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         WILLIAM TODD, an honored pioneer of Louisa County, Iowa, of 1838, now residing in Columbus Junction, was born in New Jersey, Oct. 20, 1805, and is a son of John and Ann (Phenix) Todd, both of whom were born in New Jersey, of German descent. When William was four years of age the family removed to Hamilton County, Ohio, where he was reared upon a farm, and when of suitable age learned the brick-layers trade. Going to Mississippi, he there worked for a few years, after which he went to Illinois, and later came to Iowa in the fall of 1836. He spent a short time at Muscatine, then returned to Illinois, where he remained until the spring of 1837, when once more he went to Muscatine, and in 1838 came to Louisa County, making his home in Fredonia. He made a claim where he now lives, on section 19, township 75, range 4, and the year following the land sales at Burlington he settled upon it.

In 1840, at his place, Mr. Todd was united in marriage with Mrs. Lucinda Bliven, nee Wheelock, sister of Marvel Wheelock, a well-known pioneer of Columbus City Township. Mrs. Todd was born in Connecticut, and two children graced their union, a son and a daughter, but both now deceased. The son, James, was a soldier in the late war, and served in the 25th Iowa Infantry. His death occurred in February, 1866, from disease contracted in the field during the siege of Vicksburg. The daughter, Sophia, was the wife of Walter Gillett, of Columbus Junction, and died in 1881, leaving two children.

In 1857 Mr. Todd platted the village of Hillsboro on the south bank of the Iowa River, at the point now crossed by the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad, just north of the junction of that road with the Chicago & Rock Island. Several business houses were erected and trade established, while a ferry was put in operation across the river at that point by Mr. Todd. (See history of Hillsboro.) He was the first regular licensed ferryman at that place, and continued to run the ferry until the present wagon road bridge was built in 1879. Mr. Todd has continued to make his home at the site of his first location to this date, covering a period of nearly half a century. In the meantime he has seen his hopes of seeing a town grow out of his early efforts fade away, as the young town in the course of years disappeared, building by building. His good wife, who was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, survived the loss of her children, and died in March, 1888. Mr. Todd is a Republican in politics, and at the ripe old age of eighty-three years is quite active and cheerful.