Books of Historical Interest-Early Settlement of Western Iowa-Synopsis
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF REV. JOHN TODD, OF TABOR IOWA,
By His Eldest Son, Prof. J. E. Todd
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SYNOPSIS OF REVEREND TODD'S LIFE

Born in West Hanover, Dauphin county, Pa., son of Capt. James Todd, of Scotch-Irish origin and Presbyterian faith, Nov. 10, 1818.

Went to college at Oberlin, O., Sept. 1835.

received the degree of A. B. at Oberlin College, 1841.

Graduated from Oberlin Theological Seminary, 1844.

Married Miss Martha Atkins, A.B., daughter of Judge Atkins, of Cleveland, O., sept. 10, 1844.

Began a six years' pastorate at Clarksfield, Huron county, O., 1844.

Invited by Mr. Geo. B. Gaston, of Oberlin, to go west as pastor of a colony which should plant a college, 1847.

Went with Dea. G. G. Gaston, S. H. Adams, and their families, with Dea. J. B. Hall and D. P. Matthews to southwestern Iowa, via Cincinnati and St. Louis, to look over the land, Sept., 1848.

Attended a meeting held in Wabonsie to organize a county, and one to take the petition east to the first member of the state legislature he should find, Oct., 1848.

Started with Dea. J. B. Hall to ride on horseback from southwestern Iowa to Ohio, middle of Oct., 1848.

Arrived safely at Clarksfield, O., middle of Nov., 1848.

Moved to Iowa with his family, via Chicago and St. Louis, and landed at Lambert's Landing (near Percival), July 1, 1850.

Supplied regular preaching at Civil Bend, Florence, Trader's Point, Honey Creek, Cutler's Camp and High Creek, all in Iowa, and Linden, Mo., 1851.

The site of Tabor having been selected instead of Civil Bend, their first choice, he moved to a claim, two miles south of Tabor, April, 1852.

He organized the Tabor Congregational church, at his home, with eight members, Oct. 12, 1852.

Moved to his home in Tabor, where he lived till his death, August, 1853.

Organized the Congregational church of Glendwood, 1856.

Made an extended home missionary tour through western Iowa to Sioux City and back through eastern Nebraska. This was at the request of the Congregational churches in eastern Iowa. July, 1857.

President of the Board of Trustees of Tabor Literary Institute, 1857.

Organized the First Congregational church of Sioux City, Monday, Aug. 10, 1857.

Chaplain of the 46th Iowa (hundred days), summer, 1864.

Began service as Trustee of Tabor College, 1866.

Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in Tabor College, 1866-69.

Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy in Tabor College, 1869-72.

Librarian of Tabor College, 1877.

Resigned his pastorate of the Tabor church after thirty years' service, 1883.

Treasurer of Tabor College, 1881-86.

His wife died suddenly after several years of febbleness, July 20, 1888.

Spent six months with his daughter Minnie near Drakola, Kingsbury Co., S.D., summer, 1889.

Married Mrs. Anna K. Drake, of Tabor, Iowa, March 26, 1891.

Visited the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Sept., 1893.

Died suddenly of heart failure, while circulating a petition to the Iowa legislature against repealing the prohibitory law, Jan. 31, 1894.

His wife, two sons, four daughters, seven grand-sons, four grand-daughters, a step-son, and two step-daughters survive to mourn his loss.

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Note: Names in bold print are to aid in your search for specific surnames that you are researching, they are not in bold in the book.

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