PETER POLAND

Peter Poland, who for forty-four years has followed agricultural pursuits in this county, is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of land in Morgan township. He was born in Dayton,, Ohio, April 9, 1837, and is a son of Ezra and Eunice (Sears) Poland. The parents were natives respectively of Pennsylvania and of Ohio but about 1840 became residents of Illinois, the father entering land in Morgan county. He continued to operate his farm during the remainder of his life and passed away in 1884. His wife is also deceased.

Peter Poland was reared under the parental roof and received his education in the district schools of Illinois. When twenty-four years of age he enlisted in Company C, Sixth Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, and was with the colors for four years and two months, seeing much hard service in that time. After the close of the war he returned home and worked for his father for three years. Subsequently he came to Decatur county, Iowa, and bought one hundred and twenty acres on section 3, Morgan township. He concentrated his energies upon the operation of his farm and as he was energetic and practical and managed his affairs well he was eventually able to buy one hundred and twenty acres, additional, his present holdings comprising two hundred and forty acres on sections 3, 4, 9 and 10. He has operated his farm for more than forty-four years and has gained more than a competence. He gives much thought to the planning of his work and is always ready to adopt new methods if it can be shown that they are an improvement over those previously in use.

On the 2d of October, 1870, Mr. Poland was united in marriage to Miss Mary Robinson, who was born April 4, 1840, a daughter of John and Mary (Crockett) Robinson. Her parents were natives of Kentucky, but became pioneer settlers of Decatur county, Iowa, locating here about 1854 or 1855. The father entered land in Morgan and Woodland townships and devoted the remainder of his life to the operation of his farm. He passed away in 1882 and his wife died two years later Mr. And Mrs. Poland have six children, Ella M., Maggie, Emma B., Hattie, Lawrence and John A.

Mr. Poland has supported the republican party at the polls since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln. For three years he served as trustee of his township, discharging his duties with ability and circumspection. His religious allegiance is given to the Methodist church, which profits both by his material support and his cooperation in its work. He is a valued citizen of his community and there are many who hold him in warm regard as a personal friend.