Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 626
JAMES J. MOORHEAD

One of the conspicuous names on the list of Harrison county's active citizens is James J. MOORHEAD, the well-known stockman and proprietor of a four-hundred-and-sixty-acre farm lying on the outskirts of the town of Dunlap. Mr. MOORHEAD is a gentleman of high standing to whom has not been denied a full measure of success and he has long been recognized as a factor of importance in connection with the farming and stock-raising industries in this section. He has been identified with the material growth and prosperity of this part of the state, his life having been closely interwoven with history of the county where he has been content to live and follow his chosen vocation for nearly half a century.

James J. MOORHEAD was born in Hockin county, Ohio, on January 10, 1848, a son of John and Francis (PARK) MOORHEAD. The father was a native of England and the mother was born in Ireland, but when a small child was taken to England by her parents for permanent residence. There she met and married John MOORHEAD and shortly after marriage they emigrated to America, locating first in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They remained there but a comparatively short time, however, later going westward into Ohio and settling in Hockin county. There they resided for several years and finally came to this state, locating in Harrison county, and in the town of Dunlap they passed the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of ten children, of whom Robert T., FRANKLIN M. and two infants are deceased. Those remaining are John B., Sarah Jane, Mary Ann, George P., Frances Jeanette and James J., who is the eighth child in order of birth.

Mr. MOORHEAD received his schooling in his native county in Ohio, attending the little log school of the district. Too much cannot be said in praise of those little old-fashioned schools. The little buildings were most generally of logs, often very crude in construction, as were also the interior furnishings, but they were almost always presided over by some man or woman who had a full appreciation of the importance of their work and instilled into the hearts of the boys and girls under their care many high ambitions and aspirations while training their minds to the best of their ability in the three Rs. And while the school days of many of the youths were very limited indeed, the constant drilling in the elements of a good education laid well the foundation for much private study and many of the wisest and best men of the country were indebted to those little pioneer seats of learning for all the school training they ever received. Mr. MOORHEAD was twenty years old when he came with his parents to this state and he has been a resident of Dunlap ever since, entering prominently into the life of the community and contributing his share in the general upbuilding of business and social interests. Mr. MOORHEAD has long been known as one of the most prominent stockmen of this section, raising and feeding many cattle and horse in the course of a year. His shipments are considerable and his business shows a steady increase in volume. Fully one hundred acres of his farm lies within the corporation of the town of Dunlap and it is considered one of the best farms of this section.

Mr. MOORHEAD was married on October 13, 1875, to Mary E. FRANKLIN, daughter of J. B. and Eunice Mary Etta (VASKINS) FRANKLIN, the FRANKLINs being one of the pioneer families of this section, having come to this county some sixty years ago. To Mr. and Mrs. MOORHEAD have been born four sons, namely: C. C., R. F., R. J., and J. K., the latter of whom died when in his twenty-ninth year.

Mr. MOORHEAD is a member of the Democrat party. In every phase of life's activities in which he has engaged he has been true to every trust imposed in him and among his wide circle of acquaintances he is known as a man of broad and kindly sympathies.

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