MORRIS HOUGH, of Hazel Dell Township, is the son of Riley and Sedelia Hough, was born in Lee County, Iowa, April 20, 1843, and was but five years of age when his parents emigrated to Pottawattamie County, where he has since made his home. He has therefore been brought up to farm life. He made his home with his parents most of the time until he was twenty-six years of age, excepting three summer seasons spent in freighting from Council Bluffs to Denver.

He was married April 25, 1869 to Sarah Hall, daughter of A.J. and Nancy Hall. Mrs. Hough was born in Lee County, Iowa, May 31, 1847. They have had seven children, namely: Charles A., Lee J., Richard M., David M., Samuel A., Oscar H. and Ernest W. After his marriage Mr. Hough came to the farm where he now resides, then comprising eighty acres of unimproved land on Section 3, Hazel Dell Township; and here, where there was nothing but prairie grass, he and his new bride began life's journey together, and here they have steadily resided for twenty-one years. In the meantime he had added to his estate, until he now has 320 acres in one body, on sections 2, 3, 10 and 11, Hazel Dell Township, and twenty acres in section 5, and 160 in Neola Township. He first erected a small frame 14 x 16 feet in which he commenced life and which he occupied until 1882, when he erected his present handsome frame residence, 16 x 28 and 16 x 20, one of the neatest houses in this part of the country.

He has of course also good barns for stock and grain, as general farming and stock raising in his business. He takes special interest in introducing the better grades. Of cattle he has the shorthorn breeds. He was instrumental in having brought to the county one of the finest imported Clydesdale horses - Napeau by name - which he keeps upon his farm. He was sired by Prince Harold, and is a splendid specimen of the horse genus. Mr. Hough stands in the front ranks as a progressive and prosperous farmer and stock raiser of Pottawattamie County. He is a decided Democrat; has been township trustee, member of the school board, and is now a member of the Farmers' Alliance.