[John M. Gwin Note: Another precinct heard from! In March 2006 these cousins, Victor Klopfenstein and his wife Patricia, found us and are adding to William W.'s and Catherine's line in this gold color. Victor and I are of the same generation, making us 5th cousins to each other. Family may call at 319-377-5502.]    Obituary from an unk. newspaper (probably in Keota) for Catherine Bush Gwin (1833-1914) Catherine Bush was born in Fayette County, Ohio, 5 August 1833, the daughter of Absalom Bush and Violet Arnold Bush. She grew up with numerus brothers and sisters (Sarah, Violet, Mary, Leonard, Victory, Ezra, Cyrus, and Darius). The Absalom Bush family migrated to Washington County, Iowa, in 1846 and settled on a 200-acre farm in English River Township. On 2 November 1851, Catherine Bush married William Watkins Gwin, son of Richard W. and Nancy Watkins Gwin. To this union were born ten children: Nathan Alvin, Nancy Violet, Ella May, Nora Alice, Lillie Belle, Orley Bush, Willard Darius, and three boys who died in infancy. The family lived on a farm of 200 acres in Section 35 of English River Township. In 1885, Catherine and William Gwin removed to Keota, Iowa. He died there 17 October 1907 and she on 8 October 1914. They are buried in the Keota cemetery 25.01--Nathan Alvin Gwin, b. unk. [listed as "Nathan", age 15 in the 1870 census of English River Twnp., Washington Co., IA]; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch.; 25.02--Nancy Violet Gwin, b. unk. [listed as "Violet", age 12 in the 1870 census of English River Twnp., Washington Co., IA]; d. bef. Jan 14., 1925 (see Ella Mae's obituary, below); bd. unk.; m. Mr. Fessler (see Ella Mae's obituary, below); unk. ch.; 25.03--Ella May Gwin, b. 3 Feb 1862, Washington Co., IA [listed as "Ellie", age 15 in the 1870 census of English River Twnp., Washington Co., IA]; d. 18 Jan 1925, Washington Co., IA; bd. Elm Grove Cem., Washington, IA; m. 21 Nov 1881, Washington Co., IA, to Frederick Bartholomew (b. 30 Jun 1858, Washington Co., IA, s/o Jeremiah Bartholomew and Altha Rainey; d. 31 Dec 1936, Washington Co., IA; bd. Elm Grove Cem., Washington, IA;); 4 known ch. 26.01--George L. Bartholomew 26.02--Nellie Bartholomew m. O. K. Scott  26.03--Nina Bartholomew m. Earl Smith 26.04--Esther Bartholomew m. B. C. Crozier     Obituary from the Jan. 14, 1925, edition of the newspaper in Washington, Iowa, for Ella May Gwin Bartholomew FUNERAL THURSDAY Mrs. Bartholomew Mrs. Fred Bartholomew passed away yesterday afternoon at one thirty-five o'clock at the Bartholomew home on East Main Street, after an illness of seven years.  They were seven years of suffering of the most intense character, attendant upon a trouble of a cancerous nature. Yet this tells only half the story, for they were years when there was exhibited before family and friends a patience that was marvelous and a thought for children on the part of a mother which cannot be surpassed. They were seven years of search for some relief, and while none that permanent was ever found, no word of complaint, and very few, which have any idea of the terrible suffering, ever escaped her lips. When last fall, Mrs. Bartholomew yielded to what seemed to be the inevitable, her one wish and prayer aside from the thought of what the separation would mean to her family, was that she might be called to her long home, so anxious and so ready to meet her Maker. Yesterday she slipped off very quietly, surrounded by all of the members of her family, after a few hours of unconsciousness. This picture, together with that of the wonderful devotion of the husband and father, who took all the care of her through her long illness save for the last two weeks, is the one that stood out this