BIOGRAPHY: WILLIAM AND MAHALA (written by Anna Mae Brody Kelly January 2005)

William Brody was the 7th Child of Hugh and Joanna born May 27, 1858 in Polk Twp, Benton Co., IA. He was called "Bill". He died at the age of 95 in Backus, Cass Co., MN where he made his home with his daughter Ida and family. He is buried in Urbana, Kisling Cemetery, Benton Co., IA.
There are records that show William Brody married Margaret Haymaker March 1, 1877. Divorce records show that a divorce was granted to William Brody from Margaret Haymaker March 9, 1880 because she ran off to Kansas with Alen Ferguson. In 1988 while talking about loved ones and the past, William's daughter, Joanna told of "Bill's" first son that the mother had left on his doorstep and left town. She also said the little boy died when about 4 years old after a childhood disease. The 1880 federal census taken June 1, 1880 shows living in the household with Hugh & Joanna, William and Mahala and William age 3. The day after the reunion in 2001 Diane Shields, Joann's granddaughter, called that she had found another photo album of her grandmother's. On the back of a tin type, written on masking tape is "Dad's son from first marriage." Joe Brody also mentions the first son of William in the book he wrote, "The Brody Gang".
Mahala Harrison was born Sept 18, 1860 to James and Rhoda Caroline Floyd Harrison in Benton Co., IA. She died April 22, 1933 in Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA at the home of her son Forest. She is buried in Urbana, Kisling Cemetery, Benton Co., IA.
William Brody and Mahala Harrison were united in marriage March 24, 1880 at the home of Hugh and Joanna Brody.
To this union 5 boys and 5 girls were born. They were all born near Urbana in Benton Co., IA. Joining his brothers and their wives, William and Mahala set up housekeeping on the property Hugh & Joanna had accumulated. After Hugh Sr's will was settled each son was given a interest in the estate.
According to an article published March 23, 1906 in the Vinton Eagle; Wm Brody sold his interest in the estate to his brother, J H Brody, and moved his family to Backus, Minnesota.
They joined their son Dave and daughter Josie who had gone north with their families. When you worked for someone they would provide you with a log house. Bill found work so they had a place to live.
Recollections have Bill and Mahala going back & forth between IA and MN. The 1910 IA federal census shows William, Mahala, Ruth, Oscar, Joanna, and Forest living in Benton Twp., Benton Co., IA. In 1915 when Ruth Brody and Ray Primmer got married Bill and Mahala were living in Hackensack, MN. The 1920 IA federal census shows William, Mahala, Oscar & Forest are living in Vinton, Benton Co., IA. Bill, Oscar and Forest are listed as farm laborers.
From 1927 to 1933 they lived in Cedar Rapids, Linn Co., IA. Mahala was staying with Forest and Lucille at the time of her death. Forest came home from work and told her to get out of bed and fix his supper. She looked at him and said "Forest, I have cooked the last meal for you I'll ever cook." She died later that evening, April 2, 1933. She is buried in Urbana, Kisling Cemetery, Benton Co., IA. After Mahala's death Bill went to MN and lived the next 20 years with Ida and her family until his death. He died September 13, 1953 in Backus, Cass Co., MN. His remains were brought back to IA where he was buried next to Mahala in Urbana, Kisling Cemetery, Benton Co., IA.
Bill provide for his large family in the pioneer fashion. He as a avid hunter with a sharp shooter's eye. He worked on farms and in the woods. He could shoot the meat for supper just stepping out the door. Mahala was a immaculate house keeper and a good cook that she taught her daughters. She fixed up the log houses with curtains and crocheted bedspreads. She also entertained the grandchildren with stories. She told her grandsons, Forrest & Gerald, about the Indians.
A picture is worth a thousand words. Photos show how close the family of Bill & Mahala remained thru the years. Stories reflect how much the children all loved and respected Bill and Mahala.
Bill made frequent trips for visits back to Iowa. He chewed tobacco, so in the summer if you were barefoot you had to watch where you stepped to miss the chaws of tobacco. He especially liked to stay with Forest on the farm in Toddville where he could wander the 120 acres gathering nuts, berries and wild game. In the spring he would whittle wood to tap the maple trees. What a treat it was to help him gather all the pails of sap and watch him build a fire and put all the sap in a big kettle to make the maple syrup. His last visit to Iowa was to attend the Brody Annual Reunion in July of 1953.