A native of the Buckeye State, the birth of Alonzo Hosford took place in the town of Johnstown, Trumbull county, November 11, 1846. His parents, Daniel S & Paulina [Palmer] Hosford, were both natives of Canon Falls, Conn. The father, who died November 20, 1893, was born September 25, 1816, and was one of the wealthy pioneers of Jones County.

He removed to this community in 1863, buying about one thousand acres of land, to the improvement of which he devoted the remainder of his life. He was of English extraction and a son of Solomon Hosford, a native of New England. The mother of the subject is the daughter of Leman Palmer, a native of Canon Falls, Conn. She was born in 1818 and is still living, making her home in Monticello.

In a family of eight children our subject is the third in order of birth and all but three of the family are still living, their names being as follows: Orlando F, Cecil W, Curtis D, and Florence F, now the wife of C. C. Curtis. One brother Orville, was a member of the Sixth Ohio Cavalry during the late war and met his death while engaged in battle for the defense of his native land. The boyhood of Alonzo Hosford was passed on his father’s farm in Trumbull County. His early educational privileges were as the district schools of the neighborhood afforded and for a short time he attended a select school.

Upon completing his studies he engaged in teaching school for a few terms and in 1863 removed with his father’s family to Jones County. He found ample opportunity to exercise his ability and practical knowledge of farming in the management of the large estate belonging to the senior Mr. Hosford, and to him lent his assistance until his death. When the estate was divided our subject received as his share four hundred and eighteen acres of the homestead. This is situated within a half-mile of the thriving city of Monticello.

The land owned by Mr. Hosford is very arable and especially adapted to the raising of cattle & for dairy purposes. The owner always keeps his place well stocked with cattle and hogs, and every season raises and fattens large members of the latter. From twenty-five to thirty cows are continually kept, the milk being sold to an adjacent creamery. The farm is well equipped with substantial barns and outbuildings in addition to a pleasant farm house and everything is kept in a thrifty manner about the place. In 1885 the valuable barn, 48 x 48 feet in dimension, was burned & in addition to the loss of the building some valuable animals & two hundred tons of hay were also destroyed. The present barn used by the owner 48 by 150 feet in dimensions and is one of the best in this region, affording ample room for the storage of hay & grain, besides giving shelter to a large number of cattle.

In 1876 Mr. Hosford was united in marriage with Olive C., daughter of Michael & Rebecca Hofacre. The parents of Mrs. Hosford were among the early settlers of Jones county, to which they came in 1853 from Ohio. To our worthy subject and his estimable wife have been born three sons & two daughters; Palmer A, Maud E, Orville C, Stephen F, & Hazel P. In his political affiliations Mr. Hosford has been a staunch Republican since becoming a voter & is a man of public spirit who believes in the greatest good for the greatest number.

History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, and was submitted by Robert B. Fish.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 670.

S. M. Hosford received his education in the rural schools of Castle Grove township, with the addition of a year and a half spent in the Monticello high school. Though not having the benefit of graduating from the high school, or of attending college, he is one of the brightest and best informed men in the township. He is a keen observer, has a fertile mind and is gifted with liberal ideas.

After leaving school, he assisted his father in the labor of the farm and has always enjoyed outdoor exercises. He has always lived on the same farm, and, upon the retirement of his parents in 1900, his parents moving to Monticello where they now reside, he assumed the management. A glance at the sleek cattle, the well filled barns, the large crops, the use and practice of modern methods of farming and the general air of prosperity surrounding the premises, will speak of the degree of success he has attained as a farmer. His attention was early turned to the breeding of high bred stock, and he is now the owner of the Silver-dale herd of registered short-horns, one of the finest herds of stock to be found ,anywhere and one of which this young farmer, as well as the people of the township, can well feel proud.

