For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 245
WILLIAM S. POOLE. William S. Poole, a retired agriculturist of Wapsinonoc township, is the owner of a farm which has been in his possession and on which he has resided continuously for the past forty-seven years. The property embraces one hundred and sixty-three acres of land on section 17 and is well improved in every particular. His birth occurred in Indiana on the 30th of March, 1835, his parents being Macajah and Rebecca ( Ralson ) Poole, who were natives of Virginia and Ohio respectively. They took up their abode in Indiana at an early day and in 1835 removed to Lee county, Iowa, where the father entered a tract of land and erected a log cabin. The little dwelling was one of those primitive structures characteristic of pioneer days and was destitute of both a floor and door, but it served the family as a home for some time. Mr. Poole maintained his residence in Lee county for eighteen years, on the expiration of which period he went to Van Buren vounty, Iowa, but later returned to Lee county and then went back to Van Buren county, where his remaining days were spent. Unto him and his wife were born ten children, five of whom still survive.Owing to the unsettled condition of the country in which his youth was passed, William S. Poole received only a limited education but reading, experience and observation have constantly augmented his knowledge until he is now a well informed man. When eighteen years of age he started out in life for himself with a cash capital of but one dollar. For four years he worked as a farm hand and then began the operation of a rented farm in Muscatine county, being thus busily engaged for six years. At the end of that time, in 1864, he had accumulated sufficient capital to enable him to invest in land of his own, coming into possession of the farm of one hundred and sixty-three acres in Wapsinonoc township whereon he has resided continuously since. The buildings and other improvements which adorn the property are all of a substantialand up-to-date character and everything about the place indicates the supervision of a practical and progressive owner. The many large and beautiful trees which so greatly enhance the attractiveness of Mr. Poole's home were all planted by his own hands. His agricultural interests have been attended with a gratifying success and he has long been numbered among the substantial and representative citizens of the community. That he is still quite active for a man of his years is indicated in the fact that he husked fifty bushels of corn daily during the fall of 1910. Though now almost seventy-six years of age, he has never suffered from a days illness in his life.
In 1854 Mr. Poole was united in marriage to Miss Julie A Phillips, who was born in Virginia on the 15th of August, 1836, her parents being A. B. and Eliza J. Phillips, more extended mention of whom is made on another page of this work. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Poole were born seven children, as follows: Milborn S., who is a resident of Oklahoma City; Emmett A., living in Muscatine county; Laura J., the wife of J. D. Moore, of Cripple Creek, Colorado; N. E., of Van Buren county, Iowa; Willis E., who is still at home; Kate, who is deceased; and Rebecca, who is also yet with her father. The wife and mother passed away on the 25th of March, 1908, her remains being interred in the Oakridge cemetery.
Mr. Poole is a democrat in politics and has served as a school director for two terms but has never sought official preferment in any other direction. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church, to which his wife also belonged. Well known throughout this part of the county, he has many friends who esteem him for his genuine personal worth.
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