private affairs to either seek or accept the responsibility of public office, he is always to be found at the polls on election day, casting his ballot for the candidates of the party of his choice.
The study of Mr. Young's life but shows what it is possible to achieve by means of energy, application and perseverance. Thrown upon his own resources when only a boy, with the equipment of but the rudiments of an education, and not only maintaining himself but contributing toward the subsistence of the family, he nevertheless before reaching middle age had acquired what many never achieve. He is known as one of the most successful and substantial farmers and stockmen of this section of the state, all of which is due to his ability to handle capably and successfully anything which he elects to undertake on a very large scale. The farm which he bought fifteen years ago for thirty-five dollars per acre is now valued at one hundred and seventy-seven and one-half dollars per acre, in fact he has for years had a standing offer at that price. His success at the same time has not been achieved at the price of another's loss, his great asset in life ever being his incorruptible integrity, and he today is highly respected and esteemed by all who have ever had occasion to do business with him as well as by those who have known him socially.
JACOB A. GROSECLOSE.
After acquiring a comfortable competence in the line of agricultural pursuits Jacob A. Groseclose is now enjoying the fruits of his early endeavors' and is one of the leading citizens of Union township. He is a son of Thomas Jefferson and Elizabeth (Wharton) Groseclose, and was born February 5, 1857? His parents were both natives of Johnson county, Indiana, where they were married in 1852. In the fall of 1854 they came to Story county, Iowa, locating on the present homestead. Mr. Groseclose purchased eighty acres of land entirely uncultivated, from Thomas Lawe, and there built a log cabin. He at once began to improve this land and later preempted more land adjoining until he had acquired three hundred and sixty acres. This he accomplished before he was thirty-one years old, at which time his death occurred. He was survived by his wife and three children: Jacob A., the subject of this sketch; Mary Elmira, the wife of John Griffith, residing in Indian Creek township; and Sarah E., who married A. J. Hainline and died in 1884, leaving a family of six children. Mrs. Groseclose is still living and resides with her son.
Jacob A. Groseclose spent his childhood on the home farm, acquiring his education in the district schools. He was but two years old when his father died. Apparently he inherited his father's energetic nature for at the early age of twelve years he was following the plow and studying the science of agriculture. At the age of sixteen years he took entire charge of