years, but at the end of that time he engaged in the real-estate, insurance and loan business. Mr. Nelson has been quite successful in all of his undertakings and has acquired three hundred and twenty acres of land in Warren township and several hundred acres in South Dakota.
Mr. Nelson completed his plans for a home by his marriage to Miss Annie Guthrie, and to this union two children have been born: Lucille and Ilo. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of American and votes the republican ticket. He takes quite an active interest in local politics.
THOMAS E. Posegate.
The majority of travelers who reach Story county today come in Pullman parlor cars, equipped with nearly all of the conveniences and luxuries which one may obtain at home. Thomas E. Posegate, however, drove across the country with team and wagon for no railroads had been built in this section at that time and the seeds of civilization had scarcely been planted within the borders of the county. Here and there a settlement had been made but much of the land was still in possession of the government, and there was little to indicate that the county would soon become a populous and prosperous region.
Mr. Posegate was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 27th of August, 1833, his parents being Thomas and Charity (Hayworth) Posegate, both of whom were natives of Ohio, where they were reared and married. They afterward removed to Vermilion county, Illinois, where they spent their remaining days upon a farm. Their family numbered sixteen children, eight of whom lived to years of maturity.
Thomas E. Posegate spent his youth in the usual manner of farm lads in Illinois during the pioneer period. His educational opportunities were limited to the advantages afforded in the public schools but his training at farm labor was not meager. As soon as old enough to handle the plow he took his place in the fields and worked from the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the late autumn. He resided at home until his marriage, which was celebrated in 1852, Miss Martha A. Seal becoming his wife. She was born in Vermilion county, Indiana, October 10, 1836, and was a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Trowser) Seal, who were natives of Ohio. Her father died in Illinois but her mother spent her last years in Story county.
It was in the year 1854 that Mr. and Mrs. Posegate came to Iowa. They drove across the country from their old home in Illinois to Warren county, where they spent the winter, and in the spring of 1855 they continued their journey to Story county, settling at Ballard Grove, Mr. Posegate entering one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land near the grove in Palestine township. He never resided upon that place, however, but