Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 522

JONATHAN MAXSON is a well-known citizen of West Liberty. He is a native of Harrison County, Ohio, born May 31, 1833, and is of Scotch descent. The tradition of the Maxon family is that three brothers of that name emigrated from Scotland prior to the Revolutionary War. Jonathan Maxson, the grandfather of our subject, being one of the three. He was born in 1758. Though reared a Quaker, he served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, thus helping to secure the independence of our common country. He was married in New Jersey, and at a very early day emigrated to Pennsylvania, and subsequently removed to Ohio, locating in what afterward became known as Harrison County, where he subsequently died at a ripe old age. His wife came to Iowa with her son William, and has since died. They reared a family of five children, William, the father of our subject, being fourth in order of birth.

William Maxson, who was born in Pennsylvania, Dec. 27, 1806, was taken by his parents to Ohio in infancy, and there grew to manhood, receiving his education in the common schools of Harrison County, but trained to hard work and to make the best use of his opportunities. About 1832 he was united in marriage with Delilah Bolon, a native of Virginia, but who went to Harrison County, Ohio, with her parents at an early day. Three children were born to them in Ohio: Jonathan, our subject; Helen K. and Thaddeus W., who are both engaged in farming in Springdale Township, Cedar Co., Iowa.

Determining to seek a more favorable locality in the spring of 1839 Mr. Maxon emigrated to Iowa with his family, coming by steamer by way of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, landing at Muscatine in the month of May, and being thirteen days en route. He immediately proceeded to Cedar County, where he made claim to 320 acres of land, which he afterward entered, and where he made his home until the spring of 1866, when he sold out and purchased forty acres adjoining the town site of West Liberty, to whom the family removed, and where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1877. The 40-acre tract, with the exception of seven acres, was platted and sold in small lots. After coming to Iowa three more children were born: Louisa, now the widow of Exum Saint, of Denver, Col., Eliza, now engaged in farming in the Cedar County, Iowa; and Willard, now Superintendent of the Poor Farm in Cedar County.

Delilah Maxson dying in 1850, William Maxson subsequently wedded Mrs. Hannah R. Smedley, nee Keisler, by whom he had four children: India, now the wife of John Goetz, of Oceanside, Cal.; Flemmeta, now the wife of H. A. Devlin, a farmer of Marion, Iowa; Chester W., a real-estate dealer of Oceanside, Cal., Azona, wife of J. C. Pringey, of Saline County, Mo. The mother of these children now resides at Oceanside, Cal.

William Maxson was a man long to be remembered. Endowed with great natural ability, a deep thinker, he was fearless in the expression of his views. A lover of liberty, he cared not if the whole world was aware of the fact. He loved his fellowmen, not alone in word but in-deed, being a liberal contributor to every enterprise which he considered worthy. In the days of slavery, and when the oppressed sought freedom in the Far North, they found his house a station on the celebrated underground railroad, and there they were cared for and sent on their way rejoicing. He was a warm friend of the famous John Brown, and at his house Brown and a number of his men spent the winter of 1856-57 before going to Canada, where the organization was perfected, and from where they marched on Harper's Ferry, Va. Of the result of that expedition of Brown the whole world is aware.

First a Whig, then a Freesoiler, when the Republican party was organized William Maxson became identified with it, and until his death was an ardent advocate of his principles. While never an office-seeker, he yet held various local offices, and every duty he discharged with fidelity. He was a good business man, one ever ready to take hold and advocate any measure for the public good. In his death the community lost one of its best and most enterprising citizens.

Jonathan Maxson, as already stated, came to Iowa with his parents in 1839, being at that time a child of six years. On his father's farm in Cedar County he grew to manhood, assisting in the farm work, alternating his time in that and attending the common schools of the neighborhood. When nineteen years of age he left home and engaged as a farmhand, continuing in that employment for five years. He then went to Springdale, Iowa, where he learned the then new process of making ambro-type pictures, and for the next year and a half traveled in Muscatine and Cedar Counties engaged in that business.

In 1857 our subject was united in marriage with Miss Naomi Westfall, a native of Oho. Soon after their marriage the young couple went to Keokuk County, Iowa, where he engaged in farming for one year. Returning to Cedar County, he followed farming another year, and then went to Springdale, where he engaged as a clerk for a time, then purchased an interest in the establishment, and followed merchandising until 1864. when he sold out, moved to West Liberty, and there engaged in the stock business for two years. He then engaged once more in merchandising, in which business he continued for three years. From that time until the spring of 1875 he was engaged in clerking for other parties. He then received the appointment of Postmaster at West Liberty, which office he held until June, 1887, discharging his duties to the satisfaction of the public. His various commissions bear the signatures of Presidents Grant, Hayes, and Arthur. In the fall of 1882 our subject established the Dairy and Farm Journal, of West Liberty, a monthly paper devoted to dairy, agricultural, and stock-raising interests, and continued its publication for nearly six years. In 1884 he became interested in the publications of the West Liberty Index, and when he retired from the post-office assumed editorial control, continuing to fill the position as editor until July, 1888, when he disposed of his interest.

Mrs. Naomi Maxson died March 10, 1864, leaving one child, Dora L., born Oct. 14, 1860, now the wife of W. C. Swem, a jeweler of Hubbard, Hardin Co., Iowa. On the 13th of January, 1876, Mr. Maxson married Miss Lorencie H. Haven, who was born at Middlebury, Vt., July 26, 1845, and was a daughter of Elijah and Rebecca Haven, who were both natives of the Green Mountain State, and there resided until the time of their death, the former dying at the age of fifty-two, and the latter in September, 1858. They were the parents of nine children; Clarissa C., the eldest, died at the age of twenty; Norman C., born in 1828, came West many years ago, and for the past twenty years his whereabouts are unkown; Adeline M., born in 1830, is a widow, Arnold, of East Middlebury, Vt.; Lucelia P., born Aug. 7, 1832, is now a widow Carroll, and resides at West Cheshire, Conn., Marietta died in her twenty-first year; Eliza V., born Nov. 9, 1837, became the wife of D. W. Chittenden, who died at West Liberty, Iowa, Sept. 19, 1866, and she subsequently wedded J. H. Belken, of Davenport, where she now resides; Laura, born Jan. 12, 1839, is now Mrs. Cummings, of Springdale, Cedar Co., Iowa: Angeline, born May 13, 1843, died when seven years of age; Lorencie H., who became the second wife of Mr. Maxson. By his second wife four children were born; William G.., Hal C., Alice B. and Raymond R., all of whom yet reside at home. Once more the family circle was broken. Mrs. Maxson dying May 1, 1888, at the age of forty-two years. She was a member of the Christian Church, of West Liberty; and was one of its most active and influential members. A loving wife and mother, her death left a void in the family circle that can never be filled, and , while her loss may be mor immediately felt by those who daily received her kind ministrations, she was sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends, who knew her but to love her.

Jonathan Maxson for many years has been a leading man in the community in which he resides. He is a member of the Christian Church. and the Masonic fraternity. In polities he is an active Republican. His first Presidental vote was for John C. Fremont, and from the organization of the Republican party. he has been a consistent advocate of its principles. As a citizen, he was the well-being of his adopted city at heart, and is always ready to do his part in any enterprise having a tendency to advance its interests.


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