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Biographical Record of Linn County, Iowa
Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1901.



J. Akers

This well-known resident of Cedar Rapids, who is now serving as deputy sheriff of Linn county, 
Iowa, was born in Rockland county, New York, July 30, 1851, and is a son of W. J. and Eliza 
Akers. The father was born in the same county in 1822, and at an early age learned the 
blacksmith's trade, which he followed until his death. In 1876 he removed with his family to 
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he died in 1882, and his wife departed this life in 1899. Their family 
consisted of six children, namely Julia, wife of W. W. McDonald, of Cedar Rapids; Emma, wife of 
Horace Gates of the same place; Isabella, of Cedar Rapids; Charles W., also a resident of Cedar 
Rapids; Lysander, of New Mexico; and Jonathan, of this review. 

(This paragraph is jumbled and meaning not clear) Our subject was reared in the county of 
schools. When his school days were over his nativity and educated in its public he entered upon
 the duties of a clerk with the firm of Cooper & Hewitt, proprietors of the iron works at 
Hewitt, New Jersey, (Mr. Hewitt was the former Mayor of New York) and in 1873 entered the 
service of the National Bank Note Company, in the Cooper Institute Building, New York city. In 
1876 he came to Cedar Rapids, where he has been variously employed. For a time he held a 
position in the paint department with the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad, and 
later served as constable. 

In 1900 he was appointed by Sheriff Morton Evans as deputy for a term of two years, and is now 
capably and satisfactorily filling that office. Mr. Akers was married in 1877 to Miss Carrie D. 
Justice, a daughter of Martin R. and Lou Justice, of Cedar Rapids. Her father is a cooper by 
trade and is still a resident of Cedar Rapids. Our subject and his wife have three children: 
Charles A., Gladys May and Hazel Ruth. They both hold membership in the Trinity Methodist 
Episcopal Church of Cedar Rapids, and Mr. Aker is also connected with the Knights of the 
Maccabees, having served as keeper of finance for his tent. By his ballot he supports the men 
and measures of the Republican party and he takes an active and commendable interest in public 
affairs.