Rezin Iams

REZIN IAMS, loan and real estate agent, was born in Greene County, Pa., January 27, 1850, of a good family. When a child, his parents removed to Noble County, Ohio. When he was less than three years old he lost his father, and at the age of fifteen his mother died, leaving him to make his own way in the world. When he was seventeen years old he went to Bloomington, Ill., and worked for his board while attending school for two years. In 1871 the old home in Ohio was sold, and the property divided among the heirs of his father, consisting of seven children. Each received $1,000 and Mr. Rezin Iams, in company with an older brother, went into Clay County, Kan., and began stock-raising, but in 1872, the fever killed nearly all their cattle, reducing his capital to about $400. Nothing daunted, he took a homestead and broke ninety acres, build with his hands a stone house, planted an orchard and shade trees, making a beautiful home. This place he still owns. In 1879 he moved to Clay Centre, and began business as a loan and real estate agent. He does a large business and is a rising man. He is Treasurer of the Clay Centre Mining, Milling and Prospecting Company, operating in Chaffee County, Col. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and K. of P. Is a keen business man and a fluent talker, and is always to be found abreast of his fellow-men.

Source: William G. Cutler's History of the State of Kansas, published 1883.

Thanks to FAG contributor Mark Utley for bio.