Mr. Hosford, with his native ability and successful business methods, easily :attracted the attention of the people of the township, and it was only natural that they should wish the same business principles applied to the public business as this young man applied to his private affairs. For several years he served as secretary of the Downerville Cooperative Creamery. He was township assessor in 1901 and in 1902. He is now serving his fourth term as a member of the township school board. Upon the organization of the Farmers' Mutual Insur ance Association in 1908, he was chosen secretary, and the rapid progress and present business standing of the association, stand as a vindication of the judgment of the members making this selection. With risks amounting in the aggregate to over two hundred and thirty- five thousand dollars, the clerical work connected with the office of secretary, and the clear head required to keep in touch with business and keep things moving smoothly and properly, requires a man of more than ordinary ability. Mr. Hosford, in connection with his other duties, has found time to take an active part in local politics and during the past two campaigns has performed the duties of township member of the county republican central committee with the same fidelity and success as has been noteworthy in his other fields of activity. His broad grasp of affairs, his progressive farming methods, his excellent memory, his intelligent mind and practical wisdom, combined with his natural ability as a writer and a speaker, make him one of the most popular and deserving young men in the township.

S. M. Hosford and Miss Katie Irene Brown were married at Caseate, Minnesota, February 15, 1900. Mrs. Hosford is the daughter of Philander and Emily Petits Brown. Philander Brown was born in Coldwater, Michigan, in 1838. He was a frontiersman of three states, namely: Michigan, Iowa and Minnesota. In the 40s, he resided for a time near Cascade on the Jones county border. He served in the United States army during the Indian uprising in Minnesota, and in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion. Emily Petits Brown was born in Pittsfield, Illinois, in 1844. Philander Brown and Emily Petits Brown were married April 2, 1863. Mr. Brown died at Williston, North Dakota, December 18, 1907. Mrs. Brown is now living at Williston, North Dakota.

Two children have come to bless the home life of Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Hosford, a daughter, Gladys Methylene Hosford, born June 24, 1901, and a son, Kenneth Brown Hosford, born August 16, 1909. S. M. Hosford and family now reside on the same farm where Mr. Hosford was born in Castle Grove township. Happiness, contentment and prosperity is theirs to enjoy, and the community is enriched by their having lived in it.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, pp. 26-27.

W. F. Houstman received such an education as was obtainable by the farmers' boys of that period, working with his parents through all his school period and after his lessons were completed remaining at home to assist in the conduct of the agricultural labors that gave the family a livelihood. At the age of twenty-one he started to make his own way in the world unaided. He began as a farmer, renting land for one year, and then went to the Black Hills of South Dakota. where for two years he herded cattle. The experience served to render him satisfied with the life of a farmer and he returned to Jones county, buying some land in Jackson township. For three years he devoted himself to the tilling of the soil and then sold his farm and engaged in mercantile business in Olin. Commercial pursuits held him for only a single year, however, and he returned to farming, renting the land which he now owns and occupies. It embraces one hundred and twenty acres, is under good cultivation and Mr. Houstman has not had reason to regret his return to agricultural life.

Desirous of starting a home of his own, Mr. Houstman wedded Miss Jennie M. House, who was born in Jones county and is the daughter of George F. and Elizabeth (Dennison) House, of whom mention is made in the sketch of W. M. Walton, in another part of this volume. Seven children were born to Mr. Houstman and his wife: Chauncey R., George M., Arthur L., Oscar J., Alta Jeannette, Edgar M., and an infant, but the second and the youngest have passed away, the eldest of the family is a student at Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Mr. and Mrs. Houstman are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and have taken an active part in its work. Politically Mr. Houstman supports the Republican Party, feeling convinced of the wisdom of the policies it advocates. He is not active in public affairs, however, though for a period of five years he has served as a member of the school board. Industrious, unafraid of hard work, he has always been on the alert to grasp the means of attaining the greatest success. Having made trial of several other kinds of work, he has returned to farming and has found that his efforts have been generously rewarded, while the neat and thrifty appearance of the place indicates his careful supervision.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 628.