morning in the minds of the children. They have the memory of a mother who was always devoted, unselfish, thoughtful, and patient. Funeral services will be held tomorrow, Thursday afternoon, at the late residence on East Main Street at two o'clock. Rev. J. D. Kern, assisted by Rev. A. J. Unthank, will conduct the service, and members of the Baptist choir will furnish the music. Burial will be in Elm Grove. The casket will be open at the home after ten o'clock tomorrow morning for the friends who care to call. Ella Gwin was born at Richmond, on February 3, 1862, the daughter of William W. and Catherine Bush Gwin. Her home continued in the neighborhood until her marriage to Fred Bartholomew on November 24, 1881, when they took up their new home on a farm twelve miles northwest of Washington, and on which they continued to live until Mr. Bartholomew retired and the family moved to Washington twelve years ago. They were the parents of four children, George L., at home, Mrs. O. K. (Nellie) Scott, residing on the home farm, Mrs. Earl (Nina) Smith of the Prairie Flower neighborhood, and Mrs. B. C. (Esther) Crozier of Clinton. These survive with the husband and with eight grandchildren, who were the objects of the devotion of the grandmother. She was one of a family of seven children, N. A. Gwin and Mrs. Violet Fessler, deceased, W. D. Gwin of Horton, Missouri, Mrs. Edgar Heigho, Boise, Idaho, Mrs. Edward Wright, Spokane, Washington, and O. D. Gwin, White Bluffs, Washington. Early in life, Mrs. Bartholomew was converted and always lived a most sincere Christian life. She was a charter member of the Prairie Flower Baptist Church and transferred her membership to the local church when moving here. She was always found at work in the different organizations as long as health permitted. She was also a member of the I. G. White Women's Relief Corps. 26.01--George B. Bartholomew, b. 4 Sep 1882, Washington Co., IA; d. 28 Dec 1959, Washington Co., IA; m. Sylvia Geneva Smith [JMG Note: I wonder if George's middle name is Bush after his grandmother. Note that his mother Ella Mae's obituary, above, lists him as George L., "at home."] 26.02--Nellie Amelia Bartholomew, b. 1 Jan 1884; d. 23 Nov 1967, Washington Co., IA; bd. Elm Grove Cem., Washington, IA; m. 26 Mar 1914, Washington Co., IA, to Orva Kelso Scott (b. 7 Jul 1882, Paxton, IL, s/o Francis Scott and Mary Swords; d. 24 Nov 1968, Washington, IA; bd. Elm Grove Cem., Washington, IA;); 3 known ch.; 27.01--Mariella Blythe Scott, b. 5 Feb 1915, Washington Co., IA; d. 21 Jan 2000, Washington Co., IA; m. 8 Apr 1933 in Galesburg, Knox co., IL, to Joseph Harold Klopfenstein (b. 30 Jul 1909 near Sandy Hook in Washington Co., IA, to Joseph Klopfenstein and Anna Stout; d. 10 Mar 2005 in Washington, Washington Co., IA); 28.01--Mayor Victor Lee Klopfenstein, DVM, m. Patricia Ann Soethout [3990 Center Point Rd NE Cedar Rapids or 5540 Hunters Ridge Ct ., Marion, IA 52302; (319) 393-7834 or 377-5502]; contributors of this information 29.01--Kevin Klopfenstein, m. Deb (nee unk.), [PRIVATE] 29.02--Vivian Klopfenstein, m. Pat (nee unk.), [PRIVATE] 29.03--Mark A. Klopfenstein, m. Cheryl (nee unk.),  [PRIVATE] 29.04--Vaughn Klopfenstein; m. Lori (nee unk.), [PRIVATE] 29.05--Michelle Klopfenstein, m. Scott (nee unk.),  [PRIVATE] 28.02--Cecelia Ann "Ce Ann" Klopfenstein, m. Donald Duane Martin, [PRIVATE] 28.03--Jay Lynn Klopfenstein, m. Diana Joyce Cole,  [PRIVATE] 27.02--Richard O. Scott, b. 30 Jun 1917, Washington Co., IA; d. 14 Dec 1989, Iowa City, IA; bd. Wellman Cem., Wellman, IA; m1. 25 Jan 1936 in Kakoka, MO, to Jeanette Wade (b. 13 Mar 1918 in Iowa Co., IA, d/o Orestas Wade and LaVera Messenger; d. 7 May 1967 in Iowa City, IA; bd. Wellman Cem, Wellman, IA); m2. 