Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 978
DONALD MAULE

Donald MAULE, one of the representative citizens of Raglan Township, residing on section 22, is one of the pioneers who ventured into this portion of Iowa, in 1851, to build for himself a home. The reader should reflect that this was just forty years ago, and while the Indian tribes were yet using the Missouri Slope for their hunting camping grounds. It was ten years before the Civil War, and sixteen years ahead of any railroad in Western Iowa.

Our subject first located on Allen Creek, in what is now Taylor Township. This was before the Government survey had been made and two years before the county was organized. He claimed a quarter section of land, upon which he built a log house, 16x18 feet, the roof of which was made of "shakes," and the floor of puncheon; while sticks and mud formed the chimney to the fireplace. He remained on this claim two years, sold out and bought the place he now occupies. This had no improvements, except a log house 12x14 feet, same having a bark roof. He soon built a hewn-log house, provided with rived oak shingles for a roof. On this place he made substantial improvements, later on built a good house, shedding, granary, ouble-cribs and a good barn. He also dug two wells and erected two windmills, and set out an orchard of five acres. As the years have rolled away this frugal, painstaking man has added to his land until his acres now number seven hundred, two hundred of which are under the plow, and the balance in meadow, timber, and pasture land, all enclosed within a substantial fence.

Our subject came to Harrison County with scarcely any means; he himself relates, to the writer, how that he resembled a certain fowl, which Job claimed to own at one time -- the turkey! He had plenty of company, for bank accounts were unknown on the Missouri Slope, in 1851. Coming here at that early day and remaining ever since, he experienced the never-to-be-forgotten hard winter of 1856-57, as well as the grasshopper years of a later period. While he had Indians for neighbors, they were peaceable tribes causing him no trouble.

Go now to Scotland, where lived John and Mary Maule, who were the parents of seven children, including our subject whose birthday was June 23, 1821.

The first sixteen year's of Donald's life, were spent in and about his father's home enjoying the sports and pleasures common to the Scotch youth, who looks upon the crystal lake and craggy mountain, inhales the invigorating air of that clime. At that age he went to serve an apprenticeship, on board a Scotch vessel, and for the next eleven years, his was the life of a jolly sailor boy. He sailed as a second mate and at one time came near being lost by shipwreck, their full sails being blown away, the crew were left to the sport of the wind. In 1849, he took passage from Liverpool, and landed at New Orleans and from thence followed the waters of the Mississippi to St. Louis, where he was engaged eighteen months in a wholesale boot and shoe store. He then came to Council Bluffs, near which place he worked on a farm, for one year and then came to this county.

He took to himself a companion, in the autumn of 1844, when he was united to Jane FOTHERINGHAM, daughter of John and Charlotte Fotheringham, natives of Scotland, whose children were: John, Jane, Margaret, William, and Sarah. After five years journeying as companions on the road, our subject's wife died in St. Louis in 1849, leaving two children -- Charlotte and John (now deceased), and in the autumn of 1850, Christina CRAWFORD, a native of Scotland, became his second wife. The children of her father's family were -- Margaret, James, John, and Christina.

Our subject and wife were the parents of eleven children as follows -- James M., Mary J., David, George E., William, Joseph D., Charles R., Emma E., Albert H., Margaret A. and Minnie M., (twins); the former now deceased.

Mr. Maule, in his religious convictions believes in the teachings of the Latter Day Saints Church, of which he is a member.

Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic party, and at one time was a candidate for County Auditor, of Harrison County. He has assessed his township fifteen times and served in the capacity of Township Clerk, Township Trustee, Secretary of the School Board since 1860, and was also a Supervisor.

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