J. L. Mosier, of Towanda township, came to Butler county with his parents forty-nine years ago, when he was a lad of fourteen. His first experiences in the new country were at a time of life when the new conditions and unusual experiences of pioneer life made vivid and lasting impressions on his mind. He remembers many instances and recounts with accuracy and detail events of the early days which are both important and entertaining to the present and future generations. J. L. Mosier is a son of Daniel and Amanda (Farris) Mosier, who settled in Towanda township with their family in 1867. The father followed farming and met with a reasonable degree of success, and spent his life in Towanda township. He died in 1907, the mother having preceded him in death by five years. For a more extended history of the Mosier family, see sketch of Daniel Mosier elsewhere in this volume.

J. L. Mosier received his education in the public schools of Fulton county, Illinois, which was the place of his birth, and after coming to Butler county attended school in District No. 16, the school house there having been built after the Mosier family settled in that vicinity. His first teacher was Mrs. Clara Priest and later Judge Vol. P. Mooney taught in that district. The Mosier family located about two miles northwest of Towanda, and at that time the Towanda postoffice was located about a half mile north and west of the present town site and Mrs. Sam Fulton was postmistress. Settlers living in the vicinity of Wichita, or where the city of Wichita is now located, got their mail here at that time. James R. Mead kept a little store on the present site of Towanda. When the Mosiers settled in this section there were only four other families within a radius of ten miles, which were the Davis family, James Kelly, Samuel Van and Daniel Cupp.

J. L. Mosier has made farming and stock raising his life's work and has met with more than ordinary success. In addition to his grain farming, he raises horses, cattle and poultry, and owns a valuable farm of 320 acres, which includes the old Mosier homestead. He is unmarried. Mr. Mosier is a member of the Anti Horse Thief Association and the Knights of Pythias. Mrs. Eva Thomas, a sister of J. L. Mosier, resides with him, and is his housekeeper. She was born on the Mosier homestead, and when a child attended the school in District No. 16.

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