1968 to Margaret Vincent Werthein, (b. 14 Oct 1933 in Washington, IA, d/o J. Vincent and Myrtle Booth)  [JMG Note: I wonder if Richard's middle name is Orva after his father...] 28.01--Richard Eugene "Gene" Scott, [PRIVATE] 28.02--Micheal (sic) Scott,  [PRIVATE] 28.03--Linda Scott, [PRIVATE] 28.04--Fred Scott,  [PRIVATE] ROS m2.  Margaret Vincent Werthein 28.05--Elizabeth Werthein Scott, [PRIVATE] 28.06--Michael Werthein Scott, [PRIVATE] 27.03--Robert Norman Scott, b. 11 May 1926, Washington Co., IA; d. 21 Jan. 1995, Veterans' Hospital, Minneapolis, MN; m. Helen Galloway (b. 13 Nov 1922 in Washington Co., IA, d/o Earl Galloway and Naomi Foser); 28.01--Norman Scott, [PRIVATE] 28.02--Herbert Scott, [PRIVATE] 26.03--Nina May Bartholomew, b. 9 May 1886, Washington Co., IA [listed as Nina M. Smith, age 23, in the 28 Apr 1910 census of Cedar Twp., Washington Co., IA]; [listed as Nina M, age 33, in the 17 Mar 1920 census of Prairie Flower Church Road, Cedar Twp., Washington Co., IA]; [listed as Nina M., age 43, in the 25 Apr 1930 census of the Prairie Flower Sch. Dist., Cedar Twp., Washington Co., IA]; d. 16 Sep 1974, Washington Co., IA (the 14 Jan 1925 obit of her mother lists her residence as "of the Prairie Flower neighborhood"); m. 14 Jun 1906, Washington Co., IA, to Earl Leroy Smith (b. ca. 1883 IA/IA/IA [listed as Earl L. Smith, age 27, in the 28 Apr 1910 census of Cedar Twp., Washington Co., IA]; [listed as Earl L., age 37, in the 17 Mar 1920 census of Prairie Flower Church Road, Cedar Twp., Washington Co., IA]; [listed as Earl L., age 47, in the 25 Apr 1930 census of the Prairie Flower Sch. Dist., Cedar Twp., Washington Co., IA]; d. unk.; bd. unk.); at least one ch. (reports 1 of 1 c. lvg. in 1910 census) [Samantha Smith Note: Nina May was named such as she was called "Baby" at home.  She went to school and didn't have a name other than "Baby", so her parents named her Nina May as she was born on the 9th of May.  That's the story anyway.] Earl Leroy Smith's and Nina May Bartholomew's engagement photo, courtesy Samantha Smith 27.01--Una (Emma?) R. Smith, b. ca. May 1909 in Washington Co., IA [listed as Una R. Smith, age 11mos., in the 28 Apr 1910 census of Cedar Twp., Washington Co., IA]; [listed as Emma R., age 10, in the 17 Mar 1920 census of Prairie Flower Church Road, Cedar Twp., Washington Co., IA]; [listed as Una R., age 20, in the 25 Apr 1930 census of the Prairie Flower Sch. Dist., Cedar Twp., Washington Co., IA]; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch. 27.02--Ella E. Smith, b. ca. 1914 in Washington Co., IA [listed as Ella E., age 6, in the 17 Mar 1920 census of Prairie Flower Church Road, Cedar Twp., Washington Co., IA]; [listed as Ella E., age 16, in the 25 Apr 1930 census of the Prairie Flower Sch. Dist., Cedar Twp., Washington Co., IA]; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch. 27.03--Frederick E. Smith, b. ca. Apr 1916 in Washington Co., IA [listed as Frederick E., age 3yrs 11mos, in the 17 Mar 1920 census of Prairie Flower Church Road, Cedar Twp., Washington Co., IA]; [listed as Fredric E., age 13, in the 25 Apr 1930 census of the Prairie Flower Sch. Dist., Cedar Twp., Washington Co., IA]; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch. 27.04--Esther A. Smith, b. ca. Apr 1919 in Washington Co., IA [listed as Asta A., age 11mos, in the 17 Mar 1920 census of Prairie Flower Church Road, Cedar Twp., Washington Co., IA]; [listed as Ester A., age 11, in the 25 Apr 1930 census of the Prairie Flower Sch. Dist., Cedar Twp., Washington Co., IA]; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch. 26.04--Esther Bartholomew, b. 3 Oct 1897, Washington Co., IA; d. 30 Jan 1976, Waterloo (Black Hawk Co.), IA; m. Bruce D. Crozier (the 14 Jan 1925 obit. of her mother lists her as "Mrs. B. C. Crozier"--not B. D.