HENRY S. TODD

TODD, STURGEON, WILCOX

Posted By: volunteer
Date: 3/13/2009 at 00:32:21

HENRY S. TODD, one of the leading farmers of Louisa County, residing on section 30, Union Township, was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., and is a son of Robert and Mary (Sturgeon) Todd, the father a native of New York, born of Irish parentage, and the mother of Pennsylvania, born of German ancestry. Robert Todd engaged in mercantile business in Pittsburgh, in early life, but later engaged in farming in Lawrence County, Pa., where he resided until 1851, when he emigrated to Muscatine County, Iowa. The following year he came to Louisa County, locating on section 30, Union Township, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in October, 1854, at the age of sixty years. Mrs. Todd died in Pennsylvania, in the fall of 1850. They were the parents of seven children who grew to man and womanhood: Lydia, who died shortly after coming to this county; Mary, who makes her home with our subject; R. H., a resident of Columbus Junction ; Oliver, who was a soldier in the War for the Union, serving four years as a member of Company C, llth Iowa Infantry, died in 1867 from the effects of his long service, leaving two children: Edgar, who makes his home with our subject, and Ollie, who is living with S. S. Wilcox, at Columbus Junction. Henry and Minerva are also living with our subject, who is the youngest of the family. The parents were both members of the Old-School Presbyterian Church, and were people of sterling worth, respected for their many excellencies of character.

The boyhood days of our subject were spent upon his father's farm, and his education was received in the common schools. He is now one of the leading citizens of Union Township, is a systematic and progressive farmer, owning in connection with his sisters 220 acres of fine land, and everything about the place denotes thrift and enterprise. He takes great interest in political affairs, and is a stalwart Republican, unswerving in his allegiance to the principles of that party. He and his sisters are members of the Reform Church. Mr Todd takes a prominent part in promoting any enterprise for the public welfare, and Louisa County has no worthier citizen.

Source: Portraits and Biographies copyrighted by Chapman Bros. 1885