Ringgold Record
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
1898

W. A. TODD [William A.] was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1855, came to Iowa in 1869. Ten years later he came to Mt. Ayr and since that time has been one of the leading citizens of the town and county, most of the time having been engaged in the grocery business. He was a popular grocer, and enjoyed an immense trade.

Since coming to Mt. Ayr, Mr. TODD has been a prominent and active democrat, making his influence felt in every political campaign. In 1885 he was the democratic candidate for county auditor and ran far ahead of his ticket, being defeated only by a narrow margin.

In 1888 he was chairman of the democratic county committee. He was elected school director in 1892 and re-elected in 1895 without opposition for a second term of three years. In this capacity he was largely instrumental in securing the erection of Mt. Ayr's new $25,000 school house.

Mr. TODD was appointed postmaster Nov. 1, 1893, and has filled the position with ability and to the general satisfaction of the public.

Mr. TODD is prominent in fraternal socity work, being venerable consul of Maxey camp, M.W.A. [Modern Woodmen of America], the largest and oldest camp of the order in the county, post noble grand of Mt. Ayr lodge I.O.O.F. [Independent Order of Odd Fellows] and past chief patriarch of Delta encampment of the same order.

Mr. TODD is a very active and public spirited man, and works hard for any public enterprise in which he becomes interested. He is a man of positive convictions and strong impulse, has many warm friends and is a man of wide influence in the community.

NOTE: William A. TODD, the son of Henry H. and Mary Jane (ELLIOTT), died February 8, 1914. He was married to Mary (LININGER) TODD, the daughter of Levin and Caroline (LUDWIG) LININGER, born in Pennsylvania November 17, 1858, died at the age of twenty-seven years on November 4, 1886. Mary and William were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Iowa.

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, May of 2010