--"of Clinton") 25.04--Willard Darius Gwin, b. ca. 1864 [listed as "Willard", age 6 in the 1870 census of English River Twnp., Washington Co., IA]; [listed as "W. D.", age 54 in the 1920 census of Wakanusa, 1st Pct., Douglass Co., KS]; d. after 14 Jan 1925, on which date he was living in Horton, Missouri (see Ella Mae's obituary, above); bd. unk.; m. Lavina (nee unk.); two ch.; 26.01--Willard Gwin, b. ca. 1896 [listed as "Willard", age 24 in the 1920 census of Wakanusa, 1st Pct., Douglass Co., KS] 26.02--Howard Gwin, b. ca. 1898 [listed as "Howard", age 22 in the 1920 census of Wakanusa, 1st Pct., Douglass Co., KS] 25.05--Nora Alice Gwin, b. ca. 1866 [listed as "Nora", age 4 in the 1870 census of English River Twnp., Washington Co., IA]; d. after 14 Jan 1925, on which date she was living in Boise, Idaho (see Ella Mae's obituary, above); bd. unk.; m. 26 Sept 1900 in Salt Lake City, UT, to Edgar Heigho (b. 23 Oct 1867 at Grays-Thurrock, Essex Co., England; immigrated to Detroit, MI, in 1874); 3 ch.; 26.01--Cedric Atheling Heigho, b. 1900; d. unk.; m. never; no known ch. 26.02--Virginia Gwin Heigho, twin, b. 1903; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. Theodore Yntema, Sr. (b. unk.; d. unk.; bd. unk.); 1 ch. 27.01--Theodore Yntema, Jr., b. unk. 26.03--Katherine Audley Heigho, twin, b. 1903; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. Melber Chambers (b. unk.; d. unk.; bd. unk.); 1 ch. 27.01--Ann Chambers, b. unk. From: Sarah Nunes <nunes_satyahoodotcom> Date: November 24, 2008 To: jmcdgwin@zianet.com Subject: Williams Watkins Gwin and Catherine Bush Dear Mr. Gwin, I found the following entry on your website for Williams Watkins Gwin and Catherine Bush while doing a search for the family name Heigho: 5.05--Nora Alice Gwin, b. ca. 1866 [listed as "Nora", age 4 in the 1870 census of English River Twnp., Washington Co., IA]; d. after 14 Jan 1925, on which date she was living in Boise, Idaho (see Ella Mae's obituary, above); bd. unk.; m. Edgar Heigho; unk. ch.; Edgar Heigho was the younger brother of my great-grandfather.  He was born 23 Oct. 1867 at Grays-Thurrock, Essex Co. England, immigrated to Detroit, MI in 1874 and married Nora Gwin 26 Sept 1900 in Salt Lake City, UT.  They had three children, Cedric Atheling Heigho, b. 1900, and Virginia Gwin Heigho and Katherine Audley Heigho, twins, born 1903.  Cedric Aethling Heigho never married.  Virginia married Theodore Yntema, Sr., and had one son Theodore Yntema, Jr.  Katherine married Melber Chambers and had one daughter Ann Chambers.  Hoping this information is useful to you. Yours sincerely, Sarah Heigho Nunes From the Apr 1910 Census of Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho Res/Fam Name                                   Relat to HoH Race/ Sex Age DOB [est] Yrs. Md. #Ch./ #Lvg. POB S/F/M Occ. John M. Gwin Comments -----/177/322 Edgar M. Heigho head wm 42 m2/9 England/England/England railroad (rest unclear) Sarah Nunes sent me the above information on Edgar Heigho and his family, without which I'd never have found this census data on Ancestry.com, who had mistranscribed it (and understandably so) as Hughs and Heighs. Nora A. Heigho wife 41 m1/9 34/3 IA/IN/OH Cedric A. Heigho son 8 s UT/England/IA Virginia G. Heigho daughter 5 s UT/England/IA This is Virginia Gwin Heigho, according to Sarah Nunes in Nov 2008. This means she is a direct descendant of Isham and Mary Gwin still carrying the Gwin name!   :-) Katherine Heigho daughter 5 s UT/England/IA servant 17 s WY/Finland/Finland servant I can't read this young lady's name either...Ancestry took a stab at it and said Anna Rantala 25.06--Lillie Belle Gwin, b. ca. Jul 1870 [listed as "Infant", age one month (b. July) in the 1870 census of English River Twnp., Washington Co., IA]; d. after 14 Jan 1925, on which date she was living in Spokane, Washington (see Ella Mae's obituary, above); bd. unk.; m. Edward Wright; unk. ch.;    From: "Ron Rowley" <quiltinggolf@doglegs.com> Date: Mon Sep 11, 2006  09:54:45 PM US/Mountain To: <jmcdgwin@zianet.com> Subject: Lillie Belle Gwin 9 Sept 06 First of all, I am delighted this morning to find your site! I am doing volunteer research for the Museum of Art and Culture in Spokane, WA. They own two quilts that were made by Catherine Gwin of Keota, Iowa, having been brought west with Lillie Belle, her daughter, and then passed to Evelyn C. Wright, her granddaughter. They were then gifted to the museum. So--With your information, many of the gaps have been filled in. I am wondering though, is there a way to secure a better photo of Catherine Bush Gwin for the MAC archives? My goal is to document the quiltmakers as closely as possible.  Thank you for all the work. And I will be glad to share the info that I have on Lillie Belle when it is complete. I have yet to track down death records, etc. Nancy J. Rowley quiltinggolf@doglegs.com [John Gwin Note: The following entry under Lillie Belle Gwin Wright is based on the above e.mail and supplemented by the 19 Apr 1910 Census of Altamont Pct., Spokane Co., Washington (see below).] 26.01--Evelyn Catherine Wright, b. ca. 1902 in UT; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch.;] 25.07--Orley Bush Gwin, b. ca. 1874 [age 46 in the 1920 census of Seattle, King Co., WA], [not yet found anywhere in the 1930 census]; d. after 14 Jan 1925, on which date he was living in White Bluffs, Washington (see Ella Mae's obituary, above) [not yet found anywhere in the 1930 census]; bd. unk.; m. Hallie O. (nee unk.; b. ca. 1899 in IN [age 21 in the 1920 census of Seattle, King Co., WA]); no known ch.; 25.08--Anderson Gwin, b. unk.; d. as infant Dec 25, unk. yr. (see photo at right); bd. at Richmond Pub. Cem.*, Richmond, Washington Co., IA; birth order not confirmed; 25.09--Smiley W. Gwin, b. unk.; d. as infant 2_ Feb, yr. ending in a zero (see photo at right); bd. at Richmond Pub. Cem.*, Richmond, Washington Co., IA; birth order not confirmed; 25.10--(son) Gwin, b. unk.; d. as infant; birth order not confirmed; *Directions to Richmond Public Cemetery: Take I-80 to Iowa City. At exit 239, take I-380 (same as U. S. 218) south 15 miles to the Riverside exit at the junction of Iowa State Route 22. Go west nine miles on route 22 to Kalona, then at the light go south about three miles on Iowa State Route 1. You'll cross the North Fork of the English River. Watch for the sign to turn left to Richmond. Take this good road about a mile to the east to the tiny hamlet of Richmond. The paved road ends at the church and its beautifully kept cemetery. Sorry! I took lots more pictures when I was there in April 2008, but I've misplaced the little disposable camera I used! I'll add them here when I find it. Meanwhile, these were taken with Charity's digital camera which survived the trip. Another boo-boo: I failed to get over to Keota and take pictures of William W.'s and Catherine's graves!   