THOMAS D MCGLOTHLEN

MCGLOTHLEN, DAVIS, MEEK, RAVEAL, BELL, TAYLOR, HARRIS, MCCOMBS

Posted By: Melbern T. McGlothlen (email)
Date: 10/22/2002 at 13:30:25

SOURCE INFO:1887 PORTRAIT & BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM OF WAPELLO COUNTY, IOWA.

THOMAS D. MCGLOTHLEN, a wealthy and highly respected citizen of Columbia Township,Iowa has been a prominent resident of this section for a period of forty-two years, and during that time has firmly established himself in the confidence and esteem of his fellow-citizens. He is a gentlemen of fine abilities, and as a leader among the influential men of his locality is entitled to due credit for what he has accomplished and the influence which he still brings to bear in aid of whatever pertains to the progress of intelligence, education and morality.

The subject of our sketch was born in Wayne, County,in 1816. He is the son of CHARLES and JANE (DAVIS) McGLOTHLEN, and was reared upon the farm of his parents. When he was a child of three years old, they removed from Indiana to Missouri, where they remained for two years, and then moved back into Indiana, and lived there twenty-seven years. Their son THOMAS, our subject, came to Wapello County,Iowa in the spring of 1845, and purchased 120 acres of unimproved land. He industriously set himself about redeeming the soil from its original condition , and was prospered in his undertakings. As time passed on he added to his original possessions, and is now the owner of 419 acres of as finely cultivated land as is to be found along the Missippi Valley.
The marriage of THOMAS D. McGLOTHLEN and MISS SARAH MEEK, of Kentucky, was celebrated in Fountain County, Ind., in 1836, when our subject was twenty years of age. Of this union there was born two children: REBECCA J., now the wife of CLAYBORN R. RAVEAL, of Wapello County,Iowa, and MARY ISABELLE, who married ADAM BELL, also of this county. The first wife of our subject survived her marriage only about five years, dying in 1841, and two years later he was again married, to MISS MARTHA TAYLOR, also of Kentucky, born in Hardin County. This lady became the mother of eleven children, of whom the record is as follows: NANCY MARIA died in February, 1846; CHARLES died when an infant of three months old, in 1845; JACOB L. is living at Eddyville,Iowa; ELLEN married TEMPLE HARRIS of this of this county; JOHN W. met his death by sunstroke, in July , 1881, at the age of twenty-seven years; SARAH E. is the wife of JOSEPH McCOMBS, of this county; THOMAS B. is engaged in the dairy business at Des Moines; A.J. is living near Barnard, Nodaway Co., Mo.; GEORGE is at home with his parents; FRANK is engaged with the Western Supply Coal Company, at Kirkville, Iowa, and ADOLPHUS P. is connected with a creamery near Eddyville,Iowa.

Since coming to this vicinity MR. McGLOTHLEN has been actively interested in public matters, and his talents have received due recognition. In the fall of 1862, after occupying other prominent positions among the councils of his townsmen, he was elected to the Iowa Legislature, in which he served acceptably for two years. He has been a member of the Board of Supervisors, and the incumbent of other minor offices. The residence of MR. McGLOTHLEN and his family is one of the finest farm dwellings in this vicinity. His barns and outbuildings in every way correspond with the residence, and his farm implements and machinery are of the most improved designs. In near proximity to the house is a valuable spring of living water, which extends to the pasture land and which the proprietor values at thousands of dollars. The homestead in every respect gives evidence of the intelligence and the cultivated taste of its proprietor, and forms one of the most attractive spots in the landscape of Wapello County,Iowa. In addition to the ordinary pursuits of agriculture, MR. McGLOTHLEN has given much attention to the breeding of fine stock.