Past and Present of Appanoose County, Iowa; a Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement Volume 2

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1913 edition. Excerpt: ...the work of improvement, building the necessary farm buildings and a comfortable dwelling. At the outbreak of the Civil war, however, he left the farm and enlisted in an Iowa company, being later transferred to a Kansas cavalry regiment. He served for eighteen months and was then discharged on account of disability. Returning home, he again settled upon his farm, but soon afterward died from the effects of his military service. His wife, left alone, bravely faced the hardships of pioneer life and reared her family of two sons and two daughters, namely: Peter, a farmer of Franklin township; Clara, who became the wife of Peter Bales, also of Franklin township; Mary, the wife of D. W. Pettigrew, of Lincoln township; and William H., of this review. The last named was in his childhood familiar with pioneer conditions in the state and even as a small boy aided in breaking the soil in the development of his father's farm. He had very few school advantages and is largely self-educated, having gained the greater part of his knowledge through reading, experience and observation in later years. As soon as he was able he obtained work by the day or month and labored in this way for several years, saving his money and accumulating a comfortable sum. With this he purchased the interests of the other heirs in the old homestead, which he has since continued to operate. He did not fear earnest and persistent work and steadily carried forward the work of development in which he had assisted since childhood, adding to his holdings until the farm comprises four hundred acres. He replaced the early dwelling with a modern two-story residence in 1897, while barns and out-buildings were also erected, the farm thus becoming a model property. The fields are...