Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 568
EDGAR F. CADWELL

Six decades have passed since Edgar F. CADWELL was born, on August 4, 1855, in Magnolia township, this county. Mr. CADWELL makes no pretensions to being more than he is, an optimistic, prosperous agriculturist. However, Mr. CADWELL is a leader in more ways than one, as he is ever ready to make use of those innovations which bear the earmarks of practicability, and he was the first man to breed the famous Red Polled cattle in western Iowa, where, in fact, he introduced these cattle.

The son of Phineas and Harriet (FISKEY) CADWELL, Edgar F. CADWELL is one of five children, four of whom are living, William, the station master at Michigan Valley, Kansas; Edgar, who is a Jefferson township farmer; Henry F., who resides in Magnolia township; Mrs. Hattie T. TYLER, whose husband is a prominent business man of Logan, and Mrs. Katherine E. MASSIE, deceased.

Phineas CADWELL, who was of Scotch descent, was the son of Smith and Sallie CADWELL, and was born in Madison county, New York, in 1824. He came west and lived twelve years on a Wisconsin farm, in 1854 moving to Iowa, with his family. Buying a fertile farm in this county he rapidly rose to prominence, and was elected to the Legislature of Iowa, and was president of the Harrison County Agricultural Society for twenty years. He also was a member of the state board of agriculture and was elected marshal of the state for two years. He died in Harrison county in 1904. His wife, a native of Madison county, New York, was born in 1824 and died in 1891.

Edgar F. CADWELL was well educated in the common schools and high schools of Magnolia, and lived with his parents until attaining his majority, when his father presented him with two hundred acres of land, which he improved extensively during the twenty-three years spent in the farms cultivation. In 1900 he purchased a tract of three hundred and twenty acres and about seven thousand dollars was spent in improvements on the same. Good buildings were erected and fruit trees set out. This place was sold in 1906, and forty-three acres in Jefferson township were bought, the new place being located in section 18, just outside of the city limits of Logan. Two acres of orchard were set out on this place, ten acres being retained as Mr. CADWELL's present home.

Mr. CADWELL in 1899 introduced the first Red Polled cattle in western Iowa; he is also prominent as a breeder of Poland China hogs, and his horses are well bred and well groomed.

On April 4, 1877, Mr. CADWELL married Ella LEWIS; to which union were born four children: Mrs. Vida SCHLEKAN lives in Phillips, South Dakota, her husband being deceased; Mrs. Fannie M. DIVINE resides in Spencer, Iowa; Charles F., who was graduated from a Des Moines, Iowa, business college, is the cashier of the First National Bank of Elliott, Iowa, and Chester, who is living on the home farm.

Mrs. CADWELL was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, on September 7, 1856, the daughter of Jonathan and Hannah (LEWIS) LEWIS. Jonathan LEWIS was born in Indiana in 1829, and came to Magnolia township, Harrison county, in 1858. He farmed until his death in 1866. His wife was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, in 1836. She now makes her home in Logan. Five children were born to Jonathan LEWIS and his wife, the youngest of whom is dead.

Mr. CADWELL gives his support to the Republican party, although he has, as yet, taken no active part as an office holder. He is the type of farmer who has placed agriculture in the important place which it today holds in the nation. With a firm belief in the advantages of education, he has wisely and admirably schooled his children, both of the daughters being graduates of the Logan high school. A leader in the community life, Mr. CADWELL has earned the approbation of all earnest, thoughtful men. He has a fine country home, which is one of the centers of hospitality in the part of the county in which he resides and in which no family is more popular than his. He lately has remodeled his house and has improved the barn and other buildings on the farm in keeping with the same, the place giving extensive evidence of the most careful attention.

Return to 1915 Biographical C Surnames Index

Back to 1915 Biographies Index