JOHN COLTON

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         John Colton, who for many years has been engaged in general farming and stock-raising in Union township where he owns two hundred and twenty-seven acres of land, was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, in 1839. He is of Irish extraction, his parents, Patrick and Hannah (O’Brien) Colton, having been born and reared on the Emerald isle, whence they emigrated to the United States. Upon their arrival in this country they first settled in Pennsylvania, where they resided for several years. In 1842 they came to Iowa, settling in Louisa county where they spent their remaining days. Here the father passed away in 1856 but . . .

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. . . the mother survived until 1870. Ten children were born of their union, six of whom are deceased, while those surviving are as follows: James, who is a resident of Columbus Junction; John; Frank, who is engaged in the dry-goods business in Columbus City; and Thomas, who is also a resident of Louisa county.

         He was only a child of three years when his parents settled in Iowa, so John Colton received his introduction to the rudiments of the common branches of learning in the district schools of Louisa county. His father died when he was seventeen and in common with the sons of widows the responsibility of cultivating the homestead devolved upon him and his brothers. He was married at the age of thirty-seven and immediately thereafter settled upon a farm which he had previously purchased and in the cultivation of which he has ever since engaged. He has since added to his original tract and now owns two hundred and twenty-seven acres of fertile land. His is one of the attractive and well kept properties of the township; the improvements are all good; and he has brought the land to a high state of cultivation. Mr. Colton attributes much of his success to the fact that in connection with general farming he has engaged in raising and feeding stock.

         Louisa county was the scene of the marriage, in November, 1876, of Mr. Colton and Miss Julia A. McCarthy, who was born in Boston on the 22d of February, 1851, and passed away in this county on the 3d of October, 1910. Mrs. Colton was a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Donohue) McCarthy and came to Iowa with her parents in 1862. She held membership in the Roman Catholic church. Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Colton there were born two children, both of whom died in infancy.

         Mr. Colton has always given his allegiance to the candidates of the democratic party. A residence covering a period of sixty-nine years in this county has served to make Mr. Colton widely known in Union township, the citizens of which entertain for him the regard which is ever accorded to an industrious and energetic man, who conducts his business transactions in an honorable and upright manner.