Wylie, Robert, Jr.

WYLIE, MCMULLEN, MCILRATH, JACOBS, HOGUE

Posted By: Don Wherry (email)
Date: 8/30/2010 at 01:32:09

ROBERT WYLIE, JR.

A well improved and highly cultivated farm of one hundred and sixty acres, located on section 9, Bear Creek township, is the property of Robert Wylie, Jr., who is one of the enterprising young farmers of Poweshiek county.

He was born in Belfast, Ireland, March 12, 1877, a son of Robert and Mary (McMullen) Wylie, and was a lad of five years of age when he was brought to the new world by his parents. Landing in New York city they at once made their way to Poweshiek county, Iowa, establishing their home upon a farm in Jefferson township, eight miles northeast of Brooklyn. In the old country the father had been a day laborer and had also worked on the ship docks, but since coming to Iowa he has engaged in farming. For the first year after his arrival here he worked for his brother John, and during the succeeding two years worked for his sister, Mrs. Agnes McIlrath, in Jefferson township. As time passed and he prospered in his undertakings, he accumulated a sum of money that enabled him to purchase a farm in Jefferson township, which is better known as the M. Calderwood property, and today he is giving his time and attention to the further development and improvement of this place.

Robert Wylie acquired his education in the district schools of Poweshiek county and assisted his father in his farm work until he had attained his majority. At that period in his life he started upon an independent business venture, renting land from his father, and when he had reached the age of twenty-six years he had saved a sufficient sum of money to permit him to farm on a larger scale and he accordingly operated rented land in Bear Creek township for three years. He then purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 9, Bear Creek township, and has here since made his with the exception of the year 1910, when he lived in Brooklyn, during which time he was having extensive improvements made upon his place. He has a fine modern country home, substantial outbuildings and all equipments for the successful conduct of his farm. He has tiled his fields and there is no wasteland, all being cultivated with the exception of six acres, which are covered with timber. He carries on general farming and raises and feeds cattle and hogs, which he sells to shippers. He also raises much small fruit, devoting one and a half acres to this purpose. Closely adhering to a systematic rule of crop rotation a close study is made of the adaptability of certain crops to certain soils, and that he has a thorough knowledge of the work which he follows is indicated in the splendid appearance of his farm property.

Mr. Wylie was united in marriage, November 25, 1903, to Miss Ethel Jacobs. She is a daughter of Thomas Franklin and Emma (Hogue) Jacobs, the former a native of Virginia and of Irish descent, while the latter was of German descent. The father located in Iowa in 1837, purchasing a farm of eighty acres in Deep River township, Poweshiek county. He lived there for forty years, in the meantime adding two hundred acres to his original holdings. He eventually sold his farm and moved to a place two miles east of Grinnell, but later took up his abode near Rowan, in Wright county, this state, where he still follows farming. His wife died in Montezuma, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Wylie have four little daughters: Naomi, Ruth, Fern and Thelma, aged respectfully six, five, three and one year.

Mr. Wylie is a staunch advocate of the republican party and both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church at Brooklyn. They are people of sterling worth and enjoy the high regard of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

- pp. 437-438, History of Poweshiek County, Vol. II; Parker, Prof. L. F.
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, IL; 1911