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    WM. L. TOOLE. – Amongst the names that will forever live in the history of our county may be mentioned Wm. L. Toole, of Toolesborough, Jefferson Township. He came from Indiana to the mouth of the Iowa River in March, 1836, and there located his cabin. He was born in Virginia, near Winchester, April 6, 1803. His ancestors were amongst the earliest settlers of Virginia, and were originally from England. On his grandmother’s side they were of the Lowrey family of England. When the revolutionary struggle was initiated his grandfather left his plow and took part against the mother country, and during the war was an officer. His father, in the War of 1812, performed a conspicuous part. In 1822, the father of William, with all his family, moved from Virginia to Indiana, settling near Lafayette, in that state.

    In 1836 Mr. Toole left Indiana and came to this county, locating near the mouth of the Iowa River. At that time what constitutes the State of Iowa was attached to Michigan, and afterwards to Wisconsin, and in 1836 had no recognized law. The settlers, therefore, established their own code, and Mr. Toole was conspicuous for the interest and active part he took in the cause of what was then termed “settler’s rights,” and in arranging their home claims previous to the first land sale in Iowa, and in all public matters generally. He was a delegate to the different conventions of those days, and of the one for organizing the Territory of Iowa, and afterwards for a state. He was also a member of the one for framing the constitution. He was afterwards a member of the Legislature several terms. He still resides at the point of his first location, and has seen Iowa from its infancy gradually become the leading state of the American Union. Mr. Toole is a strong republican, and during the War of the Rebellion lost a brother who was killed on the field of battle. At an early day he was surrounded by the Indians, and became well acquainted with their chiefs, Black Hawk, Keokuk, Wapello, and Poweshiek.