Home < 1907 Bios

Greene County IAGenWeb

1907 Past and Present Biographies

Walter S. Pound

Walter S. Pound, who for fifteen years has filled the office of trustee of Kendrick township and who is engaged in farming on section 4, where he owns and cultivates a tract of rich and fertile land, is a native of the neighboring state of Illinois, his birth having there occurred, in Henry county, on the 9th of March, 1857. He is a son of Hugh Pound, who was born in Erie county, New York, in the year 1827. After reaching adult age he was there married to Miss Elmina Rhodes, who was born in the same county in 1827. They remained residents of the east until 1855 when, thinking to have better business opportunities in the middle west, Mr. Pound took his family to Illinois, settling in Henry county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land. He at once took up the work of developing, cultivating and improving that property and gave his time and attention to the farm until after the outbreak of the Civil war. He had watched with interest the progress of events in the south and his patriotic spirit was aroused by the continued attempt to overthrow the Union, so that on the 16th of August, 1861, he offered his services to the government, enlisting as one of the boys in blue of Company I, One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for three years and two months. He saw hard service - the usual experience of active duty on the field - and was twice wounded in battle, as he stood facing the enemy in defense of the old flag and the cause it represented. He participated in the engagements at Resaca, Vicksburg, Richmond, Atlanta and Nashville and thus saw much hard fighting on some of the most hotly contested battle-grounds. After the close of the war he returned to his home in Illinois. In the meantime his wife had traded their land for farm property in Iowa, and on the 11th of May, 1866, the family arrived in Greene county, Mr. Pound having at that time but two dollars and a half in cash with which to begin life in a new locality. He settled on the farm and with characteristic energy began its development, so that within a few years he was gathering good crops. He tilled his fields year by year and continued the active work of the farm until 1887, when he retired and removed to Des Moines, but after five years he returned to the farm in 1892 and made it his home until he was called to his final rest. His wife survived him for two years, passing away April 24, 1907, at the advanced age of eighty years.

In the family of this worthy couple were ten children, seven of whom are yet living: Mrs. Addie E. Fisher, living in Washburn, North Dakota; L. W., who is located in Council Bluffs, this state, where he is foreman of the boot and shoe department of the Deaf and Dumb Institute [now Iowa School for the Deaf]; Walter S., whose name introduces this review; A. H., a manufacturer of tubular wells at Ralston, Iowa; Mrs. J. H. Hurley, whose home is in Greene county, Iowa; S. S., living in Des Moines; and Howard M., who is foreman of a lumber company in the capital city.

Walter S. Pound spent the first nine years of his life in the county of his nativity and in the public schools there began his education, which was continued in the district schools of Greene county, after he accompanied his parents on their removal to this state in 1866. Here he was reared to farm life and when not busy with the work of the schoolroom his attention was largely given to the work of the fields as he assisted his father in planting the seed and harvesting the crops. His training was of a very practical nature and he chose as a life work the occupation to which he was reared, beginning farming on his own account when twenty years of age. In 1881 he purchased forty acres of land in Bristol township, living on this place for six months or until the spring of 1882, when he removed to Calhoun county, Iowa. There he purchased two hundred acres of land, which he tilled for about two decades. In 1902 he sold that property and for two years cultivated rented land, after which he purchased his present place, comprising one hundred and forty acres on section 4, Kendrick township. He has grubbed out seventy-one acres of this himself and brought the farm under a high state of cultivation, transforming the uncultivated land into a tract of rich fertility. He has made all the improvements upon the farm, which is lacking in none of the accessories of the model farm property of the twentieth century. The fields bring forth good crops and he also raises stock extensively, his annual sales thereof bringing to him a gratifying profit.

On the centennial anniversary of national independence, Mr. Pound was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Nancy E. Linn, who was born in Kankakee county, Illinois, February 24, 1854, and was therefore twenty-two years of age at the time of her marriage, July 4, 1876. Her father, Mason Linn, was born in Union county, Ohio, November 26, 1826, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Rebecca Kyle was born in Knox county, Ohio. Her death occurred May 7, 1886. There were three children in their family, of whom two are now living: Mansfield, a resident of Glidden, Iowa; and Mrs. Pound, who by her marriage also be came the mother of three children, but lost one in infancy. The others are Mrs. Robert Squibbs, living iii this county; and L. E., an accountant for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company, at Sioux City, Iowa. He was-graduated from the Capital City Commercial College when sixteen years of age.

Since 1883 Mr. Pound has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has filled all the offices, being now a past grand of the lodge. He likewise belongs to the Masonic and the Knights of Pythias fraternities, while his political support is unswervingly given to the republican party. He has been president of the schoolboard for five years, was road supervisor, and fifteen years ago was elected township trustee, which position he has since filled, discharging all the duties of the oflice in prompt and able manner. He is loyal and progressive in citizenship and his labors have greatly benefited the community in many ways.

Transcribed from "Past and Present of Greene County, Iowa Together With Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead,"
by E. B. Stillman assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of Paul E. Stillman, Gillum S. Toliver,
Benjamin F. Osborn, Mahlon Head, P. A. Smith and Lee B. Kinsey, Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1907.

Site Terms, Conditions & Disclaimer