John Albert Cameron

CAMERON, DUFF, FIFE, GAFF, HAM, MCCORD, MURPHY, STEWART

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 8/27/2004 at 11:41:18

J. A. Cameron, who owns and operates an excellent farm embracing two hundred and forty acres of land on sections 3 and 10, Lincoln township, was born on that place on the 6th of September, 1855. His parents were W. B. and Maria (Gaff) Cameron, both of whom were natives of Ohio, the former born on the 17th of June, 1817. The father came to Madison county in June, 1853, and purchased a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres on sections 3 and 10, Lincoln township, which was partly broken and on which a little log cabin and frame stable had been erected. He improved the property to a considerable extent, extended the boundaries of his farm by an additional purchase of forty acres and continued its operation during the remainder of his life, passing away on the 24th of February, 1892. He had lived in the community for nearly four decades and his demise was the occasion of deep and widespread regret. He was twice married, his first wife passing away on the 4th of March, 1858. She had two children: J. A., of this review; and Mary, who died November 5, 1857, in infancy. For his second wife Mr. Cameron chose Miss Martha Duff, a native of Ohio, by whom he also had two children, namely: Martha J., who is a resident of Winterset; and Eber, who died in 1893.

J. A. Cameron was reared to manhood on the home farm and acquired his education in the country schools and at Winterset. When twenty-two years of age he went to Kansas and purchased a tract of three hundred and twenty acres of railroad land whereon he resided for four years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Madison county and bought one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land in Jackson township which he developed and cultivated continuously for twenty-nine years. Two years ago he purchased the old home farm in Lincoln township from his sister and has since operated the place, which comprises two hundred and forty acres on sections 3 and 10. The pursuit of general farming has claimed his attention throughout his entire business career and success has attended his well directed efforts in gratifying degree.

As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Cameron chose Miss Rebecca McCord, whose birth occurred in Mahaska county, Iowa, on the 27th of September, 1859, her parents being Robert and Jane (Murphy) McCord, the former born in Scotland and the latter in Ireland. Both have passed away. To Mr. and Mrs. Cameron have been born five children, as follows: William, who wedded Miss Blanche Stewart and has one child, Helen; Nellie, the wife of F. A. Ham, with whom she resides on her father's farm and by whom she has one child, Harold; Walter, who married Miss Delia Fife and lives in Polk county, Iowa; Arthur, at home; and Jessie, who died in childhood. William, the eldest son, is an employee of Montgomery Ward & Company and was formerly in Chicago but is now in the service of the concern at New York city.

Mr. Cameron gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and has served in the capacity of school director, the cause of education ever finding in him a stanch champion. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the United Presbyterian church, to which his wife also belongs. With the exception of a few years he has made his home in this county from his birth to the present time and he is widely recognized as one of its esteemed and substantial citizens.

Information taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915”