Leon Reporter, Leon, Iowa
Thursday, July 9, l903

The Des Moines Register and Leader is running a series of life sketches of Iowa pioneers, and in last Sunday's paper appeared the following sketch of two well known pioneers of this county:

Grand River, Iowa, July 4. (Special)

Grand River and vicinity has a number of early pioneers, two of the best known of whom are MICHAEL FOLAND and WM. ZORNES.

MICHAEL FOLAND was born January l4, l820, in Rockinghouse County, Vt. When he was l4, his father died and a few months later he and his mother moved to Rane County, Indiana. He married ELIZABETH SOWERWINE October l6, l842. Seven boys and three girls were born to them. All except two are living near him and well-to-do. In l859, the family came to Decatur County, Iowa, and in the spring of l86l, he moved to where he now resides with his youngest son, his wife having died August 25, l896. He has always been a farmer and a successful one.

WILLIAM ZORNES was born November 25, l822, in Fleming County, Ky. When he was seven years old, his parents moved to Shelby County, Ind. He married in l844. In l848 he settled in Mahaska County, Iowa, and moved to Shelby County, Indiana and moved to Decatur in l860. He has been a day laborer all his life but retains perfect health and is as lithe as a youth. He can read without glasses and thinks nothing of a ten or twelve mile walk. His wife died seventeen years ago.

Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
"With permission from the Leon Journal Reporter"
March l4, 2003