WILLIAM J. CALLOW.
It is proper to judge the success of a man's life by the estimation in which he is held by his neighbors and fellow citizens. They see him at his work, in his family circle, in church, hear his views on public questions, observe his code of morals, witness how he conducts himself in all of the relations of society and civilization, and are, therefore, competent to judge his merits and demerits. After a long course of years, it would be out of the question for his neighbors not to know of his worth for, as has been said, "Actions speak louder than words." In this connection it is not too much to say that William J. Callow, a prominent farmer of Viola township, this county, who is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 29, and who has lived on that farm for nearly twelve years, has passed a life of unusual honor in the community where he has lived. He has been industrious and has the confidence of all who have had the pleasure of his friendship.
William J. Callow was born on February 24, 1861, in Iowa county, Wisconsin, the son of James and Ann (Skillicorn) Callow, both natives of the Isle of Man, the former of whom was born in 1824 and died in 1895, and the latter of whom was born in 1843. James Callow emigrated to this country in 1852 and was married in Wisconsin. His widow is now living in that state.
William J. Callow was reared on a farm and educated in Wisconsin, during which period he performed the usual work which falls to the lot of the country boy. He was married in Wisconsin in 1885, and three years later, in the spring of 1888, he moved to Furnas county, Nebraska, where he remained for nine years. In 1897 he moved to Iowa and settled in Melville township, this county. The next year he moved to Viola township and in 1902 he purchased his present farm, moving to the same in the spring of 1903. Mr. Callow has improved the place with splendid buildings, excellent drains and good fences and now has a fertile and highly productive farm.
In December, 1885, William J. Callow was married to Susanna Matthews, a native of Norway, and to this union were born six children, namely: Stansmore James, who lives at home; Myrtle Anna, the wife of Wilbur Daniel Sampson, of Viola township; Lillie Maude, Beulah May and Harold Gordon, all of whom are at home and one who died in infancy, unnamed.
Mr. Callow for many years has been an ardent opponent of the saloons and is politically identified with the Prohibition party. He is bitterly opposed to the liquor traffic in any form and has given his best energy to the cause of state-wide and nation-wide prohibition. Mr. and Mrs. Callow are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the faith of which their children have been reared, and are liberal contributors to the support of this denomination. This is an excellent family and is held in high regard throughout that whole section of the county.
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Transcribed from History of Audubon County, Iowa Its People, Industries and Institutions With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families, by H. F. Andrews, editor, Indianapolis: B. F. Bowen & Company, 1915, pp. 566-567.
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