A native of England, born in York on May 27, 1827. He died February 9, 1892. When he was only four or five years of age he was brought to the United States. He was a son of Willoughby and Susannah (Woods) Mickelwait, both of whom were natives of England, whence they came with their family to the new world. In 1851 he cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of Mills county, Iowa, and secured the family homestead, which was then a tract of wild land, upon which not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made. All modern accessories and improvements were added to the farm, which is now one of the best in the entire state. It is a magnificent estate of six hundred and forty acres and is situated two miles west from Hillsdale. James Mickelwait was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Bayles. He was a man of marked individuality and strong character and was recognized as a leader of public thought and movement. He was known as one of the distinguished residents of southwestern Iowa, and his fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, had at different periods called him to fill minor local offices of trust. Higher honors, however, awaited him and in 1874 he was elected to represent his district in the state legislature, becoming a member of the fifteenth general assembly of Iowa. He was a man of sound judgment whose opinions were relied upon in all matters of public importance, and his loyalty and fidelity to the best interests of his county, state and nation was ever above question.