Moses Orson Brady

AIKIN, BRADY, COX, HARRELL, SILVERTHORN

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/10/2005 at 20:25:46

M. O. Brady, who is successfully engaged in general farming on section 5, Monroe township, was born in Gentry, now Worth, county, Missouri, on the 5th of February, 1856. The father, Robert Brady, was born in Tennessee, and when but three years of age was taken by his parents to Andrew county, Missouri, later becoming a resident of Gentry county, that state. He was a farmer, and some time after the birth of our subject removed with his family to Daviess county, Missouri, where he purchased land, which he continued to operate until his demise. His wife, who was in her maidenhood Miss Elizabeth Stites and was a native of Missouri, passed away in Daviess county. The paternal grandfather of our subject was John Brady, who was born in North Carolina, of Scotch and Irish descent. He, too, spent his last days in Daviess county, Missouri.

M. O. Brady was reared in his native state and there attended the district schools. When eighteen years old he made a trip to Iowa, driving hogs, and received for his labor fifty cents a day and board. During the journey he was often compelled to sleep out of doors at night, and one night when sleeping in a straw stack in Ringgold county, this state, he suffered severely from the cold. The year following he came to Madison county, Iowa, and for several years worked by the month upon farms. He then followed agricultural pursuits on his own account and more than a quarter of a century ago purchased the Aikin farm in Monroe township, comprising eighty-two acres. He began to improve his place immediately and as the years passed remodeled some of the buildings and also erected a number of others, providing shelter for his stock, granaries for the storage of grain and sheds for protecting his farm implements from the weather. His residence is a commodious and comfortable structure, and everything about his place is in good condition. He purchased more land, but has sold that, his farm now comprising only the eighty-two acres which he first purchased and ten acres of timber. He not only cultivates the usual crops but also raises live stock, and both branches of his activities are profitable.

Mr. Brady married Miss Emma Belle Aikin, who was born in Davis county, Iowa. Her parents, Louis and Mary Aikin, subsequently settled in this county and formerly owned the farm now in the possession of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Brady have five children: Ora, who is farming in Webster township; Minta Fay, the wife of M. A. Cox, of Macksburg; Millie, who married Bob Harrell, of Morgan, Minnesota; Eva, who gave her hand in marriage to Daniel Silverthorn, a farmer of Monroe township; and Cleo, at home.

Mr. Brady is a republican and has been elected to various township offices, including that of county supervisor, which he held for six years. He is a member of Evening Star Lodge, No. 43, A. F. & A. M., of Winterset; Grand River Lodge, No. 406, I. 0. 0. F., of Macksburg, and the Modern Woodmen of America at Macksburg. He has lived in conformity with high moral standards and his sterling worth has caused him to be held in high estimation by his fellowmen.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,: by Herman Mueller.