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J. M. GREEN

 

James M. Green, one of the leading agriculturists of Holt township, whose farm lies on section 14, was born at Morning Sun, Louisa county, Iowa, October 9, 1862, a son of Edwin and Eleanor (Swan) Green.  The father was born in Ohio and came to Iowa about 1856, settling first in Louisa county, where he lived for over twenty years.  In 1879, he removed to Holt township, Taylor county, and here made his home until his death, which occurred in 1900.  He was a farmer by occupation and a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, by whose precepts he tried to order his life.  His wife was also a native of Ohio, but they were married in Iowa.  She is still living and makes her home with her son James M. Green.  She attends the services of the Presbyterian church and in that faith reared her seven children.  They were: Charles and Benjamin, both deceased; one who died in infancy; Laura, who is the wife of William Stevens, of Grove township, Taylor county; Nancy, deceased, who was the wife of John Armstrong, a resident of this county; Thomas, who is living in Kansas; and James M., the subject of this sketch.

 

James M. Green spent his boyhood days in Louisa county and in this county, attending the district schools, from which he received a fair English education.  After the completion of his own schooling he engaged in teaching others for one year and then was employed on farms for some months.  The next fourteen years were spent in mercantile business in Sharpsburg, Taylor county, and three years ago he came to Holt township, to assume the management of the farm which had belonged to his wife's parents and which was known as the Pratt place.  It consists of eighty acres on which Mr. Green pursues a general farming and also devotes considerable time to the dairy business, in which he has engaged to some extent.  A man of many experiences from which he has derived a creditable amount of success, there can be little doubt that his agricultural undertakings will prosper also and that in time he will be numbered among those who uphold the reputation of his township as a fine farming district.

 

On the 20th of March, 1889, Mr. Green married Miss Ollie Pratt, who was born in Benton county, Iowa, and is a daughter of Jasper M. and Ursula (Hustings) Pratt.  The father has passed away, but Mrs. Pratt is still living and makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Green.  They have one child, Milo L., who is at home.

 

Mr. and Mrs. Green attend services at Prairie Chapel of the Presbyterian church in Holt township and Mr. Green is now one of its elders.  Politically he affiliates with the republican party as his views coincide with the principles expressed in its platform.  Although a recent addition to the community, he has already secured the confidence of its citizens, who elected him assessor of Holt township and he is now serving in that position.  While he was in business in Sharpsburg he was initiated into the Modern Woodmen of America and still attends the meetings of the camp at that place, for he is a zealous member, deeply concerned for he welfare of his fraternal brothers.