James W. McGlothlen

HARRIS, MCGLOTHLEN, MURRAY, RICE

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/11/2005 at 19:42:43

Although he still resides upon his farm in Jackson township, James W. McGlothlen is retired from active farm work and is enjoying a life of leisure.

He is a native of Indiana, his birth occurring in Fountain county on the 12th of November, 1850. His parents, Jonathan and Mary (Murray) McGlothlen, were both born in Kentucky. The father removed with his family to Illinois, in 1852, locating in Vermilion county, and he became an extensive land owner, holding title to several hundred acres of fine land. He raised draft and driving horses of high grade, and was engaged in the milling business in Indiana at the time of his death. He was quite active in public affairs and helped to build the new edifice for the church to which he belonged. To him and his wife, who died when she was fifty years of age, were born six sons, of whom our subject is the second in order of birth.

James W. McGlothlen pursued his studies in a log schoolhouse in his native county, but as he was quite young when his father died he was forced to earn his own living at an early age. In 1871 he came to Iowa and rented land in Polk county, but four years later he removed to Webster township, Madison county, where he became a well known land owner. In 1910 he took up his residence upon a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Jackson township, where he is still living, although he is not actively engaged in farming and rents his land, deriving therefrom a good income. His farming was characterized by foresight, energy and promptness; his crops were abundant and brought a good price upon the market, and he also raised stock quite extensively.

Mr. McGlothlen married Miss Josephine Rice, who was born in Avon, Polk county, Iowa, a daughter of Ananias and Catherine (Harris) Rice. Her father, who was a native of Ohio, located in Polk county about 1848, when conditions were still largely those of a frontier region, and he became known all over that section of the state as a stock buyer, driving stock to Eddyville, which was then the nearest railroad station. He owned three hundred and twenty acres of land and was one of the substantial citizens of his county. His religious faith was that of the Christian church, and in politics he was an adherent of the greenback party.

During the Civil war he enlisted from Polk county and went to the front in the Fifteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. At the time of his death he was living upon a farm near Avon.

Mrs. McGlothlen is the third in order of birth in a family of ten children.

Mr. McGlothlen is a democrat in politics and takes a great deal of interest in public affairs. He is a man characterized by perseverance, believing that it lies within the power of a community to direct its growth and development so as to secure the best conditions possible. He finds much pleasure in travel and has been to California three times. In addition to his real estate in this county, he owns fruit ranches in the west. He is a charter member of the Christian church in Webster township, as is his wife. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has many friends not only in that organization but wherever he is known, as his qualities of character are such as invariably command respect.