Joseph Annear, one of the successful farmers of Pleasant Valley Township, residing on section 16, is a native of Yorkshire, England, born October 16, 1845, a son of Joseph and Jennifred (Blake) Annear. The family came to America in the year 1848, and located in Iowa County, Wisconsin, where the father died the same year. The mother and her children lived some six years in Iowa County, Wisconsin, when they removed to Richland County, Wisconsin. The parents had born to them three sons and two daughters, of whom our subject was the eldest son and second child. He was reared to manhood in Richland County, his youth being spent in working on the farm and attending the schools of his neighborhood, where he received a fair common-school education. He has been identified with Carroll County, Iowa, since 1865, in which year he purchased eighty acres of wild land, a part of his present farm, although he did not settle here until the spring of 1870. He was united in marriage September 7, 1871, to Miss Jane Bedford, this being the first marriage in the township, the entire neighborhood being invited to participate in the wedding festivities. She was a daughter of Rev. Charles Bedford, of Pleasant Valley Township. Mr. and Mrs. Annear were the first to unite with the Methodist Episcopal church in Pleasant Valley Township. To them have been born five children, their names being as follows: Oletha Etta, Charles Arthur, James Albert, John Blake and Lillie May. Mr. Annear has added to his original purchase and improved his land until he now owns 320 acres of Carroll County’s best soil. His home farm now contains 200 acres of well-cultivated land. His fine two-story residence, which was erected in 1883, is pleasantly situated, and his barns and out-buildings are noticeably good. He has a native grove of five acres, and a good orchard covering two acres. His remaining 120 acres is located in Grant Township, one and a half miles southeast of Carroll, this farm being also well improved. In connection with his general farming he devotes some attention to raising and feeding stock. In his political ideas Mr. Annear affiliates with the Republican party.

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