WILLIAM H. DIAL, a farmer of Hazel Dell Township, is a native of Cabell County, West Virginia, born September 21, 1833, the son of George and Matilda (Stoakes) Dial, natives of North Carolina and Virginia respectively.

They were married in Virginia, where they resided a few years, and then moved to Missouri, where Mrs. Dial died in 1844. They had five children, namely: John B., deceased in 1848; William H., our subject; Mary, a resident of Oregon; Rebecca, deceased in 1843; and Francis Marion, a resident of Oregon. In 1847 Mr. Dial was again married, in Taylor County, Iowa, to Rachel Husbands, and they had two children: Thomas J. and Martha. His wife died, and he was again married, to Mrs. Wilson. He afterward went to his son's where he died. He was a farmer by occupation.

William H. Dial, our subject, was but two years of age when his parents removed to Platte County, Missouri, and then to Andrew County, where he was raised to the life of a farmer. His education was received by studying during his leisure moments, and by observation; on account of living on the frontier he was deprived of the advantages of schooling. When he was fourteen years of age, in 1847, they removed to Taylor county, in a wild and unsettled territory inhabited by wolves and Indians. This was the second time he was thrown on the frontier, but he again went to work and assisted in opening up the country. Here they endured many hardships and privations, such as are incident to pioneer life, making their home in a log cabin of that day, which had no windows, and they did their cooking at the wide, old fashioned fireplace.

In 1863 he came to Pottawattamie County, and spent the first winter east of Council Bluffs, and then moved to the vicinity where he now lives. He first rented a farm of raw prairie land for seven years of William Garner, but in 1870 he purchased a tract of forty acres of the Rock Island Railroad Company on Section 25, Hazel Dell Township, which was also raw prairie land. In June 1871, he removed to his present farm, where he erected a residence 26 x 14 and 16 x 12, one and a half stories high. He has added to his farm at different times, until he now possesses 120 acres of the best stock land in the county, and ten acres of timberland on section 17, Hazel Dell Township. He also has property in Weston, where he has resided since February 17, 1890. He has always turned his attention to farming and stock-raising, and also has a fine orchard on his farm, and one of the finest plum orchards in this section of the county. In his political views Mr. Dial has always been a stanch Democrat, taking an active part in all political work of his county and state. He has represented his township as a member of the school board, road supervisor, and is now acting as Justice of the Peace.

Mr. Dial was married December 4, 1852, to Martha Ann Campbell, who was born in Kentucky and the daughter of Isaac and Mary A. (Parker) Will. They have seven children, namely: Mary E., wife of John Garner, residing in Garner Township; Margaret A., wife of Mr. Price, residing in California; William Vallanding, deceased; Amanda, deceased; Russell F., residing in Hazel Dell Township on the old home farm; Georgia M., the widow of William A. Moore. Mr. Dial is a self made man, having risen to his present position by pluck and perseverance, and he now stands among the well to do citizens of the county.

Contributed by: Darlene Vergamini