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         ROBERT COURTNEY, a farmer, resides on section 10, Concord Township, his home being pleasantly situated about five miles from Columbus Junction, and four miles from Letts. He was born in County Armagh, Ireland, in 1821, and his parents, Christopher and Elizabeth (Barnes) Courtney, were also natives of the same country. The father followed farming in his native land, residing there until his death, which occurred in 1874, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. His wife died when our subject was only about ten years old.

Robert grew to manhood upon the farm, and received his education in his native country. Determining to try his fortune in the New World, in 1840, at the age of nineteen, he set sail from Liverpool on the sailing-vessel “Victoria,” landing in New York after being upon the water for forty-five days. Going directly to Pennsylvania, he made his home near Columbia, Lancaster County, for about a month, when he removed to Wheeling, W. Va., and there engaged in farming for three years. In 1844 he went to the city of Cincinnati, where he operated a sawmill for four years, but at the expiration of that time went to Floyd County, Ky., where he embarked in the same business.

While residing in Floyd County the marriage of Mr. Courtney and Elizabeth Garrett was celebrated in 1850. She is a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of Middleton and Jane (Hendric) Garrett, her father being also of that State, and her mother of Campbell County, Va., though an early settler of Kentucky. Mr. Garrett engaged in farming in his native State until his death in 1833, which occurred at the age of forty-two years. His excellent wife, who survived him for a long time, came to Louisa County, Iowa, in 1853, living with her children during the remainder of her life. She died in March, 1885, at the age of eighty-nine years.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Courtney began their domestic life in Kentucky, remaining there until the spring of 1857, when they came West to Muscatine, Iowa, and thence to Louisa County. A farm of eighty acres of unbroken land, with no improvements but a little log cabin, containing but one room, was purchased, and into this they moved, living in true pioneer style. The first labor performed on the new farm was to plant a crop, next a fence was built around the land, after which an orchard was set out, and thus one by one improvements were made and the work of cultivation continued; other lands were added until now the farm consists of 100 acres, and is one of the best in the township. It is well stocked with a good grade of horses and cattle, and Mr. Courtney also owns some timber land in Muscatine County. On his arrival in Louisa County he had found the country wild and unbroken, his nearest market place was Muscatine, and his neighbors were few, but with characteristic energy he set to work to make for himself a home, and his earnest and unceasing efforts were eminently successful. To such men Louisa County owes her present prosperity and high standing in the state of Iowa. In his political views Mr. Courtney affiliates with the Republican party, and though never having sought public office, has been elected to the position of Assessor for one or two terms. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Letts, in which he is one of the Stewards, and both are earnest workers in the promotion of the church interests. Their daughter, now Mrs. Wilson, lives on section 10. One child died in infancy.