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         JOHN HETFIELD, deceased, was one of the early settlers of Louisa County, and for almost forty years was one of its prominent citizens. He was born in Franklin County, Ind., on the 20th of September, 1811, and was a son of John and Mary (Shull) Hetfield, the father a native of Fayette County, Pa., born of England and . . .

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. . . Scotch parentage, while the mother was a native of Rockbridge County, Va., and was of German and Irish ancestry. Accompanied by his wife he emigrated to Indiana at an early day, where he improved a farm, and upon that farm our subject grew to manhood, and his education was received in the common schools. On the 9th of November, 1834, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Flood, a native of Franklin County, Ind., and a daughter of Benjamin Flood, who emigrated to this country from Ireland at an early day, and settled in Franklin County, Ind. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Hetfield was Peter Cox, who removed from Connecticut, and settled on the site of the present city of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was later killed by the Indians. Her mother was the first white child born in Cincinnati, and her death occurred in Franklin County, in 1868.

After their marriage the young couple removed to Union County, Ind., where Mr. Hetfield owned a farm which he had inherited from his father’s estate. Residing there until the spring of 1848, he then returned to Louisa County, Iowa, locating on section 2, Union Township, where he rented a farm for two years. He then bought 160 acres of raw land, and commenced its improvement, which he steadily carried forward until he owned one of the best farms in the township. He added to his possessions until he owned 237 acres of land at the time of his death, which occurred Aug. 6, 1887. His wife died June 29, 1855, at the age of forty years. They were the parents of five children: Elizabeth, who is now living on the old homestead; William, a merchant of LaPorte, Ind.; Rebecca, who died at the age of two years; Bazallell, who is at home, and Benjamin F., a farmer residing in Union Township.

For many years Mr. Hetfield served as Justice of the Peace, and also held various other local offices of trust, in all of which he discharged his duties with promptness and fidelity. He was always very strongly opposed to the institution of slavery, and when the Republican party was formed, denouncing it, he joined its ranks, and earnestly advocated its principles until the time of his death. He was a man well informed on all the leading questions of the day, took great interest in public affairs, and was prominent in the promotion of any enterprise for the public good. He was numbered among Louisa County’s best citizens, and his death proved a sad loss to the community.