ISAAC BROKAW

BROKAW

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/20/2020 at 14:54:36

ISAAC BROKAW, a farmer and stockraiser of section 15, Mercer township, has been identified with the interests of Adams county since 1869. He is a native of Ohio, born in Belmont county, January 21, 1840, a son of John and Elizabeth (Scott) Brokaw. The former was a native of Ohio, and a son of Abraham Brokaw, who was born in New Jersey and a descendant of Hollanders; the latter was a native of Pennsylvania, a daughter of James Scott, and of Irish and German descent. The parents were among the pioneers of Belmont county, and the father still lives at Mt. Vernon, Linn county, Iowa, at the age of eighty-four years.

When our subject was five years of age his parents moved to Crawford county, Ohio, where he was reared on a farm, receiving a common-school education, and resided with his parents until he grew to manhood. In 1862 he came to Iowa and located in Linn county, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1869, when he came to Adams county and purchased 160 acres of wild land, which he improved and planted shade and ornamental trees. His improvements are among the best in the county, and his residence one of the best in the township. He does general farming, and by close attention to his business he has been successful, and now owns 240 acres of improved land, in a high state of cultivation. He was married January 26, 1865, to Miss Frances Learned, a native of Ohio, and daughter of Horace Learned, a native of Pennsylvania, and Nancy (Curtis) Learned, a native of Virginia. Mrs. Learned died in Ohio. In 1853 Mr. Learned with his family came to Iowa and settled in Mahaska county, where he died. Mr. and Mrs. Brokaw are the parents of seven children, six of whom still survive: Samuel E., Willis E., Oran C., Frank A., Wintah May, Christie A., and Presley, who died in infancy. Mr. Brokaw has served as Justice of the Peace for many years and in nearly all the local offices. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and is President of the Sub-Alliance. Politically he affiliates with the Democratic party.