Iowa Archives – Page 5 of 90

Biography of R. M. South

R.M. SOUTH. – It is quite within the province of the compendium to grant representation to the esteemed gentleman whose name initiates this paragraph, since he is really one of the builders of our county, since he has manifested a personality of uprightness and commensurate ability in all his ways, since also he was one of those brave men who pledged their lives to sustain the honor of the stars and stripes to retrieve from insult its glory, and preserve intact the institution of freedom when the minions of treason and rebellion plied their nefarious trade of destruction to all … Read more

Biography of Amanda J. Weathers

Amanda J. Hammock.–The estimable and gracious lady whose name appears above is one of the worthy class who opened this section of the country for the ingress of civilization’s ways and for the abode of man, having been obliged to labor hard in this undertaking and having accomplished praise-worthy achievements, while her efforts to-day demonstrate her capable and upright and possessed of a sagacity and keenness of perception and ability to execute designs that makes her a very valuable resident of union county, where she is highly esteemed as she has always been. Amanda was born in Wayne county, Iowa, … Read more

Iowa Vital Records

Iowa vital records, as their name suggests, are connected with central life events: birth, marriage, and death. Maintained by civil authorities, they are prime sources of genealogical information; but, unfortunately, official vital records are available only for relatively recent periods. These records, despite their recent creation in the United States, are critically important in genealogical research, often supplying details on family members well back into the nineteenth century. The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy, by Loretto Szucs and Sandra Luebking. A few counties in Iowa began to register vital statistics during the 1870s, but most county records began in … Read more

Iowa County Courthouse Addresses

Iowa court records have been kept since 1827. The names of many Iowa residents are listed in civil court records, where information exists about property disputes, divorce, estate settlements and other disputes. These courts also handled criminal matters. Court order books and case files may list a person’s age, residence, occupation, and family relationships. Sometimes friends and neighbors gave depositions as witnesses of events that occurred. Adair County Iowa Courthouse Address Clerk of Court 400 Public Square Suite 7 Greenfield, IA 50849 Phone: 641-743-2445 Adams County Iowa Courthouse Address Clerk of Court 500 9th Street Corning, IA 50841 Phone: 641-322-4711 Allamakee … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Farthing

William Farthing, of Albemarle County, Virginia, married Polly Vaughn, and settled in Kentucky. They had Sarah, Elizabeth, William, John, Thomas, and Shelton B. Sarah married James Hunt, who settled in Montgomery County in 1836. Elizabeth married William P. Hill, of Kentucky, who also settled in Montgomery County in 1836. William married Nancy Wood, and settled in Iowa. John married Lucena J. Moran, and settled in Missouri City, Missouri. Shelton B. married Lucy A. Glenn and settled in Montgomery County in 1836.

Bryant, Amanda J. – Obituary

Following is an obituary for Amanda J. Hammack, for the purpose of information, you the reader must be aware of Amanda’s marriages or this obituary could be confusing. As far so far Amanda J. had six husbands (subject to change) they are: George W. See m. 1868, C.A. Anderson m. 1875, John A. Childers m. 1878, Joseph Weathers m. 1895, Mr. Bryant m. ?, William T. Grider m. ?. There is some question of her marriage to William T. Grider, he doesn’t seem to belong to Amanda J. Obituary for Amanda J. Bryant Mrs. Bryant Dead. Well known Citizen of This … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Geo. W. Hayes

Geo. W. Hayes stands high among the voting attorneys Eastern Oregon, and has established a foothold in Harney County from which it would be difficult to eradicate possessing as he does talent, energy, ambition and industry. He was born In Marion County, Iowa in 1859, coming across the plains with his parents in 1862, in an ox team. They located at Eugene, Lane County, where he stayed until 1874, having at intervals attended the log schoolhouse. Moving to Lake County, he kept up his studies, and at the age of 18 began teaching school, working also at the carpenter’s trade. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of A. J. McKinnon

A. J. McKinnon, the present sheriff of Harney County, was born in Page County, Iowa, in 1866. He has been a resident of this County with but short intervals since 1886, during a portion of which time he conducted a blacksmith shop in Burns. In June 1896, he was elected sheriff on the Democratic ticket, and has given general satisfaction as an officer, being both capable find efficient. He takes quite an interest in fraternal affairs, being a Mason, Knight and Odd Fellow.

