright © 2009 The IAGenWeb Project.