learned in later years. This truth is borne out by the career of Mr. Whitaker, who from a boy has known all the details of agricultural life. His parents, Samuel and Keziah (Jones) Whitaker, were both natives of Pennsylvania, the father dying on November 26, 1876, at the age of seventy-four years, and the mother in Story County on May 24, 1888, when eighty-six years of age. Thomas Whitaker, the eldest of four children, was born in West Virginia on March 29, 1836, and emigrated with his parents to Iowa in 1855. They settled in Polk County, and in the spring of 1857 came to Story County, where our subject has since resided. He is now the owner of 127 acres of land six miles from Nevada, and is a wide-awake, thorough-going farmer. He was married on February 17, 1859, to Miss Harriet McConnell, a native of Allen County, Ohio, born on July 27, 1841, and to them were born the following children: Louisa (born in 1859), Mary (born in 1861), Hattie (born in 1867), Frank (born in 1871), Kate (born in 1875), and Maggie (born in 1882). Mary, the second daughter, was married, on March 17, 1886, to Carleton W. Tichenor, who was born February 19, 1862, in Story County, and died October 29, 1888. One child was born to this union, viz.: George L. George, the third child of our subject, was born February 12, 1865, in Story County, and died April 25, 1888. He was married on January 20, 1887, to Miss Laura J. Golden, who bore him one child, Georgia. The parents of Mrs. Whitaker were natives of Ohio, and came to Story County in 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker are members of the Evangelical Church.
John W. Will, merchant, Iowa Centre, Iowa. Mr. Will is a native of West Virginia, born in Buckhannon, Upshur County, on December 1, 1844, and the general mercantile business that this gentleman carries on is a thoroughly representative one. His father, James S. Will, is a native of New Market, Shenandoah County, Va., where he was reared and where he married Miss Levina Heavner, a native of Buckhannon. Upshur County, W. Va., where the father followed his trade, that of tailor, until 1858, when he moved to Iowa and located at Iowa Centre in June. He now resides in Maxwell, whither he moved soon after that town started, and is now working at his trade. His wife died in Virginia, and he afterward married again in West Virginia. John W. Will came with his parents to Iowa Centre and received a good practical education in the common schools. He began clerking in 1860 for Mr. Baldwin, at that place, and continued with the firm in that capacity for twenty years. After this, or in 1880, he began business for himself on a small capital, but now carries a large and complete stock, and is doing a good business. He owns his store building, a nice residence property with twenty acres of land, and good substantial out-buildings. Mr. Will was married in this county in April, 1872, to Sina Maxwell, daughter of G. W. Maxwell. She died in August, 1872, and in 1881 Mr. Will led to the altar Mrs. Hattie E. Maxwell, a widow, and the daughter of H. A. Higly, Sr. Mrs. Will was born in Hiram, Ohio, and was there reared and educated. Two children were the fruits of this union: Leon H. and Ina H. Mrs. Will has two children by her former marriage to C. B. Maxwell: Edwin H. and Veva H. Mr. Will is a Mason, belongs to Nevada Chapter No. 99, R. A. M., and the Blue Lodge at Maxwell, and is also a member of the Good Templar lodge.
Henry Wilson, Jr., clerk of the district court, Nevada, Iowa. Every life has a history of its own, and although in appearance it may possess little to distinguish it from others, yet the political career and experience of Mr. Wil-