Large, James

LARGE, WHITE, REDFORD

Posted By: Volunteer Transcribers
Date: 1/28/2003 at 14:11:36

JAMES LARGE

Since March, 1858, the subject of this sketch has been a resident of Clinton county, and for many years was successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits on a farm within three miles of DeWitt, but is now living a retired life in that village. He was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, on the 22d of June, 1848, and was a lad of ten years when he came to this county with his father, Thomas Large, who first bought a tract of eighty acres in DeWitt township, and later added to it until he had five hundred and eighty acres of land in the home place, besides ten acres of timber. Several times he met with losses through fire and sickness, but he steadily prospered and became one of the most thrifty and substantial farmers of his community. H (sic) died on the old homestead in 1889. He was born in January, 1818.

After arriving at years of maturity our subject remained on the home farm with his father, assisting in its operation for some years. On the 25th of May, 1880, he was married in this county to Miss Emma White, who was born here. Her father, Hiram (looks like a line was left out here, or at the very least, a period) Mr. White, was a native of Virginia, where he was reared, and when a young man removed to Ohio and there wedded Miss Mary A. Redford, the mother of Miss White. In 1850 he came to Clinton county, Iowa and was engaged in business in DeWitt for five years. At the end of that time he located on a farm in Washington township, and for some years followed farming quite successfully, but retiring from active labor in 1881, he returned to DeWitt, where he died in December, 1882. He was a soldier of the war of 1812, and took quite a prominent part in public affairs, serving one term as postmaster of DeWitt, and as justice of the peace for some years while living on the farm. His estimable wife survived him a number of years, dying on the 21st of April, 1901, at the age of seventy-two. Our subject and his wife have one daughter, Estel M., born June 11, 1881, and who completed the high school course at DeWitt and was graduated in June, 1901.

After his marriage Mr. Large located near the old homestead, where he owned one hundred and sixty acres of land, to which he later added eighty acres. To the cultivation and improvement of that place he devoted his energies for nine years, and then traded it for a farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Clinton, which he operated for about five years. Selling his farm in 1895, he purchased a lot in DeWitt and built a very pleasant residence, where he now makes his home. It is one of the best homes in the north part of town. Here Mr. Large is now living in retirement from active labor, enjoying a well-earned rest. His success in life is due to his own enterprise and industry, and he has not only gained the prosperity which should always attend honorable effort, but has also won the confidence and high regard of those with whom he has come in contact either in business or social life. On national issues he has always voted the Republican ticket since casting his first presidential ballot for General U. S. Grant in 1872, but at local elections supports the men whom he believes best qualified to fill the offices regardless of party lines.
Source: The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.