REZIN IAMS.� The following simple statement will perhaps give the reader a more correct idea of the general character and makeup of Mr. Iams who is well known throughout Clay County. He has, himself, put under cultivation over 1,000 acres of prairie land in Clay County, Kan., and has built eight or ten houses, doing much of the work himself and has likewise located as many as fifty families in this county. He thus may be truly called one of the pioneer fathers of this section and no man has alone more to develop the best resources of the county and further its material interests.
Clay Center has also been the object of his fostering care, as here he has disbursed his capital and been closely identified with its growth and prosperity. He is a man of keen foresight, and enthusiastic in regard to the future of Clay County and Northern Kansas in general. He is possessed of more than ordinary ability, energy and perseverance, and being yet in the prime of life, still better things are expected of him than even any he has yet performed. He has for the last ten years been interested in real estate to which he still gives his close attention.
A native of Greene County, Pa., the subject of this notice was born Jan. 27, 1850, and three months later was taken by his parents to Noble County, Ohio. His father, Isaac Iams, died there two years later and the mother died Nov. 3, 1865, when Rezin was a youth of fifteen years. Isaac Iams was likewise a native of Greene County, Pa., and born in 1810. He lived there until reaching man's estate and was then married in 1832 to Miss Elizabeth Williams, who was born and reared in Washington County, Pa., and came of a good family. Her brothers became distinguished lawyers and scientists. Robert E. Williams, one of these, is now a resident of Bloomington, Ill., and has amassed a fortune. Richard died in the city of Pekin, Ill., about 1873, and Abraham died in Marion County, Kan.
From a boy the father of our subject was a stockdealer, sending large numbers of cattle from the Northwest to Baltimore, Fredericksburg, and other Eastern markets. In the early times he frequently drove cattle from Indiana and Illinois to New York City. He enjoyed a large acquaintance, doing businesswith numbers of men in several States. He was the father of ten children, three of whom diedin childhood. At his decease he left a family of seven children, three sons and four daughters, all of whom lived to mature years; Elinor Jane became the wife of H. P. Smith, of Spring Hill, Kan.; Rebecca married Nimrod Young, of Green, Kan.; Isaac is a prominent farmer near that place; Sarah(Mrs. Wilson) died in Arkansas; Martha A. is unmarried,and lives in Green, Clay Co., Kan; Rezin, our subject, was next to the youngest; Richard died when twenty-one years old.
Although Isaac Iams, Sr., was a prominent and wealthy man, his large property at his death being left in the care of a guardian was, through mismanagement, lost to its rightful heirs, and Rezin when starting out in life found himself dependent upon his own resources. The old homestead farmin Ohio was sold. He attended school at Carlisle,Ohio, during his younger years, then at Bloomington,Ill., and later completed his studies inOhio.� He occupied himself as a teacher one term, and in 1871 came to Clay County, Kan., with his brother. Isaac, and settled near Fancy Creek, in what is now Highland Township, and engaged in stock raising. The brothers each took up a quarter section of land which they own to-day. Rezin took possession of his property and effected improvements as rapidly as possible, drawing his lumber with an ox team from Waterville, twenty-eight miles, the nearest railroad point at that time. The brothers built their own houses, Isaac's being a frame structure and Rezin's built of stone. The latter is still standing in good condition and is nowu sed as a tenant house. Our subject set out orchards and groves, brought his land to a good state of cultivation and lived upon it eight years. His industry and frugality bore their legitimate fruits and in due time he found himself on the high road to prosperity. He invested his surplus capital in additional land until he became the owner of 1,200 acres in Clay County. This has all been brought to a good state of cultivation. Mr. Iams also has land farther West.
In 1879 Mr. Iams leaving the farm, moved into Clay Center and engaged in the real estate and loan business, and in the meantime while doing business there he purchased three business blocks. He also has a goodly number of lots and some residence property. He was one of the pioneer dealers in real estate and assisted many people in establishing homes.
Miss Martha McLaughlin, of Clay Center, became the wife of our subject Dec. 24, 1884. This lady was born at Homer, LaSalle Co., Ill., Dec. 26, 1866 and was taken by her parents when a child to Mendota,Ill., whence they came to Kansas when she was nine years old. Her father, William McLaughlin,is living on a farm in Clay Township. The mother,Sarah (Edwards) McLaughlin is deceased. At this writing there have been born two children, one of whom, Alma Irene, died at the age of twenty-two months. The survivor, a son, Rezin Howard, was born September 1st, 1887.
Among the brotherhood societies, Mr. Iams has for years been a prominent light and is at presenton one of the most important committees of the Grand Lodge of Kansas, Knights of Pythias, also ranking as Major on the Commander's staff of Patriarchs Militant. He is Past Chief Patriarch of the Encampment, Past Grand of I. O. O. F., and a member of the Uniformed rank, K. of P.; also is amember of the Masonic fraternity. He possesses superior gifts as an orator, having a fine command of language and a thorough knowledge of the writingso f many of the standard poets, his favorite being Robert Burns, from whom he quotes verse after verse, being able to adapt these lines to the subject matter in hand in an admirable manner.
Politically, Mr. Iams votes with the Republican party but cares little for the honors of office, preferring to give his attention to his business matters. He is a member and steward of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he contributes a liberal support. A self-made man in the best sense of theterm, his career has been marked by sterling integrity and ability of a high order. The best traits of his character are but the reflection of those which distinguished his mother, who was a lady of more than ordinary intelligence and a noble Christian woman. We invite the attention of our readers to an elegant portrait of Mr. Iams on another page of this volume.