Above: These stones were evidently broken off and then replaced, burying the last part of the inscriptions. One could dig up a little of the dirt in front of each and see what else each says--and if I'd thought of it when I was there, I would have. So much for hindsight. Regardless, the markers read as follows: (above, left:) ANDERSON, Son of Wm. W. & Catharine GWIN, Died Dec. 25... (above, right:) SMILEY W., Son of W. W. & C. GWIN, DIED __b. 2_, __60... --John M. Gwin Victor and Pat sent us these photos. ABOVE: Left: William Watkins Gwin and Catherine Bush Gwin; Center, l-r, t-b: Bartholomew family: Nellie and George; Ella May, Nina, and Fred; and Esther; Right: Orva Scott and Nellie Bartholomew Scott BELOW: Left, l-r: Three children of Orva and Nellie Scott, Richard, Mariella, and Robert; Right, l-r, t-b: The Klopfenstein Family: Jay, Cecilia, and Victor; Harold and Mariella   In December 2005 Jim Wall sent me this biography of William W. Gwin from the book named below. The four-page entry was sent to him in 1993 by Gwin cousin Merle E. Turnipseed. John Gwin Comments GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY of Keokuk County, Iowa The Lewis Publishing Co., 1903 p. 264 WILLIAM W. GWIN.     It is now our privilege and pleasure to trace the life of one of Keota's most honored citizen (sic) from the time his grandfather came to this county over a century ago, until the present, when the grandson after a successful life is spending his remaining days in peaceful contemplation of the past and hope of the future. Isaam Gwin, grandfather of William W. Gwin, was a native of Ireland (sic); his wife was Mary Canteberry (sic); he left the land of his birth when very young, and settled with his wife in Tennessee about the time it became a state. By trade he was a miller and by profession a Baptist preacher. Although a slave holder, the practice was abhorrent to his nature, and in 1820 he freed his slaves and moved to Indiana, that he might be in a state opposed to slavery, and in this state he died. He was the father of ten Keota--Town about 45 miles ssw of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in Keokuk Co. Isaam--This is our Isham Gwin. At the time of this printing (1903), Isham had been dead some 63 years, having been buried in (we assume) Orange Co., IN, in ca. Dec 1830. Ireland--Oh, I don't thiiiiink so! I am more convinced now than ever of Isham's birth in Virginia to Richard Gwin and Sarah Chesley, natives and residents of the Jamestown area. Isham moved west into Mongomery Co., VA, where he married Mary Canterberry and whence they moved into western NC (soon to become eastern Tennessee). This author must've misread his notes or something. Tennessee--In 2004 we found and mapped this 249-acre homestead in Crowson's Cove, Sevier Co., TN; click the link to see it! miller--This is news to me--a miller! His son John was a wheelwright. Baptist--Isham and his neighbor, Brother Kinsey Veatch, were founding elders of the Providence Baptist Church of Orange County, IN, where both preached. Isham also preached at Tuckaleechee Cove Baptist Church in Blount Co., TN, where, I believe, John met and married Jane Walker in 1812, and Isham and Kinsey were both delegates to the district meetings of the Baptist assemblies in the Sevier/Blount area, representing the Wear's Cove Baptist Church. freed--Aha! This is the first I have heard of Isham freeing his slaves and being against slavery. Now we have yet another reason--perhaps the best--for a parting of the ways of John, William, and Chesley (the two-for-sure-and-possibly-three who went south) and Isham and family (who went north): a basic disagreement over the question of slavery! We know that John had at least one slave--his "old man George"--and that his son, Isom, had ten slaves he left to his wife and daughters when he died. Click the links to see the documents. ten--Voila! Here is the first tangible indicator--outside my own source--that my John Gwin could indeed be a son of Isham, as I have believed and been claiming for years! As is shown above, I have eleven children for Isham and Mary, the evidence for one of whom is very sketchy at best. Therefore, that this author states there are ten is very encouraging! Prior to this, the only list of Isham's children we had--his will of 1830--only mentions eight children (or the grandchildren in the cases of those of the eight who were already dead), which left lots of room for doubt that John and William were his. But this word ten definitely says there were two more children! I believe them to be John and Will. At the time of this printing, 1903, John had been dead some 26 years, having been buried in Wilsonville, AL, in 1877.  