George W. Calhoun
p. 868
In going over the attractive and thriving city of Marshalltown the stranger is glad to note that a very large number of her most pretentious and pleasant homes are owned by the pioneer farmers of this county; for, considering the hardships they were compelled to undergo and the hard work necessary to be performed, they are certainly entitled to the best comforts of life, and we are glad that these worthy men can now enjoy a respite from their toil and have all the world's blessings to crown their earthly years. One of this number is George W. Calhoun, who has lived to see this locality develop from the wild prairie and primeval forests inhabited by wild animals and a few pioneer settlers to its present magnificent prosperity, its elegant homes, comfortable public buildings, fertile farms and thriving cities; and he has played no small part in this great work of transformation.
Mr. Calhoun was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, May 15, 1834, the son of James and Ann Elizabeth (Clouse) Calhoun, the father born in Pennsylvania, September 25, 1805, and the mother in Maryland, January 8, 1807. They moved to Ogle county, Illinois, in 1856, and the mother died in Stephenson county, that state, August 10, 1865. The father spent his last days in Marshalltown, Iowa, at the home of his son, George W., of this review, his death occurring on May 15, 1889. He and wife were members of the Christian church. They were the parents of ten children, all now living but one.
George W. Calhoun grew to maturity on the farm in Maryland and was educated in the public schools of Maryland. He came to Illinois in 1855 and in 1864 moved to Marshall county, Iowa, locating on one hundred and sixty acres of land in what is now Liscomb township, later adding one hundred and sixty acres of land in what is now Liscomb township, later adding one hundred and sixty acres to his original purchase, now owning three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land, which he has developed from the raw state to one of the best farms in the county, keeping it well improved and well tilled and which, for years, under his able management, yielded abundant harvests and here he also raised large herds of good live stock from year to year. In 1879 he left the farm and moved to Marshalltown, where he has since lived, being
p. 869
engaged in some kind of business most of the time. He is the owner of three valuable and desirable houses on South Eighth street and two on West Main street. He is also interested in Texas lands. He has been very successful in a business way, having worked hard in his younger years and always managed well.
Mr. Calhoun has always taken a great deal of interest in the affairs of Marshall county and has ever stood ready to further any movement calculated to make for the general good. He was formerly a Republican in politics, but is now a strong Prohibitionist. For several years he was a school director and township trustee, also school treasurer and secretary of the school board; he was also road supervisor. He and his family are members of the Christian church, and assisted in building the church of this denomination at Liscomb, also two churches in Marshalltown, putting four thousand dollars in the last fifty thousand dollar church.
Mr. Calhoun was married on June 8, 1854, to Martha Jacobs, who was born in Allegany county, Maryland, January 19, 1833, the daughter of Mathias and Margaret (Potter) Jacobs, both natives of the last named county, also where they spent their lives, being now deceased. Their family consisted of ten children, the wife of Mr. Calhoun being the only one now living. Mr. and Mrs. Jacobs were Baptists. To Mr. and Mrs. Calhoun six children have been born, namely: Zelpha is the wife of Thomas Buck, living at Abilene, Texas; Willie is deceased; Scott lives in Memphis, Tennessee; Albion and Noah W. are deceased; Iva is the wife of Minor Chase, of Allerton, Iowa.
Mr. Calhoun is well known throughout the county, is well liked and highly respected, for his life has been useful and above reproach.