HON. JAMES M. BROCKWAY.

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         A highly successful agriculturist, with extensive landed interests in Louisa county, is the Hon. James M. Brockway, who is engaged in the cultivation of one of the fine farms of Grand View township, but not only business interests claim his attention for public affairs also profit by his practical and progressive ideas and cooperation, and at the present time he is representing his district in the state legislature. He was born in Washington county, Iowa, on the 22d of January, 1879, and is a son of E. Frank and Rowena (Letts) Brockway. Extended mention of the father, who was long one of the prominent citizens of this part of Iowa, is made on another page of this work.

         In the acquirement of his early education James M. Brockway attended the common schools of Washington county, following which he was graduated . . .

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. . . from the State University at Iowa City. Having been born and reared on a farm, he liked the independent, free out-door life, and decided to adopt agriculture for his life vocation. With this object in view he pursued a course in the agricultural department of the Iowa State College at Ames, considering that farming as well as any other vocation requires special study if the best results are to be obtained. After the completion of his education Mr. Brockway engaged with his father in the cultivation of the homestead until the latter’s demise. He now has the entire control and management of his father’s estate, which has never been divided, and is continuing the operation of the farm.

         On the 12th of October, 1910, Mr. Brockway was united in marriage to Miss Mary M. Horton, who was born in Muscatine, Iowa. Mrs. Brockway is a daughter of Colonel C. C. and Belle (Ogilvie) Horton, who were married in Muscatine, of which town Mrs. Horton is a native. They subsequently located on a farm in that county, which Colonel Horton cultivated for fifteen years. He was in the government pension service until 1897, when he took charge of the Old Soldiers’ Home at Marshalltown, and at the present time continues to be chief officer of that institution. Four children were born of the union of Colonel and Mrs. Horton, as follows: Lisle and Frank, who have a large sheep ranch in Wyoming, where they are also conducting a bank; Mary M., now Mrs. Brockway; and Bertha, who has a college education, living at home.

         Mr. and Mrs. Brockway hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, and his political allegiance he gives to the republican party. He takes an active interest in governmental affairs and at the present time is representing his county in the state assembly. He is proving one of the active members of the house and is now serving on the following committees: ways and means, board of control, roads and highways, railroads and transportation, public accounting, public lands, the suppression of intemperance and drainage; and is chairman of the committee on animal industry. Mr. Brockway is one of the enterprising and capable young men of the county, whose future in both public and private affairs seems most promising.