Prentice, Alexander R.

PRENTICE

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/16/2019 at 13:59:19

Alexander R. Prentice

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.463)
ALEXANDER R. PRENTICE, a farmer of Crescent Township, was born in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland, December 21, 1829, the son of Adam and Margaret (RENNIE) PRENTICE. His mother was born in Kilsythe, Sterlingshire, Scotland, 1800, and his father in Lanarkshire in 1805. The latter was a stone-mason by trade but followed mercantile business about twenty years. In 1850 his wife died, and two years later he went to Australia where he had friends, and remained there until his death.

In 1852, Mr. Alexander R. PRENTICE married Miss Agnes KIRKWOOD, who was born August 20, 1832. In 1857 he came to America with family and friends, landed in New York City, April 17, and came direct to Pottawattamie County by way of Pittsburg and the rivers, landing at Florence, Nebraska, May 22, 1857, on a dark and stormy night. The Captain charged them an outrageous price for remaining on the boat until morning. Early in the morning, Mr. PRENTICE’s goods and family were set upon the bank until he could find a place for them. He crossed the rough prairie over to Mr. KIRKWOOD’s, his brother-in-law, and made arrangements for settling temporarily. He followed the trade of carpentering, which he had learned in the old country, and this vocation he has pursued ever since, more or less, in connection with farming. His first purchase of property was a house and lots in Crescent City, from the mother of James GORDING.

By the way, this GORDING went to Pike’s Peak, “struck it rich,” but not being able to stand prosperity, became dissipated and was finally hanged. The money that was paid his mother for the property mentioned was used by her in attendance at his trial.

After remaining in the village of Crescent six years, Mr. PRENTICE sold out house and lots and bought forty acres of wild, rough land of a Mr. DUNSMORE. On this place he built a house 40 X 50 feet, barns, sheds, a brick milk-house, etc., planted a fine orchard and made many other valuable improvements. He has added to his first purchase until he now has a fine farm of 280 acres, on sections 25, 27, 23, and 26. Eighty acrs is in cultivation, while the rest is hay, pasture and timber land. His residence, a neat and comfortable house, is on a tract of 140 acres on section 26.

Mr. PRENTICE is a Republican on national questions and has been a delegate to many State and county conventions; he has been a member of the Good Templars order for twenty-five years, holding the various offices of the lodge; and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Crescent City, of which society he has been Recording Secretary for three years. He has been a reporter for Crescent Township to the State Agricultural Society for five years. During the War, he enlisted in Company A, 29th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, but was discharged when it was discovered that the retina of his right eye had been injured; the injury had been inflicted by the cut of a chisel. He received a certificate of his citizenship by proof of his disposition to serve his country in the War, and proving an honorable discharge.

His children are: Margaret R., wife of Isaac M. BARRETT, born in Scotland, February 12, 1855, and resides in Fresno, California; Agnes, born also in Scotland, March 27, 1853, is now the wife of Charles W. CALDWELL and resides in Council Bluffs; Mary, born in this county, June 7, 1857, resides in Missouri Valley, Iowa; Adam A., born November 14, 1859, is a farmer on section 25, on land belonging to his father; Isabella C., born April 8, 1862, is the wife of Charles W. ATWOOD of Council Bluffs; Robert L., born November 3, 1864, resides on a farm on section 25.