Ireland
Biographical Sketch of William B. Fair
William B. Fair, born in 1833 in Fivemiletown, Ireland, learned carpentry from his father. At 40, he immigrated to America in 1875, settling in Wapello, Iowa. After marrying Rachael Pierce, he established a life on the prairie, enduring challenges and raising a family. They had several children, though three died young. The Fair family prioritized faith and community, hosting church services and visiting preachers. Their story reflects the persistence and resilience of early settlers in the American Midwest.
Biographical Sketch of Julia Hickey
Julia Hickey emigrated from Ireland to the United States during the famine, leaving home at her mother’s urging. After stowing away on a ship, she arrived in America, never to reunite with her brother. Settling in New York, she and her husband John had four children before relocating to Wisconsin and Iowa. Their son John pursued mining, while daughter Jennie became a teacher, selling land for a school and church. William H. became a bank director and state legislator. Julia died in 1893.
Biographical Sketch of John Harrison
John Harrison, born in County Monaghan, Ireland, in December 1824, was a notable pioneer of Douglas Township, Ida County, Iowa. After moving to Scotland with his family, he married Jeanette Stevenson in 1845 before immigrating to the United States in 1855. Harrison served in the Civil War and later settled in Iowa, where he took a pre-emption claim in 1868. His home served as a stage station and gathering place for travelers. He and Jeanette had six children, engaging in farming and stock-raising throughout their lives.
Biographical Sketch of James Anderson
James Anderson, born on November 12, 1838, in Tyrone County, Ireland, was the eldest of eight children. He received his education in Ireland before immigrating to America in 1871. Initially settling in Delaware County, Iowa, for five years, he later moved to Ida County, where he became a successful stock raiser and acquired a 640-acre farm. He and his wife had four children: Margaretta Jane, Mary, William James, and Thomas Andrew.