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TODD, MRS. JACOB -- Mary E. Nossaman was born a short distance south of Fairfield, lowa, the 13th day of February, 1843. When only three months old she came to Marion county with her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Wellington Nossaman who settled on a farm a few miles southeast of Pella. She was married to Jacob W. Todd on the 14th day of November, 1867; the wedding took place about five miles south of Pella, Rev. E. H. Scarff officiating.
Mrs. Todd as well as the other members of the Nossaman family were true pioneers and took a prominent part in the early struggle to change the wilderness into a civilized land. Mrs. Todd and her cousin, Mrs. Mark Butts, were among the early school teachers in Marion county. The account of a trip to Knoxville made by these young women in the early days was one of the many interesting reminiscences told the writer by Mrs. Todd, who at the advanced age of nearly eighty years, is still in the best of health and full of interest in all that pertains to the early history of Pella and vicinity. We are also indebted to Mrs. Todd for a detailed description of the first log school house in Lake Prairie township, if not in Marion county.
Mrs. Todd received her education in the crude country schools of that period and later, when "Central" was built, she was among the first students to enroll. Before "Central's" foundation walls were laid, when the school was held in the old brick building on Washington street, known as the De Booy home, Mrs. Todd became a student and continued until 1862, when financial need compelled her to take up teaching in order to help in the support of a large family. She first taught in the Porterville neighborhood, about four miles southeast of Pella, and received the munificent salary of $8.00 per month, with the privilege of boarding around in the homes of the pupils.
Mother Todd is one of the few, typical pioneer women of the old school; she delights in telling of the joys and sorrows, the hopes and disappointments of those early days, and it is a pleasure to hear her tell the many interesting incidents of which she has a personal knowledge. In compiling this work we have been greatly indebted to her for many facts pertaining to the early pioneer days; no one in the community has done as much to help us gather the material out of which we have built up this account of the development and growth of Pella and the surrounding territory.
Who at one time was one of Pella's leading business men, was born in Jefferson county, New York, August 31, 1828, and was raised in the mercantile business. In 1856 he emigrated to Keokuk, Iowa. During the building of the K. & D. M. V. R. R. he had charge of the west end of the road in putting the stations in good order, until the road reached Eddyville. There he engaged in the grain business and at one time was interested in four houses on the line of the road, but being unable to give them as much attention as was necessary, he concentrated all his interests at Pella in 1868, where he, in partnership with D. S. Huber, became known as one of the leading grain and warehouse concerns in central Iowa. He was twice married, first to Miss Sarah Norris, who died leaving one son, Frank A. His second marriage occurred in 1859 to Miss Sarah Matthews, a native of Ohio. By this union there were five children: Jennie, Carrie, Bessie, Eddie and Allie. During their long residence in Pella both Mr. Snow and his family took a leading part in the social and religious life of our city, and were highly esteemed and popular. In later life they resided in Des Moines.