AULD, G.T., HON.

AULD, TODD, MAXWELL, CROSSIN

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 3/28/2020 at 00:08:40

HON. G.T. AULD, now of Keota, Iowa, but for many years a resident of Crawford Township, Washington Co., Iowa, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, in 1825, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Todd) Auld, who were the parents of three children – James, George T. and Alexander. The first wife of William Auld was a Miss McAdo, who bore him one daughter, Maria now the widow of Samuel Stewart, and who yet resides in Harrison County, Ohio. The mother of our subject died when he was four years of age, but his father was married later to Elizabeth Alexander, who proved a kind and affectionate mother to the children, all of whom revere her memory.

William Auld was born either in Chester or Lancaster County, Pa., but was of Irish descent, his parents both being natives of that country, were there married, and some of the eldest children were born. William and Elizabeth Auld, accompanied by their eldest sons, who were the married, located in Henry County, Iowa, in 1851, remaining there until 1867, when our subject purchased lands, in this county, to which all removed, the parents finding a happy and welcome home under the hospitable roof of their son as long as they lived. Both are interred in the cemetery at Crawfordsville. James, the elder brother of our subject, wedded Caroline Fitzgerald, in Ohio. She bore him five children - Mary, Thomas, Benjamin, James and Alwilda. He was a member of the 40th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, during the late war, enlisting only a short time before the defeat of the Union troops at Red River, and while crossing the Saline River, upon their retreat from the Red River country, a rebel sharpshooter’s bullet laid low this brave man, an intrepid soldier. His remains now lie in Southern soil which was consecrated by the blood of thousands of brave men. Alexander Auld wedded Rose Cunningham, who bore him five children - William, John, Elizabeth, Lincoln and Nanny. After the death of his first wife, he wedded a lady in Kansas City, where he still resides, and is serving his second term as Justice of the Peace.

George T. Auld, in 1847, married Martha A. Maxwell, a daughter of Robert and Martha (Crossin) Maxwell, who came in 1848 to this county from Ohio, and whose history will be found elsewhere in this work. They were prominent in every respect, and left a heritage of wealth and honored name to nine children, 106 grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Our subject and his wife are the parents of five children: John M., who married Elizabeth Love, is a graduate of the celebrated Keokuk Medical College, and is a resident physician of Keota; Elizabeth J. is the wife of James M. Bailey, a farmer residing in Logan County, Kan.; Martha A. wedded J.H. Montier, a resident of Little Falls, Minn., who is at present engaged in Sabbath-school work; Nettie M. is the wife of Seward L. Anderson, who resides upon her father’s homestead in Crawford Township, Washington County; Alma L. remains with her parents at their home in Keota.

Although by occupation a farmer, our subject has always been an active politician, espousing first the Whig and then the doctrines advocated by the Republican party, of which he was one of the organizers in Henry County, Iowa, and in fact, of the Republican party of this State. He was elected to office in Henry County, serving two terms as Supervisor, and was a member of the first board doing business under the present law in relation thereto. In 1867, he became a resident of Washington County, and the succeeding autumn was elected one of her Supervisors, serving two years. In 1875, he was the choice of his party in this county, and was by them elected a member of the State Legislature. His acts were characterized by the same prudence displayed in minor official positions, and Hon. George T. Auld retired from the high office to which he had been elected with all the honor due one who had served his constituents faithfully and well.

In addition to other public services, Mr. Auld has held the office of Township Assessor, and served numerous terms on the School Board, of which for fifteen years he was Secretary. He was several times elected Township Trustee, and was a member of the Republican Central Committee of this county. All his acts have been characterized by fairness and good judgement. In the fall of 1886, he purchased a residence in Keota, Keokuk County, and intends there living a retired life. He has large landed interests in this county, to which he will attend, and his business yet retains him nominally as a citizen of Washington County.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of Hon. H. G. Auld, pages 567-568.