Nature has been lavish in her gifts to most sections of the country. Maine, Michigan and the Pacific northwest have found their chief source of income in their forests; other sections of the country are rich in mining properties, but no district seems to have been more blessed than the central Mississippi valley with its rich soil that responds readily to the care and labor betowed upon it. A noted lecturer who discusses economic conditions and the natural resources of the county says that there is no better investment than in Iowa and Illinois farm lands and it is through the conduct of his agricultural interests that William J. Glasgow has come to be known as one of the prosperous citizens of Cedar county. He engages in the raising of grain and of stock and has long been thus identified with Fremont township. He has eighty acres in the home place and forty acres in another tract and cultivates both places. He dates his residence in Iowa from 1875 and has been a resident of Cedar county since 1892.
Mr. Glasgow was born near Toronto, Canada, December 26, 1865, and is a son of Thomas Glasgow, who was married in Canada to Miss Johannah Allen, a native of that country. Thomas Glasgow followed farming in Canada for a number of years and two children were born unto him and his wife while residing there. In 1866 they removed southward to Missouri, settling in Pettis county, where the father opened up a farm whereon he made his home for a number of years. In 1875 he removed to Iowa, taking up his abode in Johnson county, where he spent his last years, his death there occurring on the 17th of June, 1910. He was laid to rest in one of the cemeteries of that county. For a considerable period he had survived his wife, who died August 17, 1890.
William J. Glasgow was reared upon the home farm in Johnson county and spent a considerable portion of his youth in Iowa City. He had good public-school advantages that qualified him for life’s practical and responsible duties and after putting aside his text-books he gave his attention largely to railroad bridge building. He remained with his father until 1891 and then engaged in railroading as an employe of the Northwestern Railroad Company, which he represented for twelve years on bridge work, his long association with one company indicating his efficient work in that direction.
On the 11th of August, 1893, Mr. Glasgow was married in Cedar county to Miss Alice Boyles, who was born and reared in this county and is a daughter of David Boyles, a native of Pennsylvania, who was brought to Iowa in his childhood days by his parents. Mrs. Glasgow was educated in Mechanicsville, where she completed a course and was graduated. She later pursued a course of study in the Normal School at Tipton and received a diploma in recognition of the work which she there did. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Glasgow took up their abode inIowa City, Mr. Glasgow being employed as fireman at the State University for a year. On the expiration of that period he removed to Cedar county and settled upon a farm. He first rented land and later, in 1906, purchased the place where he now resides, becoming the owner of eighty acres of land in Fremont township. He has since built a good barn and hog house upon the place and has his fields fenced with woven wire. There is also a neat residence with the various sheds and outbuildings that are necessary for the protection of grain, stock and farm machinery. He annually harvests good crops and at the same time raises considerable stock.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Glasgow have been born three children: William D., Inez Marie and Eveline Alice. Mr. Glasgow was reared in the faith of the Catholic church, while his wife is a Presbyterian, holding membership in the church at Mechanicsville. His political allegiance is given to the democracy and while he has never sought nor desired office he keeps well informed on the leading questions and issues of the day. He is one of the well known farmers of Fremont township and a man of good business integrity and worth. His fellow townsmen have learned to know and trust him and he has ever been found worthy of their trust.
