J. C. Lovell. No name is more closely associated with the farming interests of the county than the one that heads this sketch, for it is borne by a man who is progressive in his ideas, and during a residence in this county of nearly thirty-six years, has been one of its most successful agriculturists. Originally from Weathersfield, Vt., he was born in May, 1834, being the fifth child born to the marriage of Randal and Electa (Hatch) Lovell, both of whom were natives of New Hampshire. The father grew to manhood in his native State, and there married, but soon after this latter event took place, he moved to Vermont, where, for a number of years, he was occupied in tanning and the manufacturing of boots and shoes, in addition to farming operations. In 1840 he removed from Vermont to Wisconsin, and selected a location in Waukesha County, and there he farmed and engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes on quite an extensive scale, employing from six to eight men in his factory. He died in 1843, leaving a widow, who survived him twenty-five years. They were the parents of fourteen children, nine of whom grew to maturity: Helen (deceased), John (a farmer, living in Dodge County, Wis.), Mary (deceased), Mark (a resident of Dodge County, Wis.,) Frederick H. (deceased), Charles (a resident of Minneapolis, Minn.), Caroline (now Mrs. Kribb, of St. Paul, Minn.), Corcelia (deceased) and Georgiana (deceased). J. C. Lovell spent his school days in Wisconsin, and when he was twenty years of age came to Iowa. He arrived here in 1854, and immediately purchased 160 acres, to which he has since added the balance of 296 acres, and he has at different times owned a great deal of land over the county. The town of Nevada was then one year old, and he, with sixteen other regular boarders, lodged in the hotel at that place, which had only one bedstead. The first winter Mr. Lowell passed in this county he taught writing school, and made enough money to enter eighty acres of land, pay his board, and buy a suit of clothes. He subsequently engaged in the lumber business, and opened the first lumber-yard at that place. In 1858 he erected his house (a white oak frame, and black walnut siding), which was known as the "big white house out on the prairie," and the same year turned his attention to farming. He entered the United States service in January, 1864, joining Company A, Twenty-third Iowa Volunteer, Infantry, under Capt. D. P. Ballard, and was mustered into service at Davenport, assigned to the Thirteeth Army Corps, and sent to the front. He was in the Red River Expedition, then went to New Orleans, then to the fight at Mobile, and Spanish Fort thirteen days and nights, and was finally discharged, at Davenport, in August, 1865, after which he returned to his home, where he has lived continuously ever since, with the exception of two years at Mitchellville, whither he had moved to educate his children. He was married, in 1856, to Miss Mary Romane, daughter of Isaac and Jane Romane. She was born in Indiana, on the 12th of November, 1834. Their union was blessed in the birth of three children: Carrie (now Mrs. Hill, resides in Seattle, where her husband is connected with one of the daily and weekly papers), Libbie C. Lovell (deceased), and James C. (who is engaged in tilling a farm adjoining that of his father). Mr. Lovell is a member of the J. D. Ferguson Post No. 31, G. A. R., at Nevada. In politics he is an active Republican, and is a frequent delegate to county conventions. Ever since becoming a resident of this county he has been an active worker in educational matters, having helped to organize the first school district, and the first school held in the district was taught in his house, for a term of three months. He was the first director, and has