James Gould

James Gould, now deceased, was a farmer of Calhoun county for many years and in the latter part of his life lived retired in Rockwell City. An analyzation [sic] of his life record shows that he possessed various sterling qualities which endeared him to all with whom he came in contact. He was born near Jacksonville, Illinois, on the 11th of October, 1843, and was only about a year old when the family left that state and came to Iowa, casting in their lot with the pioneer settlers of Johnson county, their home being near Iowa City. There James Gould was reared upon a farm, was married in that locality and continued to reside there until 1889, when he came to Calhoun county and purchased a farm in Center township, which at that time was only partially improved. He continued its further development and cultivation, with the result that a marked change was soon seen in its appearance. His fields brought forth good crops and all modern accessories and conveniences were added to his place. He used the latest improved machinery to facilitate the farm work and as the years passed on he won a gratifying measure, of success. His farm embraced one hundred and sixty acres, which he purchased for ten dollars per acre, but the place is now worth many times that amount. He continued to reside on the farm until October, 1913, when he removed to Rockwell City and retired. After about six months, however, he was called to his final rest, passing away on the 10th of February, 1914.

Mr. Gould is still survived by his widow, with whom he had traveled life's journey happily for forty years. He was married on the 29th of November, 1874, to Miss Mary M. Ewing, who was born in Center county, Pennsylvania, January 7, 1841, and was taken by her parents to Indiana when six years of age, the journey being made in a covered wagon, according to the primitive methods of travel at that time. They afterward went to Tazewell county, Illinois, and eventually came to Iowa in a covered wagon about the year 1854 or 1855, settling in Johnson county. They were thus identified with pioneer conditions in Indiana, Illinois and Iowa.

To Mr. and Mrs. Gould were born four children, but the two daughters died in infancy. The sons are: Frank A., a resident farmer of this county; and Ira A., who is farming in Montana.

Mr. Gould was entitled to wear the little bronze button of the Grand Army of the Republic, for in 1864, in response to the country's call for troops, he joined the Fifteenth Iowa Infantry as a private. He served for about ten months, going with Sherman on the memorable march to the sea, which proved the weakness of the southern confederacy, showing that the troops had been drawn from the interior to protect the border. He also took part in the grand review in Washington at the close of the war, when the victorious Union troops marched through the streets of the capital where thousands of onlookers expressed their gratitude by prolonged cheers. Mr. Gould was honorably discharged at Louisville, Kentucky, and returned to his home, having escaped without injury or capture. In his political views he was a republican but not an active party worker. For a half century he was a member of the Methodist church and his religious faith was the guiding principle in his life. He endeavored to closely follow the golden rule and lived up to the high standards which are set in Christian teaching, and when he was called to the home beyond it could be said of him "Well done, good and faithful servant."

SOURCE: Beaumont E. Stonebraker, Editor, Past and present of Calhoun County, Iowa, p. 104-7