Israel Morrow, farmer, P.O. Avoca, was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., in 1831, son of John and Sarah (Hamilton) Morrow, he a boatman and farmer by occupation, was a native of Westmoreland County, Penn.; the parents had thirteen children, ten boys and three girls. Mr. Morrow received an ordinary education in Pennsylvania, and was there engaged in boating on the canal till he became twenty-one years old, when he moved to Henry County, Ill. After settling in Illinois, Mr. Morrow followed farming and also ran a coal mine for some time; he next engaged in the milling business for about a year, in Geneseo, Henry Co., Ill.; thence he went to Scott County, Ill., where he owned and conducted a flouring mill for eight years. July 4, 1876, Mr. Morrow came to Pottawattamie County, Iowa, and purchased his present farm of 160 acres, now all under cultivation. When the late war broke out, Mr. Morrow and six of his brothers being old enough to enlist, they cast lots to see who should remain at home, it being necessary for one of them to do so; the lot fell upon our subject, and his six brothers enlisted in Company B, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, one entering as a Corporal. Two of his brothers died in the army; the others came out, after serving three and four years. Mr. Morrow was married, March 19, 1857, to Miss Margaret Ann Linton, born in Philadelphia, Penn., daughter of Robert Linton, a boatman and mechanic, and for fourteen years a policeman in Philadelphia. Mr. and Mrs. Morrow have been blessed with nine children, five boys and four girls; they have lost two. Mr. Morrow and wife have been members of the M.E. Church for many years. Mr. Morrow is in politics a Republican.