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         G. W. WESTFALL, a farmer residing on section 7, Oakland Township, was born in Boone County, Ind., in 1831, and was the second in a family of nine children born to Jacob and Caroline (Elliott) Westfall. His father was a native of Kentucky, while his mother was born in York State, and when a young man Jacob Westfall removed to Indiana, where he was married and there followed farming for several years. In 1834 he followed the course of Western emigration, settling in Des Moines County, Iowa, entering a claim in Yellow Springs Township, which he later pur- . . .

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. . . chased at the Burlington land sales. He also resided in Washington and Henry Counties, and in 1862 came to Louisa County, locating in Oakland Township, where he remained some years, when he went to Kansas, but after a short time returned to Louisa County, and made his home with our subject until his death, which occurred June 20, 1874. His wife survived him for about two years, dying Nov. 29, 1876.

Our subject grew to manhood upon a farm, and received his education in the district schools of the State. He was among the first to respond to his country’s call for troops, enlisting in September, 1861, as First Sergeant of Company D, 4th Iowa Cavalry, and was mustered into service at Camp Harlan in Mt. Pleasant. He participated in the battle of Vicksburg, and was engaged in scouting expeditions and skirmishes in the Southern and Southwestern States. In the battle of Oakland, Miss., he was wounded by a gunshot, and on the 4th of November, 1864, was honorably discharged at Davenport, Iowa. After the cessation of hostilities, he returned to Louisa County, where, during his term of service, he had purchased a farm of 230 acres. He has since disposed of a part of that tract, and now has remaining about sixty acres of fine, arable land, which is highly cultivated and improved.

On the 2d of September, 1869, in Louisa County, Mr. Westfall led to the marriage altar Miss Alice M. Blake, daughter of Joseph and Esther (Hungerford) Blake, the father a native of Greenbrier County, W. Va., the mother of New York. Accompanied by his family, the father came to Louisa County in 1839, settling in Oakland Township. He had then been twice married, and in 1851 wedded Esther Hungerford, who came to the county in 1845. They settled on section 7, Oakland Township, he buying the land at the Burlington land sales, and there resided until his death, Dec. 14, 1883, aged eighty years. Mrs. Blake is still living, and resides in Barber County, Kan.

By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Westfall two children were born, Lottie I., wife of E. Garard, who lives on the old homestead; and Gertie, who died March 4, 1881, at the age of four years. Mr. Westfall is an active worker for the interests of the Republican party, and an ardent supporter of its principles. He has held several local offices of trust, in which he discharged his duties faithfully and well. His home in pleasantly situated about two miles from Columbus Junction, between the forks of the rivers, where the land is very productive. He is a systematic and progressive farmer, and as a citizen ranks high in the community.