Maxfield, William H.

MAXFIELD

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/22/2019 at 17:05:14

William H. Maxfield

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.380)
WILLIAM H. MAXFIELD, one of the prominent and substantial farmers of section 24, was born in Prince Edward's Island, August 12, 1841, the son of William and Sarah Ann (Picketts) Maxfield. The father was born in Yorkshire,England, about 1810, and was a young boy when his mother moved to Prince Edward's Island, when he grew to maturity and learned the shoemaker's trade, but afterward turned his attention to farming. In 1850 he came to the United States and located at Council Bluffs, where he died about one month after his arrival. He was a member of the church of the Latter-Day Saints. His wife was a native of Prince Edward's Island,but her people were from Prussia. She died in this neighborhood, November 5, 1872, when fifty-two years of age. After her husband's death she married Benjamin Minturn, and resided here until her death. She was also a member of the Latter-Day Saints.

Mr. and Mrs. Maxfield had five children, four of whom still survive: John P., a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of this township; William H., our subject; Barbara, the wife of Charles Fish, a farmer and stock-raiser of Jewell County, Kansas and Alma, residing in Neola; Wilfred died when a child. By the last marriage of Mrs. Maxfield, there were five children, four of whom are now living; Claracy, deceased; George T., a farmer near Sturgis, Dakota; Benjamin, residing in Neola, is traveling for Crane Bros. & Co. Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Illinois; Sarah, wife of George Williams, residing near Neola; Lewis, engaged in farming.

William H., our subject, spent his school days in this county, and remained with his mother until twenty-one years of age, when he commenced to farm himself. He rented a farm in the Missouri River bottom two years, and then bought forty acres of the land on which he now lives. He has since added the remainder of 209 acres, with thirty acres of timber, which he has improved in the most approved manner. He started only with a good constitution and a determination to make life a success, and with energy, economy and industry he has indeed succeeded. He has been Township Clerk for four years, Assessor a number of years, and Trustee one term, and has also held other official positions. December 15,1862, he married Miss Emma S. RISHTON, daughter of Henry Rishton. She was born in Manchester, England, in 1843, and when a child came with her father from England to Rhode Island, and afterward to the State of Iowa in 1850. They have thirteen children, of whom eleven are now living, viz.: Lilly I., a school-teacher; William B., residing in Council Bluffs; Edward N., a farmer near his father; Alice, engaged in teaching; Jessie G., at home; Frederick, at home; Cora, Daisy, Emma S., Pearl, and Roy at home; Henry died when an infant, and Grover C. was two years of age at his death. Mr. Maxfield has made an effort in life to educate his children, and rear them to be good and useful citizens. Politically he is a stanch Democrat.