Joseph Leland Harwood

GIFFORD, HARWOOD, KING, PORTER, STANFIELD

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 10/12/2005 at 18:18:22

Joseph Leland Harwood, a landowner of Walnut township, residing on section 9, devotes much attention to the raising of fruit, holds the position of vice president of the Peru Savings Bank and also engages in the private loan business. He was born in Clinton county, Iowa, on the 1st of May, 1864, a son of Joseph and Mary (King) Harwood, the former a native of Warsaw, Kentucky, born of German and English lineage. The mother, who was born in Maryland, was of Yankee stock. They were married in Illinois on the 4th of December, 1856, and on coming to Iowa located in Clinton county, where they remained for three years, after which they took up their residence in Cedar county. In 1868 they came to this county and settled upon the farm where our subject and his brother, W. A. Harwood, now live on section 9, Walnut township. The father, who was a successful agriculturist, purchased eighty acres of land on his arrival in this county and later added to his holdings until he acquired seven hundred acres. He disposed of some of that. but at his death in 1908 owned a section of land. His widow survived him a year, dying in 1909 on the home place.

Joseph L. Harwood remained at home during his boyhood and youth and his time was divided between attending the school of district No. 3 and helping his father with the work of cultivating the fields and caring for the stock. After he reached maturity he continued to reside at home until he was twenty-six years of age, when he was married and began his independent business career. He traveled for a time, but in 1899 again turned his attention to farming. Material prosperity has rewarded his labors and he now owns three hundred and forty acres of good land, most of which he rents. In 1900 he began making a specialty of fruit growing and his business has been developed from year to year until he is now recognized as one of the few really successful fruit growers of this county. He raises apples, peaches, plums and berries of various kind's and finds that the proper care of his orchards makes heavy demands upon his time. He himself does practically no general farming or stock-raising. He has other interests, however, as he was one of the organizers and is vice president of the Peru Savings Bank and he also loans money privately. He owns valuable business property in East Peru and is considered one of the substantial men of his township.

In 1891 Mr. Harwood married Miss Marilla Stanfield, and they became the parents of four children, Grace, Edward, Isaac and Walcott. On the 29th of October, 1908, Mr. Harwood married Miss Charlotte May Gifford, a daughter of Isaac John and Sarah (Porter) Gifford. Her father, a native of Carlisle, Iowa, is a stone mason and farmer and is now living upon a farm east of Peru, but her mother passed away upon that place in 1894. Mr. and Mrs. Harwood have two children: Bessie Levina, born August 4, 1909; and Mabel Almy, whose birth occurred on the 31st of July, 1912.

Mr. Harwood is a republican, but has been too busy with his private affairs to take a very active part in political matters, although he is never remiss in the performance of the duties of a good citizen. He is a factor in the financial life of his community and in demonstrating that fruit can be profitably grown in large quantities in this county he has contributed not a little to its horticultural development. He is well known and the esteem and warm regard in which he is generally held are evidences of a life well spent.

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