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History of Adair
County, Iowa, 1915.

Biographical.  Volume 2.

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Van Underwood.

Van Underwood, a representative agriculturist of Eureka township, owns an excellent farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 17 and in its operation has won most gratifying success.  His birth occurred in Warren  county, Illinois, in January, 1870, his parents being Rufus and Lucy (Perine) Underwood, who are natives of Illinois and Ohio respectively.  In 1870 the father took up his abode in Madison county, Iowa, where he purchased and improved a farm and continued its operation for eleven years.  On the expiration of that period he sold the property and came to Adair county, here buying a tract of one hundred and twenty acres on section 8, Eureka township, which he improved and has cultivated  continuously to the present time.  He and his wife are now sixty-nine and sixty-five years of age respectively and are well known and highly esteemed throughout the community in which they have resided for the past third of a century.

Van Underwood was reared and educated in Madison and Adair counties and remained with his parents until twenty-four years of age.  When a young man of nineteen, however, he started out as an agriculturist on his own account, renting a tract of land which he cultivated for five years.  At the end of that time he purchased eighty acres in Summit township, operating the place for eight years, or until he sold the property and bought a tract of one hundred and twenty acres on section 17, Eureka township, lying across the road from his father's farm.  He has made a number of substantial improvements thereon, set out all the trees, and in its operation has won success as the reward of his untiring industry and able management.  In connection with the raising of cereals he devotes considerable attention to live-stock interests, feeding from one to two carloads of cattle annually.

On the 25th of December, 1895, Mr. Underwood was united in marriage to Miss Eva Pierce, a daughter of James and Nancy (Ford) Pierce, who were natives of Ohio and Cedar county, Iowa, respectively.  The father, an agriculturist by occupation, took up his abode in Dallas county, Iowa, at a very early day and subsequently came to Adair county, purchasing land in Jackson township which he cultivated for a short time.  After disposing of the property he bought a farm in Eureka township which he operated during the remainder of his life, passing away in January, 1908, while his wife was called to her final rest in January, 1898.  Mr. and Mrs. Underwood have three children,  Bernice L., Rex E. and Claire J., who are eighteen, five and two years of age respectively.

Mr. Underwood exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democracy, believing firmly in its principles.  He is not an active member of any religious denomination, feeling friendly toward them all.  As a citizen of Adair  county he has assisted to the extent of his ability in advancing its interests and may be depended upon to give his support to every measure that will promote the public good.

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