Will had died earlier.   p. 265 children, the father of our subject being the ninth child and the youngest son.     R. W. Gwin, the father of William W., and an early settler of Iowa, was born on his father's homestead in Tennessee on January 30, 1804, and there his boyhood was passed, and he received such educational advantages as were then to be had. He was not yet twenty years old when his father removed to the free state of Indiana. There he was married when twenty-one years of age and five years later moved to Illinois and occupied a farm of one hundred and sixty acres east of the Illinois river. In 1831, crossing the Illinois, he settled on another farm of one hundred and sixty acres and remained there about five years. His next move was across the Mississippi into Des Moines county, Iowa, where he lived for two years; then for five years he was in Louisa county, and in 1843 he bought, in Washington county, four hundred acres of land from the government, which he improved and cultivated until 1858. Then emigrating with part of his family to Kansas, he settled on five hundred acres of partly improved land, on which he built a house and made many improvements; about 1878 he moved further south to Montgomery county, Kansas, purchasing a fine farm and town property in Independence, and here in 1885 he ended his long and useful life. He was a Republican in politics and a member of the Sons of Temperance. His wife was Nancy Watkins, born in 1807 in Kentucky, where she was reared and educated; her parents were John and Mary Watkins, who removed to Indiana about the same time Mr. Gwin's father did. Mr. and Mrs. Gwin were the parents of fifteen children, five boys and ten girls. One child died in 1843, and from then on until 1885 the family was unbroken by death. The children are as follows: Mary (deceased), William W., Jane, Sarah,   R. W. Gwin--This is our Richard Walton Gwin, Sr.; his father is Isham Gwin.   homestead--In 2004 we found and mapped this 249-acre homestead of Richard W.'s father, Isham Gwin, in Crowson's Cove, Sevier Co., TN; click the link to see it!   R i c h a r d W. G w i n --married at 21--that would be ca. 1825 --moved to IL 5 yrs later--that would be ca. 1831 --remained on 2nd farm about five years--that would be ca. 1831-1836, probably in McDonough Co.; he purchased 80 acres in 1833 in Township Four North, Range Two West, Section Sixteen, in  McDonough Co., IL --Des Moines Co., IA, 2 years--that would be ca. 1836-1838 --Louisa Co. ca. 5 years--that would be ca. 1838-1843 --400 acres in Washington Co. from 1843-1858--that would be near Richmond on the English River. --Moved to Kansas 1858-- --Moved farther south to Independence, Montgomery Co., KS, in 1878 --died there in 1885, ca. age 81 fifteen children--Ah, yes. We KNEW there had to be more than the few we had earlier, beginning with Martha (4.5 below).   p. 266 Martha (deceased), John, Louisa, Nancy (died in 1843), Elizabeth, Marguerette, Caroline, Anna, Richard, Martin, and Walter.      