My Genealogy Hound

M. L. Maxwell is numbered among the native sons of Iowa, who throughout his entire life has been actuated by the spirit of enterprise and determination which are characteristic of the middle west and have wrought its wonderful development. He is numbered among the prosperous and progressive farmers and stock-raisers of Douglas township, living on section 17, where he owns a good farm of eighty acres. His life record began in Davis county on the 26th of April, 1851. His father, Thomas Maxwell, was a native of Virginia but was reared and married in Ohio, the lady of his choice being Miss Jeanette George, a native of the Buckeye state. They removed from Ohio to Iowa in 1850, becoming pioneers of Davis county. The father, however, died in Monroe county in 1851 and the mother, surviving him for a long period, reared her family upon the farm in Monroe county left her by her husband.

M. L. Maxwell spent the days of his boyhood and youth upon the Monroe county farm, remaining with his mother until he had attained his majority, yet providing for his own support by working by the month as a farm hand in the neighborhood. He made his way to Creston, Iowa, when a young man and for two years engaged in railroading, after which he went to Madison county, Iowa, and worked on a stock ranch for a year.

Mr. Maxwell made preparation for having a home of his own by his marriage in that county on the 18th of October, 1874, to Miss Mary A. Armstrong, a native of Ohio, who was reared, however, in Madison county, Iowa. Following their marriage they located on a farm in Adair county, where they lived for three years and then removed to Woodbury county, where Mr. Maxwell purchased a tract of land and carried on general farming for seven years. He also fed stock there and his business was capably conducted, bringing him a fair profit. He next bought a farm in Platte township, Union county, on section 2, and made it his place of abode for over fifteen years, when he sold that property and invested in his present farm of eighty acres on section 17, Douglas township, it being formerly the old stage station. It has since been his home and in the intervening years he has wrought many changes in the appearance of the place. He has rebuilt and remodeled the house and barn, has built a hog house, has fenced and tiled his land, putting two hundred rods of tiling on the place. He keeps high grades of stock and his business interests, capably managed, are bringing to him a good financial return.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell have been born five children: A. H., who is now a business man of Des Moines: T. D., a farmer of Douglas township; Leona the wife of Jesse R. Richardson, a resident farmer of Douglas township; Iva and Minnie, both at home. The family is well known in the community and the members of the household occupy an enviable position in the social circles in which they move. They are all members of the Congregational church at Cromwell, in the work of which they are actively and helpfully interested. Mr. Maxwell formerly served as superintendent of the Sunday school for a number of years and has held office in the church. Politically he has been a life-long republican. He was elected and served as township trustee, while at different times he has been officially identified with the schools being a director for several terms and secretary of the board several years in Woodbury county. He has acted as delegate to numerous county conventions and has served on both the grand and petit juries and also on the juries of the federal courts. The rules which have governed his life and guided him in his conduct toward his fellowmen have been such as command uniform confidence and trust, while in business he has displayed the strong purpose and laudable ambition which have made him one of the substantial agriculturists of his community.