SAMUEL MCGAFFIN.
Samuel McGaffin is a farmer of Exira township and owns three hundred acres of fine land here. It is a splendid farm and comprises some of the most fertile land to be found anywhere in the township. Mr. McGaffin began his active career as a farmer in Cass county, Iowa, having taken up that vocation after leaving school. For several years, he was associated with his father, who is now deceased, in operating the farm in Cass county. Mr. McGaffin has always done general farming. He makes a specialty of raising hogs and cattle, especially hogs. Practically all of his grain is fed to live stock.
Samuel McGaffin was born in LaSalle county, Illinois, January 25, 1863. He is the son of Alexander and Mary Jane McGaffin, both of whom were natives of Ireland. They were married in their native country and after their marriage came to America. Arriving in this country, they settled in LaSalle county, Illinois, where Samuel McGaffin's father, Alexander McGaffin, was an extensive farmer. He lived in LaSalle county, Illinois, until 1872, when he moved to Cass county and purchased a farm of two hundred acres. He increased this farm from time to time until at one time he owned three hundred and forty acres. He was engaged in general farming and stock raising. Mrs. Mary Jane McGaffin died when Samuel was a small child. His father, however, survived until October, 1909, when he passed away. They had four children, Andrew, Sarah, Mary and Samuel.
Samuel McGaffin resided in Cass county, Iowa, during the early years of his life and after leaving school, he made a splendid success of farming in company with his father. After his marriage, however, Mr. McGaffin began farming for himself. He now owns three hundred acres of land in Exira township. He raises about sixty acres of corn and about sixty acres of small grain. Mr. McGafifin feeds about one hundred head of hogs each year.
Samuel McGaffin was married on February 1, 1885, to Ida M. Strahl, the daughter of Colbert and Druzella Strahl. To this union have been born two children, Eugenia and Anna Belle. Eugenia married Lester Bowen and has three children, Olive, Earl and Merrill. Anna Belle married Rodney Marten and they have two children, Lenora and Ida Belle. Mrs. McGaffin is a native of Colorado. Her parents, however, were natives of Ohio.
For twelve years Samuel McGaffin served as township trustee. He was elected year after year and continued to fill the office with exceptional credit. Mr. McGaffin also served as director of the school board for fifteen years and worthily discharged the duties of that office. He has always been interested in educational affairs. Mr. McGaffin is a member of the blue lodge of the Masonic fraternity, at Exira. In politics he is associated with the Democratic party and is more or less active in the councils of the party.
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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. 870-871.
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