WILLIAM M. McDILL.

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Mr. & Mrs. William M. McDill         Mr. & Mrs. Joseph McDill

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         Among the successful and progressive farmers of Port Louisa township, Louisa county, Iowa, should be named William M. McDill, the owner of one of the best improved places in this part of the county and a man of acknowledged integrity and high standing. He was born in the township where he now lives May 27, 1858, a son of Joseph B. and Martha (Ronald) McDill. The father was born near Charleston, South Carolina, and the mother in Fayette county, . . .

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. . . Indiana. On the paternal side the family is of Scotch-Irish descent and on the maternal side early ancestors in America settled in Vermont from Scotland. The parents of our subject were married in Louisa county, October 2, 1850, and two years later the father, began farming in Port Louisa township upon eighty acres which he had purchased. He soon afterward acquired eighty acres more and continued on this farm until 1867, when he disposed of it and bought two hundred acres on sections 11 and 12 in the same township. He became the owner of a beautiful farm of two hundred and eighty-eight acres, one hundred acres of which he brought to a high state of cultivation, the balance being in timber and pasture. He died in August, 1891, but the mother is still living and makes her home with the subject of this review. She has now arrived at the venerable age of eighty-six years. Previous to his death the father divided his farm among his three sons, two daughters having received their shares in cash.

         There were six children in the family: John, who died at the age of twenty-four years; Mary Belle, the wife of Louis Agnew, of Pawnee City, Nebraska; William M., of this review; Chalmers R., who lives at Fort Morgan, Colorado; Florence E., born in 1864, who married William L. Curtis, of Columbus Junction, and died in 1897; and George R., who is now living on a part of the old homestead.

         William M. McDill was reared under the favoring influences of a happy home and acquired his education in the district schools of Louisa county. He assisted his father on the home farm until he was twenty-four years of age and then began working on his father’s land on shares, so continuing until the division of the home place was made. Since that time he has operated his portion, which consists of one hundred acres. He has cleared away most of the timber and the air of neatness and order that pervades the place indicates that he gives his work most thoughtful attention, and he is receiving liberal returns for time and labor expended. His farm is located on sections 11 and 12, Port Louisa township.

         On the 26th of April, 1899, Mr. McDill was married to Miss Alice Agnew, who was born in Johnson county, Iowa, May 5, 1864, a daughter of William J. and Margaret (Whiteford) Agnew. Three children have come to bless this union: Elizabeth I., who was born December 28, 1899; Florence, born February 20, 1901; and Edna May, born October 11, 1902. The father of Mrs. McDill was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, and the mother in Ireland. The latter came to America with her parents when she was three years of age and was one of a family of six children. Mr. Agnew also belonged to a family of the same size. They were married in Erie county, Pennsylvania, and later came to Johnson county, Iowa. The father died October 14, 1871, and the mother in 1884. In their family were seven children: Margaret J., who died at the age of three years; William, who died at the age of one year; Martha Jane, who departed this life at the age of fourteen; Samuel, who is living at Walla Walla, Washington; Alice, now Mrs. William M. McDill; Wilson, who died at eleven years of age; and Sarah, who died at the age of eight years.

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         Mr. McDill and his estimable wife are consistent members of the United Presbyterian church, of which he has served as treasurer and trustee for twenty-five years past. In politics he is a stanch supporter of the republican party and for fifteen years he has filled the office of township trustee. He is a sincere friend of education and is now township school treasurer, a position he has occupied for fifteen years. The respect in which he is held by his neighbors is shown by the responsible positions he occupies and wherever he is known he is esteemed as a capable and progressive man who may be depended upon to accomplish whatever he undertakes.