For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 741
I. D. HADLEY....I. D. Hadley, who is in charge of the home farm in Cedar township, which has been in possession of the family for three generations, is a native of Madison county, Iowa, and was born June 11, 1874. He is a son of William and Amelia ( Dewitt ) Hadley, the former of whom was born in New Orleans and the latter at Covington, Kentucky. They came to Iowa with their respective parents who settled in Muscatine county. After his marriage William Hadley began farming on a place which had been entered from the government by the grandparents of our subject and after remaining there for ten years he rented a farm and removed to Madison county, Iowa, where he died July 11, 1874. The mother of our subject returned to Muscatine county and made her home with her parents until their deaths, in 1888, when she purchased the interest of the other heirs and now owns two hundred acres in Muscatine and Louisa counties. She is now sixty-four years of age and has lived in Muscatine since 1900. There were four children in the family, our subject being the youngest. The other members were : Charlotte, who died at the age of thirty-five years ; and Frances C. and Edward E., both living with their mother.I. D. Hadley grew up under the loving care of his mother, the father having died when the subject of this review was in his infancy. He received his education in the district schools and by reading and observation has greatly extended his knowledge and is today one of the well informed and progressive men of the community. He early showed marked ability in farming and after his marriage, at twenty-seven years of age, took charge of the old homestead where he has since continued. In addition to raising cereals he is an extensive feeder of cattle and hogs and is one of the large shippers of the township. As he gives thoughtful attention to his work and the farm is amply supplied with every needed facility he may truly be said to be at the head of one of the model establishments of the kind in the county.
On the 27th of December, 1900, Mr. Hadley was united in marriage to Miss Vesta Brown, who was born in Cedar township, December 21, 1877, and is a daughter of T. M. and Sophia ( Ferry ) Brown, the former of whom was born in Indiana and the latter in New York state. They were married at Columbus Junction, Iowa, and subsequently Mr. Brown had charge of a ferry across the Cedar river. In 1861 he became a soldier for the Union in the Civil war and served faithfully for three years as orderly sergeant of his company. After leaving the army he returned to Muscatine county and engaged in farming until 1905, since which time he has lived retired at Letts, Iowa. He has now reached the age of seventy-eight years, while his beloved wife is seventy-four years of age. Nine children were born to them, namely: Edwin B., of Groton, South Dakota ; Henry B., deceased at the age of five years ; Cora E., who died at the age of one year ; Horace F., of Durham, Missouri ; Myra, who died in 1890 ; Julia E., now the wife of Cella W. Blake ; Hugh T., of Doby, Oklahoma ; Vesta, now Mrs. Brown ; and Lucius A., of Letts. Mathew Brown, the grandfather of Mrs. Hadley, was a native of Indiana and on coming here surveyed the county for the first time. He then returned to Indiana and brought his family to Muscatine county, where he built one of the old fashioned homes. He lost his life indirectly by fighting prairie fires. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hadley : Edward B., born May 1, 1902 ; and James Ward, born May 13, 1906.
Mr. Hadley devotes his attention closely to his business affairs and has not given much time to politics. He is in sympathy with the democratic party but is liberal in his views and in voting is not confined entirely to party lines. Active, independent and efficient, he fairly represents the progressive citizenship into whose hands the reins of state and nation are passing. Mr. Hadley has many friends who prophesy for him a highly successful and honorable future.
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