Johnson County << 1893 Index
Poweshiek County
Iowa County

Portrait and Biographical Record of Johnson, Poweshiek and Iowa counties, Iowa
Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1893.

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Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.

JOHN GOULD, a leading citizen of enterprise and ability and a prominent agriculturist of Madison Township, Johnson County, Iowa, is a native of his present locality and was born June 14, 1847, upon the old Gould homestead, located on section 32, where he now resides and which has been his constant home, with the exception of six years, when he lived near Iowa City. Associated during his entire life with the growth and progress of Johnson County, our subject has been an important factor in the promotion of enterprise and has ably assisted in local improvements. His father, Henry s. Gould, born in Erie County, Pa.,, in 1810, was one of the early and energetic pioneers of Iowa. He was a stone cutter by trade and had learned the business in his native State. For some time he worked on the locks of the canal at Johnstown, Pa., and in 1838 came to Morgan County Ill., where he farmed five years, but always having poor health in that locality removed to Johnson County, Iowa, in the spring of 1843 and entered land upon section 32, Madison Township. In the fall he built a log house and returned to Illinois for his family.

His wife, whom he had married in Pennsylvania, was Jemina Simons, and was a true helpmate, doing her full share in the care and comfort of her household. After his arrival in Madison Township, Father Gould abandoned his trade and devoted himself to the tilling of the soil. He lived to a good old age and passed away in 1871. He had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for forty years and took an active part in the work of that religious denomination, exhorting for several years and giving much attention to Sunday-school duties, teaching and occupying official positions in that important department of church labor. Appreciated as an earnest man of excellent judgment and executive ability, he was elected County Supervisor and was retained upon the board for a number of years. His wife, who was also a devoted Christian and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, survived her husband five years, dying in 1876. Father and Mother Gould were the parents of ten children, of whom John was the fifth in order of birth.

Our subject attended the district school of the home neighborhood, which was established after he was seven years of age, and although the little log house was humble, some of the brightest men of the State there received their primary education. John remained with his parents upon the old farm during their lifetime, and, as has been mentioned before, has been absent from the familiar scenes of his boyhood but a few brief years. In 1873 our subject entered the bonds of matrimony with Miss Priscilla Lawrence, whose parents, Isaac and Caroline Lawrence, made their home in Illinois in an early day. The father died in Illinois some years ago, but the mother, now surviving, resides in Minnesota. Into the old home where our subject was born came to Mr. and Mrs. John G. Gould a merry family of thirteen children, namely: Charles N., Dora (deceased), William S., Oliver J., Mabel, Violet (deceased), John G., Rosie, Edna, Harrison, Carol, Ethel and an infant son.

Our subject and his estimable and accomplished wife are both worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and liberally aid in the support and extension of its good work. Financially, Mr. Gould has been prospered and aside from the pursuit of general agriculture has profitably engaged in stock-raising. The one hundred and seventy-six acres are all under a high state of cultivation and yield a most abundant harvest. Politically, our subject is a stalwart Republican and ever interested in local and national affairs. Never desirous of political office, he is intelligently anxious that places of trust shall be filled by men adapted to worthily carry out the wishes of the people of our great American nation. In all thing affecting the welfare of his county and township, Mr. Gould may ever be found upon the side of right and justice and, a kind friend and upright citizen, firmly holds the esteem and confidence of the entire community of Johnson County.