William Austin Harwood

HARWOOD, KING

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/11/2005 at 17:15:29

W. A. Harwood, who owns two hundred and seventy-six acres of land in Walnut township, which he rents to others, resides upon the same farm with his brother, J. L. Harwood, and gives the greater part of his time to the oversight of his money-loaning business. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Savings Bank of Peru.

Mr. Harwood was born in Franklin county, Illinois, on the 13th of January, 1860, a son of Joseph and Mary (King) Harwood. The father was born in Warsaw, Kentucky, of German and English ancestry, and the mother in Maryland, of Yankee lineage. On the 4th of December, 1856, they were married in Illinois and on coming to Iowa located first in Clinton county, then in Cedar county, and in 1868 settled in this county upon the farm on section 9, Walnut township, where our subject and his brother, J. L., now live. The father was very successful and became the owner of seven hundred acres of land. He passed away in 1908, being survived by his widow for a year.

W. A. Harwood remained at home until he was twenty-six years of age, but three years before that time began his independent business career. In 1886 he went to Julesburg, Colorado, where he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land, preempted another quarter section and purchased a claim of one hundred and sixty acres near Sterling. He resided there for about three years and then returned to this county, which has since remained his home. For seven years he lived in Peru, but is now living in Walnut township. He owns two hundred and seventy-six acres of fine land, but does not operate it himself, renting it to others.

He was one of the organizers of the Savings Bank of Peru, a well established and prosperous financial institution, and is a member of its board of directors. His business activities have been wisely managed and he has accumulated considerable capital, which he loans on good security. He is recognized as an efficient, conservative business man and all of his dealings are guided by strict rules of honesty and integrity. He has resided in the county for many years and the fact that those who have had every opportunity of forming an accurate judgment of his worth should accord him a high place in their estimation is the best possible proof of his ability and of his probity.

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