J. G. Maxwell

As printed in 1909

J. G. MAXWELL.

An excellent farm of two hundred and fifty acres in Crawford township pays tribute to the care and labor of J. G. Maxwell, who also has other holdings in the county including a tract of land of two hundred and forty acres in Dutch Creek township. While he is now classed with the representative and successful agriculturists of the community, his life has not always been devoted to farming, but has brought into it varied experiences that have briKidiMK'd his views and given further understanding of life, its purposes and its possibiUties.

Mr. Maxwell is one of the native sons of Washington county, his birth having occurred in Crawford township on the 21st of January, 1861. His parents were John W. and Martha (George) Maxwell. The father was a native of Ohio and his parents came to Iowa in 1850, the family home being established in Crawford township, this county, where John Cannon now resides. John W. Maxwell has since lived in this county and now resides in the city of Washington. He was for many years closely associated with agricultural interests but is now living retired, his activity in former years bringing to him the success which enables him to rest without further recourse to labor. His wife was born in Ohio but they were married in Hardin county, Iowa, where her death occurred. In their family were eight children: Robert, deceased; J. G., of this review; Ina, who is the wife of George Jacobs of Seattle, Washington; Howard, deceased; Etta, the wife of Albert G. Douthitt, also of Seattle, Washington; Clyde, who occupies the old homestead farm west of Crawfordsville; Carl, deceased; Ollie, the wife of John Springer, an attorney at law of Zamboanga, Phillipinc Islands.

The public schools afforded J. G. Maxwell his educational privileges until he had mastered the branches of learning therein taught, subsequent to which time he spent two years in the Washington Academy. He then remained at home until twenty years of age, after which he attended the Burlington Business College and was thus qualified for the practical duties of a commercial career. He first sought employment in the Gilbert & Hedges lumberyard and remained in that service and in other business concerns for three years. He next went to Council Bluffs, where he was employed in the freight office of the Wabash Railroad Company for eighteen months. Following his return home he operated the farm for his father for six years and then purchased his present farm, now comprising two hundred and fifty acres of land in Crawford township. This is well improved land, the work of the farm being conducted along the most modern and progressive lines. The rotation of crops is practiced, a study is made of the condition of the soil and those things which are needed for its fertilization and that the methods adopted are practical is indicated in the excellent success which attends the efforts of Mr. Maxwell. He has erected all of the buildings upon the place except the residence, and in addition to his home farm he owns two hundred and forty acres of well improved land in Dutch Creek township, so that his holdings now comprise four hundred and ninety acres. In addition to raising the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate he also does an extensive business in feeding cattle.

In 1884 Mr. Maxwell was united in marriage to Miss Emma Anderson, a sister of Dr. Anderson, and they have one child, Lena Martha, who is a graduate of the high school of Washington. The parents are members of the United Presbyterian church in which Mr. Maxwell is serving as trustee. His political allegiance is given to the republican party which finds in him a stalwart champion, although not an aspirant for office. He prefers to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs and that he has met with signal success is indicated in his extensive holdings and the finely improved appearance of his place.

As printed in History of Washington County, Iowa from the first white settlements to 1908. Also biographical sketches of some prominent citizens of the county (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.