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    DARIUS KEY, a prominent agriculturist of our county, and now residing in Marshall Township, was born on the 16th day of July, 1832, in Montgomery County, Indiana. He was the tenth of fifteen children, whose parents were George key and Rebecca Minton. His father was a native of Virginia, and his mother a native of Pennsylvania. His father, though a blacksmith by trade, followed through life in the main agricultural pursuits. In 1836 his father with his family came to Iowa, and settled in what is now known as Marshall Township. His father died in 1863, and his mother in 1861.

    The early education of Darius was merely in the branches pertaining to an ordinary English education, and he was early taught to labor, and his morals were strengthened by the teachings of a pious mother. Mr. Key is prominent as an agriculturist in Marshall Township. The Key family were among the first settlers of our county, and Jacob Minton the first representative to the Legislature was by marriage a member of this illustrious family.

    On the 17th day of April, 1861, Mr. Key was united in marriage to Maria M. L. Lyman, a daughter of Judge Lyman, of Wapello. He is the father of seven children, four of whom are living. Politically he is a strong democrat. Religiously his views are not by any means circumscribed by the doctrines of any particular church. Socially he is pleasant and affable. Although his constitution has been in life subjected to the vicissitudes of unusual activity, yet it is robust.