from reprint of “Clarke County Historical and Biographical Record” by Lewis Publishing, 1886. p. 78.
HON. JACOB
PROUDFOOT, one of the early settlers of
Liberty Township, was born in
Harrison, now
Barbour County,
West Virginia, October 29, 1822. His father, Thomas
PROUDFOOT, was born in
Fauquier County,
Virginia, February 20, 1803, and in 1808 accompanied his parents to
Harrison County, and there grew to manhood, and late in the year 1821 married Miss Elizabeth
Robinson, who was born in
Pennsylvania, November 28, 1798. Jacob
PROUDFOOT was reared in his native county. His father was a farmer, miller and blacksmith, and in his youth he became familiar with all three vocations.
September 14, 1843, he was married to Miss Cyrene
Van Scoy, a native of
Randolph County,
West Virginia, born March 3, 1826, daughter of William
Van Scoy, now a resident of
Virginia Township,
Warren County,
Iowa.
In 1855 Mr. Proudfoot came to
Iowa, and spent the first winter in
Warren County, and in April 1856, located in
Liberty Township,
Clarke County, and opened a blacksmith shop. He soon bought some land, and combined farming with blacksmithing. He now owns eighty acres on section 6,
Liberty township, and twenty-three acres of timber land in Squaw Township,
Warren County. He also owns twenty-three lots, with a pleasant residence and blacksmith shop, in the village of
Liberty.
In politics Mr. Proudfoot was reared in the Democratic faith, but his devotion to the Union caused him to uphold the administration of
Abraham Lincoln, and he has since affiliated with the Republican party, and has been prominent in its councils in
Clarke County. In 1875 he was elected a member of the Sixteenth General Assembly. He has served eleven years as magistrate of
Liberty, and several years as a member of the County Board of Supervisors. He has been postmaster at
Liberty about fourteen years. He has always been much interested in the public affairs of his country and State, as well as the local affairs of his county and village, and has never failed to cast his ballot since 1856.
He and his wife have been active members of the Methodist Episcopal church about forty-seven years. They have a family of seven children-- Hester Ann is the wife of J. L. Tedrow, of Woodburn; Leah is at home;
Overton T. is a resident of Liberty; William D. lives in
Walla Walla,
Washington Territory; Samuel N. in Vicksburg,Mississippi; Charles F., of
Liberty, and Aaron V., of Indianola,
Iowa. Mr. ProudfootÂ’s parents came to
Iowa with their younger children, and made their home in Squaw Township,
Warren County, where the mother died February 10, 1880. The father now spends his time with his children, going from one to another as he wishes, each giving him a hearty welcome whenever he chooses to favor their homes with his presence.