Biographical Sketch of Hon M. D. Clifford

M. D. Clifford, Circuit Judge of the Sixth District, was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, in 1859. He came to Oregon in 1870, with his mother, settling in Grant County, and is virtually a self-educated man. In 1880 he began reading law in the office of Hill & Mays, at The Dalles and was admitted to the bar in 1882. Returning to Grant County he began the general practice of his profession. In 1884 he was elected district attorney of the Sixth Judicial District, and again in 1886 at the expiration of the latter term he resumed general practice until January … Read more

David and Margaret Mitchell Genealogy – Appendix

A Tribute to Albert Small by David Mitchell Small My father always provided well for his family. During the Civil War, he staid at home and his father went in his place; my father having such a large family, this plan was thought the best. My father helped at home to gather recruits, and I remember of his telling of his numerous narrow escapes from the opposition. He was always one of the leading men in the church (U. P.) The 23d psalm was his favorite and he said that when he died he wanted us to repeat that psalm. … Read more

David and Margaret Mitchell, Fifth Generation

David Adelbert Laughead 541a. Laughead, David Adelbert (214), Des Moines, Iowa; b. June 6, 1874. m. June 13, 1906, Mary J,, dau. of J. W. and M. N. Eyestone. Electrician; United Presbyterian; Republican and Prohibitionist. William Martin Laughead 542. Laughead, William Martin (214), Des Moines, Ia.; b. June 3, 1871. m. Sept. 1, 1904, Ida, dau. of J. and Mary E. Lindley. Electrician; Presbyterian. Lizzie Ethel Young Laughead 543. Laughead, Lizzie Ethel Young (214:), 1885, Washington, Ia.; b. Sept. 23, 1879. Teacher; United Presbyterian. No. 50 Euclid Ave., Pasadena, Cal. Luella Eveline Laughead 544. Laughead, Luella Eveline (214), Washington, Ia.; … Read more

Margaret and David Mitchell: Fourth Generation

William Bradford Laughead 211. Laughead, William Bradford (43) ; b. May 24, 1838; was a student at Westminster College, New Wilmington, Pa. Enlisted in the Union Army in the summer of 1862; died of fever near Lexington, Ky., Nov. 28, 1862. Nancy Laughead-Young 212. Laughead-Young, Nancy (43), Pasadena, Cal.; b. 1842. m. Nov. 21, 1867, James H. Young. Resided until recently in Washington, Iowa; is now in California. United Presbyterian. David Laughead 213. Laughead, David (43) ; b. May, 1816. Died March, 1863. James Henry Laughead 214. Laughead, James Henry (43), Washington, Iowa; b. April 11, 1848. m. Feb. 20, … Read more

Margaret and David Mitchell: Third Generation

Issac Newton Laughead 43. Laughead, Isaac Newton (?) ; b. near Clark’s run, Greene Co., Ohio, Nov. 12, 1810. m. 183’x, Nancy, dau. of David and Nancy Anderson, of Greene Co., O. He was the first of David Mitchell’s descendants to enter the ministry. He graduated at Franklin College, Athens, O., in 1834 ; was licensed by the Miami Associate Presbytery on July 10, 1838, to preach the gospel. He supplied, at the direction of his presbytery, various congregations, but spent the greater part of his life in and near Washington, Iowa. He wrote a booklet in 1885, relating to … Read more

David and Margaret Mitchell: Second Generation

James Laughead 6. Laughead, James (1) ; born 1787 in Kentucky, married in Ohio, Mrs. Anna Morton, a widow, and lived most of his life in Logan Co., O., where he died at a good old age; His remains lie in a graveyard near Huntsville of that County. No children. 7. Laughead, David Mitchell (1); born Feb. 7, 1789, married Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Kyle, who was neighbor to his father’s family in Kentucky, and moved north in 1804, or shortly afterward. Seceder ; farmer ; abolitionist ; was in the war of 1812. Children: I. 43 Isaac N.; II. … Read more

