William J. Wroughten, of Greeley, is engaged with W. A. Lang in the business of importing registered horses, and they own a number of farms in different parts of the country and manage their business so well that it is steadily increasing in volume from year to year. Mr. Wroughten was born October 11, 1859, in Mahaska county, this state, a son of Burton and E. A. (Cassida) Wroughten, natives of Ohio and Tennessee respectively. As a boy the father went to Delaware county, Indiana, but in 1851 he removed to Mahaska county, Iowa, and settled upon a farm there. Later, however, he engaged in mer­chandising in Oskaloosa. The mother came to Iowa in 1838 and settled in Jefferson county, but was married in Mahaska county in 1856. The father died in that county in 1906 and the mother subsequently removed to Joliet, Illinois, where she died in July, 1913. To their union four children were born, all of whom survive.
     Mr. Wroughton of this review remained at home until he attained his majority and was given the advantages of a liberal education, attending Oskaloosa College. On starting out in life for himself he entered the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway as a telegraph operator and continued in that connection for seven years, after which he engaged in the horse business in Greeley. He was so successful in that enterprise that in 1900 he formed a partnership with W. A. Lang and they have since carried on business as importers of registered horses from Europe. They are excellent judges of horses, understand their proper care and are withal men of unusual business ability, and their continued success in business is assured. They have already gained an enviable reputation in Iowa and as the years pass will doubtless become yet more widely known. They own a number of farms in various parts of the country and their horses are kept in excellent condition.
     Mr. Wroughton was married in 1887 to Miss Willa A. Drybread, who is a native of this county and a daughter of William J. and Catherine (Martindale) Drybread. Her grandfather, Rev. John Martindale, was a minister of the gospel and one of the founders of the Christian church at Greeley. William J. Drybread was born in Ohio and his wife was a native of Michigan, but in 1851 they came to Delaware county and entered land. The father passed away in 1871, but the mother survives at the advanced age of eighty years. The youngest brother of Mrs. Drybread was J. F. Martindale, known as Frank Howard, a noted singer.
     Mr. Wroughton is a republican and has ably served the municipality of Greeley as a member of the town board. He is quite prominent fraternally, belonging to Blue Lodge, No. 225, A. F. & A. M.; Meribah Chapter, No. 96, R. A. M.; and Rob Morris Chapter, No. 208, O. E. S. He has filled all of the chairs in the lodge and is past master. He also affiliates with Greeley Lodge, No. 418, I. O. O. F. His wife is a member of the Eastern Star and the Rebekahs and also belongs to the Christian church. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wroughton are widely respected in their community, as all who know them esteem highly their many admirable traits of character.