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E. C. MAXSON, a farmer residing on section 20, Concord Township, was born in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., Dec. 15, 1832, and is the eldest of a family of eight children born to Enoch K. and Lorinda (Darling) Maxson, the former a native of Vermont, the latter of New York. The father was a physician and surgeon, a graduate of the Medical College of Louisville, Ky., and the Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio, and practiced his profession both in New York and Ohio previous to his removal to Louisa County. In June, 1837, he settled in Fredonia, where he engaged in general merchandising for several years in connection with the practice of his profession. His death occurred in 1844, but his excellent wife still survives him, and is now residing at Oskaloosa, Iowa, at the advanced age of eighty-two. On coming to this county he purchased a claim of 160 acres, which he partly improved.
Our subject was reared upon his father’s farm and his younger days were spent in hunting and fishing. Many Indians lived in the neighborhood, both of the Sac and Fox tribes, and he learned their language. His education was received in the district schools of Fredonia, and in 1856, in Louisa County, he was united in marriage with Nancy Spurgeon, a native of Ohio, in which State her parents, John and Mary Spurgeon, were also born. The family came to Louisa County at an early day, where the father engaged in farming, and both died many years ago.
The young couple began their domestic life upon the farm where Mr. Maxson now resides. In connection with the cultivation of his land he ran a ferry, of which he was the owner, across the Iowa River at Fredonia. His first purchase of land, which was made in 1859, consisted of 160 acres, upon which he laid out the town of Alameda, and sold a great many lots. All of the town north of the railroad was Alameda, and through his and his brother’s influence the switch was laid to that place. They gave the ties and furnished much of the wood necessary for the work, and in the town built a storeroom, in which they engaged in general merchandising from 1859 to 1862. On account of the failing health of his wife, her disease being consumption, at the latter date Mr. Maxson crossed the plains to California, being three months in making the trip. Reaching Stockton, Cal., he remained there three months, and then removed to the mountains, where he engaged in mining. The change of climate did not prove beneficial to Mrs. Maxson, and her death occurred on the 28th of May, 1863. He returned to Louisa County in the fall of that year, going by way of New York, with his two children, John K. and Ruby. The elder is now a physician and surgeon of Lincoln, Neb.; while Ruby, now Mrs. Davenport, is a resident of Marshalltown, Iowa.
After his return to his home Mr. Maxson again engaged in farming, but subsequently again went to the West at several different times, twice going to California, once to Colorado, and again to Idaho. He is the owner of 200 acres of fine arable land, in a good state of cultivation, in this county, and is also the owner of seventy acres of timber land. His farm is well stocked with a good grade of horses and cattle, and is one of the best in the township. Politically, he is a Republican, has served as Justice of the Peace for two terms, and also assisted in organizing the school districts in his township; while socially, he is a member of Columbus Junction Lodge No. 107, A.F. & A.M., of Columbus Junction, having been made a Mason in Columbus City in 1857.
In Louisa County, Iowa, in 1864, Mr. Maxson and Caroline F. Hudler were married. The lady is a native of North Carolina, and a daughter of Lemuel and Mary Hudler, who were also born in that State, where the father followed farming until his removal . . .
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. . . to Louisa County, Iowa, in 1855. Settling on section 3, Concord Township, he bought a partly improved farm, upon which he resided until his death in 1877, which occurred at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife still survives him, and is living in Fredonia.
To Mr. and Mrs. Maxson have been born eleven children, seven of whom are now living. Ina died at the age of six months; Ava, who taught school successfully in Louisa County, is now in Omaha, Neb.; Urva Dewitt is clerking in a drug-store at Cameron, Mo.; Osta has been attending school at the Normal at Columbus Junction; and the other children are Junior Clinton; Olga, an infant who is deceased; Dela, Minnie, Fanny and Willie May. Mrs. Maxson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Fredonia.
A pioneer of Louisa County of 1837, Mr. Maxson has witnessed its entire growth. On his arrival the settlements of the white man were few and far between, but the Indians were very numerous, wild game was found in abundance, and wolves might be heard howling at night. To such pioneers as our subject, who has aided in her upbuilding, her growth, development and cultivation, Louisa County owes her present prosperity, and we are pleased to record his sketch among others of rank and prominence.
