George, living in Howard township, Story county; Carl, a resident of California; and Andrew A. The father passed away in 1898, having resided for forty-four years in Story county, upon which he left the impress of his strong personality and worthy character. The mother still lives in Roland.
Andrew A. Olson attended the district schools of Story county and on laying aside his school books he worked for his father until he was twenty years of age, at which time he started out in life for himself. He had decided to follow agriculture, feeling that it offered better and more certain opportunities than almost any other line. In addition to his farming he has been a feeder of stock, in which he has met with reasonable success.
Mr. Olson has been married twice, his first wife being Miss Berth Barka, and they became the parents of five children: Ella, who married I. M. Cole; Josie ; Abel ; Orville; and Arthur. The mother of these children passed away in 1901. For his second wife Mr. Olson chose Miss Julia Johnson and unto them has been born one child, Viola.
The family worship in the Lutheran church, with which denomination the parents are identified by membership. Since reaching his majority Mr. Olson has voted the republican ticket and he takes an active interest in politics.
JOHN A. Scott.
Near the top in the list of progressive and enterprising farmers of Story county stands the name of John A. Scott, who since 1894 has been a resident of Indian Creek township. He was born in Jones county, this state, on the 17th of December, 1869, being the son of Prior and Jane (Ferguson) Scott. His father was a native of Indiana but came to Iowa with his parents when a child, the grandfather, Prior Scott, Sr., being among the first settlers in Cedar county. Our subject's mother was from Pennsylvania and came to Iowa with her brother, Claude Ferguson, also locating in Cedar county, where she met and married Prior Scott. Immediately after their marriage the young couple removed to Jones county, locating on one hundred and sixty acres of land which had been given them by Mr. Scott's father. This continued to be their home up to the time of Mr. Scott's death in 1871. Later Mrs. Scott married Asa Lindsey and returned to Cedar county, where she still resides.
John A. Scott made his home with his mother and stepfather until he was fourteen years of age, when he left the parental roof and went to the western part of the state, thus starting out in life for himself when still but a boy. For nine years he worked as a farm hand until, by means of hard work and thrift, he had acquired a small capital.
In 1892 he married Miss Kate Smith, of Story county, a daughter of William V. Smith, of Maxwell. Shortly after marriage they removed to