Samuel Radley (1823-1905)

RADLEY

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 4/14/2023 at 17:10:05

Samuel Radley Sr.
(June 2, 1823 - August 27, 1905)

There has always been a close connection between America and England, — our mother country. Both speaking the same tongue and having many interests in common, it is but natural that the sons of England have sought a home in America. Among this class is Samuel Radley, now an enterprising and progressive farmer of Lincoln Township, Calhoun County. He was born in Yorkshire, England, June 2, 1823, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Hope) Radley, who were also natives of Yorkshire and there resided until after their marriage. In the year 1830 the father came to the new world, taking passage on the Clarkson, a sailing vessel which after a voyage of nine weeks reached the harbor of Quebec. There he remained for a few days, after which he went to Champlain, New York, devoting his energies to agricultural pursuits in that locality for ten years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Canada, where both he and his wife remained until called to the home beyond. They were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and enjoyed the high esteem of all who knew them. In their
family were five children, of whom three are living: William, a resident of Canada; Marguerite, the wife of Peter Smith, also of Canada; and Mary, the wife of Frank Smith, who makes his home in Canada.
When Samuel Radley was twenty-four years of age his father returned to Canada, but he remained in New York. He was married in Perrysville, that state, to Rosanna Abbott, a native of England, born September 4, 1829. Her parents, James and Nancy (Winship) Abbott, were also natives of the "merrie isle," and in 1830 crossed the briny deep to the new world, taking up their abode in Vermont, whence they removed to Clinton County, New York. That remained their
place of residence until they departed this life. In their family were eleven children, of whom three are living. Mary became the
wife of Holland Goss, and after his death, which occurred in New York, she married Leonard Perkins, who has also passed away, but the widow is now residing in Illinois. Edward, the second surviving member of the family, is a resident of Moortown, New York; and Luisina is the wife of Peter Snyder and resides in Moortown, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Radley, of this review, began their domestic life in the Empire state, where they remained for four years, our subject devoting his energies to farming. On coming west he first settled in DeKalb County, Illinois, and was a representative of its agricultural interests for eleven years. In 1866 he arrived in Calhoun County, Iowa, and secured a homestead claim. The fact that all of the land had not been taken up by settlers but still belonged to the government is an indication of the pioneer conditions which then existed. Mr. Radley cast in his lot with the early settlers and at once began the development of the raw prairie which he has transformed into richly cultivated fields. He now has an arable tract of land and annually secures good harvests as a reward for his labors. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Radley has been blessed with five children: Samuel, Jr., a resident of North Dakota; Maggie, who became the wife of John McQuiston, of Ohio, by whom she had three children; Leonard, who married Lilly McLaughlin, by whom he had four children, and who resides in Garfield township; Emma, the wife of Burt McLaughlin, of Blanket, Texas, by whom she has five children; and William, a resident of Lincoln township, who married Eve Huggoboon, by whom he has one child. In his political affiliations Mr. Radley is independent, but his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, have frequently called him to public office, and he has filled all of the township positions. He holds membership in the Congregational church of Manson and is a gentleman of straight reward purpose, over whose record there falls no shadow of wrong. His life has been quietly passed and his energy and strong determination have been the salient features in his successful career, enabling him to progress steadily toward the position of affluence which he now occupies. [Source - Biographical Record of Calhoun County, Iowa, by S. J. Clarke, 1902, p.498]