Adair County Iowa

James A. Herrick has long been identified with agricultural interests in Adair county as the owner of a farm of eighty acres on section 19, Richland township, to the operation of which he devotes his time and energies with good success. His birth occurred in Wisconsin on the 10th of May, 1863, his parents being James D. and Martha J. (O’Connor) Herrick, both of whom were natives of New York. They removed to Wisconsin in an early day and in 1866 came to Iowa, the father passing away in Madison county, this state. The mother afterward took up her abode in Adair county and is still living here.

James A. Herrick attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education and began providing for his own support at the early age of fourteen years by working on a farm. On attaining his majority he started out as an agriculturist on his own account and subsequently bought a farm of eighty acres on section 19, Richland township, Adair county, where he has since carried on the work of the fields in a most energetic and resultant manner. He has improved the property until it is now valuable and productive and yields him a gratifying annual income.

On the 1st of July, 1883, Mr. Herrick was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Gilliland, a native of Illinois and a daughter of William and Anna (DeWolfe) Gilliland, who were born in Scotland and Pennsylvania respectively. William Gilliland crossed the Atlantic to the United States when but ten years of age and located in Illinois, in which state he was married. To him and his wife were born twelve children, six of whom survive. Mr. and Mrs. Herrick have become the parents of four children, as follows: Tina, who is deceased; Martha, who married Carl I. Stinman, September 2, 1909; Clara May, who gave her hand in marriage to Winford Crist, of Adams county, Iowa, March 22, 1911; and Jay Lee, who assists his father in the operation of the home farm and who married Mae Abell, of Curtis, Nebraska, December 9, 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Herrick have two grandchildren, Letha Crist and Warren Stinman.

In politics Mr. Herrick is a stanch republican and he has ably served in the capacity of school director. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife also belongs. From his youth upward he has been a worker, and the success he has attained is attributable to his own efforts. By concentration of his energies he early developed that strength of will which is so important in the battle with the world and which when wisely directed leads to the attainment of every laudable ambition.