David and Margaret Mitchell, First Generation

The Children of David and Margaret Mitchell Elizabeth (Mitchell) Laughead 1. Elizabeth (Mitchell) Laughead. Born the last part of the year 1763, in Cumberland County, Pa., not many miles southwesterly from Carlisle. She was baptised by Rev. John Cuthbertson, Feb. 20, 1764 ; moved to Kentucky with parents in 1779, and, with them in the fort, shared the hardships of the early pioneers. About the year 1786, she married David, son of James and Eleanor (McKnight) Laughead, who were married by Rev. John Cuthbertson, Dec. 12, 1752, at Octarara, Pa. and who, about 1784, moved to Fayette Co., Ky. It … Read more

Ida County Iowa Genealogy

The following pages represent a collection of genealogy data for Ida County Iowa. The sources used to compile this data were many and are listed at the bottom of this page for the researchers reference. 1884 Iowa Farmers Directory Battle Township Blane Township Corwin Township Douglas Township Galva Township Garfield Township Grant Township Griggs Township Hayes Township Logan Township Maple Township Silver Creek Township 1906 Iowa Farmers Directory Battle Township Blane Township Corwin Township Douglas Township Galva Township Garfield Township Grant Township Griggs Township Hayes Township Logan Township Maple Township Silver Creek Township 1920 Farmers Directory Battle Township Blaine Township … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Orville E. Thornton

(See Ward)-Orville Elihu, son of George Washington and Emily Jane (Austin) Thornton was born day 29, 1876, in Iowa and educated in that state; Married in Iowa April 2, 1898 Drucilla A., daughter of Reuben and Elizabeth Ann Conley, Their adopted daughter Georgia Myrtle Martin was born at Centralia February 22, 1910 and has been with them since she was 5 days old. She is generally known as Georgia Myrtle Thornton. Mr. Thornton’s Justice of the Peace at Centralia and is engaged in farming. George Washington Thornton was born on Beanies Prairie on February 2, 1856.

Biographical Sketch of Felix G. Cowan

Richard Cowan was born October 9, 1839, in Georgia, and married in April, 1865, in Illinois, Elzada Allen, born November 22, 1840, in Tennessee. They were the parents of Felix G. Cowan, born July 22, 1866, in Illinois; and Sarah Cowan, who married James A. Thompson, and is now deceased. Mr. Cowan was educated in the Cherokee Nation, and married on June 1, 1886, Lulu Murry, and on March 22, 1909, he married at Indianola, Iowa, Rebecca Blair, daughter of Calvin C., and Cirthia Blair. Mrs. Cowan had three brothers and one sister as follows: William E., Jane A., Almus … Read more

John Wesley Somers

John Wesley Somers, one of Ida Grove’s oldest and distinguished residents, died Saturday morning, August 2, 1919, at the age of 84 years, 8 months, and 15 days. The funeral was held at the late home Monday, in charge of Rev. John T. Pierce. The interment was at the Ida Grove Cemetery. The pall bearers were Charles S. Macomber, W. J. Scott, James E. Easton, B. S. Noble, A. Sykes, and Card Kiner. Mr. Somers was born at Rockford, Surrey County, North Carolina, on November 17, 1834. While still in youth, he moved to Rockford, Illinois, where he met Sarah … Read more

History of Mathew Gray Post – Grand Army of the Republic

This was organized in the fall of 1881 with 27 charter members. The final membership reached 127. It lasted until the last member, James Deal, died in 1930. The post was given its name in honor of Matthew Gray, a highly respected soldier who had died just before the organization. For many years, the Mathew Gray Post was very active and great enthusiasm was displayed in the observance of Decoration Day and the Fourth of July. Each year on those days, the Civil War Veterans would dress in their blue uniforms, one carrying a large flag and the rest a … Read more