William F. Land
William F. and Cornelia E. (Perkins) Land
Among Allamakee county’s most reliable and far-sighted
business men, among its most successful and practical farmers and
public-spirited and progressive citizens is numbered William F.
Land, who owns and operates eighty-five acres on section 32,
Franklin township, and in addition to his agricultural interests
is local agent for some important eastern business concerns. A
spirit of enterprise and progress, guided and controlled by sound
and practical judgment, has influenced him in all the activities
of his career and has brought him to a position of prominence and
prosperity in his native county. Mr. Land’s and Maria (Coo)
Land, natives of Ontario, Canada, the former born February 22,
1828, and the latter May 3, 1825. The maternal branch of the
family dates back to the time of Peter Stuyvesant. In Canada the
father worked as a teamster and during the Mexican war came to
the United States, locating first near Three Rivers, Michigan,
and going from there to Dundee, Illinois. He worked in an iron
foundry in that city until he moved to Iowa in 1858, locating in
Hardin where for some time he turned his attention to farming,
purchasing land on section 32, Franklin township, and upon this
property he continued to reside until his death, which occurred
December 23, 1908. He had survived his wife only a few years, her
death having occurred February 2, 1905. To their union were born
four children: Mary, who died in infancy; John Monroe, who is a
farmer residing on section 33, Franklin township; William F., of
this review; and George L., a retired farmer living in Waukon.
In the acquirement of an education William F. Land attended
district school in his native township and in his childhood aided
with the operation of the homestead, becoming early familiar with
the best agricultural methods. After his marriage he moved to a
tract of land which he had previously purchased, turning his
attention to farming on his own account. Having learned the
mason’s and carpenter’s trade in his youth he built
upon his property a modern residence, and he has since that time
made other substantial improvements, his farm being today one of
the finest and best equipped in this township. The time which is
not devoted to its further development Mr. Land gives to his
duties as agent for the American Insurance Company of Newark, New
Jersey, and for the Smith System Heating and Ventilating Company,
dealing in ventilators for schoolhouses, stores, etc. He is well
known in business circles of this part of Allamakee county, where
his energy, foresight and ability are highly respected.
On the 3d of December, 1893, Mr. Land was united in marriage to
Miss Cornelia E. Perkins, who was born in Saratoga county, New
York, August 17, 1875. She is a daughter of Henry S. and Mary E.
(Van Avery) Perkins, the former born at Warrensburg, New York,
January 22, 1832, and the latter in Saratoga county, that state,
in 1842. The father passed away June 24, 1908, and the mother
makes her home at Tribbey, Oklahoma, having afterward married M.
W. Lange, of Portland, Oregon. Mrs. Land is a stockholder in the
Pacific Union Life Association in the latter city. On the
paternal side she is of Scotch-English extraction. Members of
this family have been prominent in a number of the American wars
and Mrs. Land’s father served in the Union army during the
Civil war, having enlisted at the first call for troops in 1861,
in the One Hundred and Eighteenth New York Volunteer Infantry,
Eighteenth Army Corps. He was promoted to the rank of corporal
and saw service at Antietam with the Pioneer Corps under Grant,
serving with credit and distinction until the close of
hostilities. He and his wife became the parents of four children:
Ida May, who died in childhood; Cornelia E., the wife of the
subject of this review; Perry L., a farmer in Franklin township;
and Emery J., stenographer and bookkeeper for a large wholesale
commission firm in Portland, Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Land have two
children: Nellie Ruby, who was born August 12, 1895; and Mary
Margaret, born October 21, 1900.
Mr. Land is a stockholder in the Luana Creamery Company. He gives
his political allegiance to the republican party and has been
honored with various positions of trust and responsibility, for
he takes an intelligent interest in public affairs and is always
active in advancing the permanent interests of the community. He
served for three years as road supervisor and is a member of the
school board, acting as president of that body at the present
time. His success in life has come as the natural result of his
industry, honesty and enterprising spirit and these qualities,
being dominating elements in his character, have brought him also
the respect and esteem of the people among whom his entire life
has been passed.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich
Return to 1913 biographies index