Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 331
WILLIAM T. RODEN

William T. RODEN, of St. John's Township, has been a resident of the county since 1868, and very naturally finds space for a biographical notice in this connection. The history of a county, State or nation is but the personal history of individuals, working single-handed, or co-operating together.

He was born, May 17, 1840, in Mississippi, and was the oldest of a family of four children, born to Felix G. and Elizabeth (RUSSIAN) RODEN, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Mississippi. Their children's names were William T., James G., (deceased); John, (deceased) and Nancy, now living in Oregon. Our subject's father's family moved from Mississippi, halting a while in Tennessee, Missouri and Arkansas and in 1854, emigrated to Siskiyou County, Cal., where the father followed farming, mining and stock-raising. In 1864, our subject went to Nevada, remained two years, then went to Montana, stayed three years and in 1868, located in this county. He now owns six hundred acres of land in this county, four hundred of which is under cultivation and all provided with a good fence. He has a spacious barn, costing $1,800, and for the accommodation of his growing stock of all kinds, he has provided his place with a complete system of water works, at an outlay of over $300.

When Mr. RODEN came to the county, he worked on the railroad for two years at $50 per month. We next find him on his farm, with nothing about him, except a team, harness and wagon and two cows. But by perseverance, hard work, and the exercise of good judgment, he has surrounded himself with a charming home, and is in the possession of one of Harrison county's most valuable farms, all of which has been made by his own efforts.

Mr. RODEN was united in marriage, April 22, 1869, to Miss Sarah KIRKLAND, the daughter of Samuel and Martha (HEMPHILL) KIRKLAND, both natives of the Buckeye State. Our subject and his wife's home has been blessed by nine children � Louis J., born April 8, 1870; Charles E., August 22, 1872; Royal G., October 29, 1874; Maud I., March 5, 1877; Felix, February 22, 1879; John Walter, March 28, 1881; Mable B., August 12, 1883; William A., April 13, 1886 and Bessie H. March 14, 1889.

Politically, our subject believes in the principles and general administration of the Democratic party.

In addition to his farm business, he is also in partnership with Frank ZAHNER in the stock business, buying and shipping live stock. During the past year, they shipped one hundred and six car loads, or 7,274 hogs and one hundred car loads of cattle.

Let his children and children's children look over the history of Harrison County and see who were the successful business men in agriculture and in trade and they will find in nine cases out of ten it is such men as our subject who started with no means, save a pair of willing hands and an eye to business, and invested properly after they had earned money. They are usually men endowed with a public spirit and business enterprise.

Louis J., the oldest child, taught his first term of school in the winter of 1891-92, in the Mill Creek District. He attended the Missouri Valley High School three years and one term at the "Woodbine Normal."

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