Our immediate subject, William W. Gwin, whose father and grandfather we have just sketched, was born in Indiana on September 29, 1827, and so was nine years old when his father crossed the Mississippi river into Iowa. And in 1858, when his father removed to Kansas, he had already a fine farm on two hundred acres in Washington county. He had purchased his land from the government between the years 1847 and 1855 and had brought it into a fine state of cultivation. In 1885 Mr. Gwin moved to Keokuk county and bought a house and lot in Keota, and retired from active farming. For two years he was engineer in a flour mill, and it 1889 he engaged in the lumber business by buying out the old Hinkle lumber yard. This venture proved very successful, and later he took in S. S. Wright as partner; in 1895 he sold his interest to his partner, and has since lived retired, having well earned a rest and freedom from business cares.      Mr. Gwin was married in 1851 to Catherine Rush, who was born in 1833 in Ohio, where she remained till she was thirteen years old; she is the daugher of Absalom Rush and Violet Arnold, who came to Iowa and settled on a farm in 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Gwin were the parents of ten children, six boys and four girls; Joshua (deceased), Smiley (deceased), Ella May, Williard D., Nora A., Lillie, and Orley.      Mr. Gwin is a charter member of Masonic Lodge, No. 96, at Richmond. He is a charter member of the Christian church at Keota, helped to build it, and among the first officers of the church he was chosen the first elder and the third trustee, and is now also president of the offical board. As a Republican, he has served as a member of p. 267 the city council. His life spent in varied activity has reflected honor not only upon himself but upon those with whom he has lived. Catherine Rush--But newfound cousin Victor Lee Klopfenstein's wife, Patricia Soethout Klopfenstein, says her name was Bush, not Rush. (Indeed, everything that Pat has shown me says Bush, so I think this R for a B was probably a mistranscription by one of the editors of the book.) ten children--and yet only seven are named here.   Census Information for William W. and Catherine B. Gwin and their descendants From the 1856 Iowa State Census of English River Twnp., Washington Co., Iowa Res/Fam Name                                               Sex Age Est DOB fr. age POB Yrs. Md. Yrs. IA resident Militia member Occ. John M. Gwin Comments 1/1 William W. Gwin m 28 [1828] IN 1 19 yes sawyer Ancestry.com has mistranscribed the last name as GEVIN. He and his brother-in-law, Enoch Haigler, were both listed as sawyers; however, he is listed as a "rentee of land" on which--some 36 acres--was raised quite a bit of of produce and animals. Perhaps he owned a 40-acre farm and ran a sawmill to boot. Catharine Gwin f 21 [1835] OH 1 9 Nathan Gwin m 1 [1855] IA 2/2 Enoch Haigler m 31 [1825] VA 1 12 yes Sarah Ann Haigler f 23 [1833] IL 1 19 Lafayette Haigler m 6 [1850] IA Mary H. Haigler f 4 [1852] IA Mabel Haigler f 2 [1854] IA Cyrus Haigler m 1 [1855] IA 1 John H. Gwin m 21 [1835] IL 1 19 yes 3/3 Cyrus Bush m 38 [1818] OH yes From the 31 Aug 1870 Census of Lexington, English River Twnp., Washington Co., Iowa Res/Fam Name                                    Race Sex Age Est DOB fr. age POB $Real Prop. $Pers. Prop. Occ. John M. Gwin Comments 239/239 W. W. Gwin w m 43 [1827] IN [blank] [blank] farmer Bless their hearts--Ancestry.com mistranscribed this name as "Grom" and listed his place of birth as India (the census taker wrote "Ind" for Indiana). Living in Res/Fam 225 in this census are William and Martha Snider and their four children (see Martha's blue section below). Cathurin Gwin w f 37 [1833] OH keeping house Nathan Gwin w m 15 [1855] IA school Violet Gwin w f 12 [1858] IA school Ellie Gwin w f 10 [1860] IA school Willard Gwin w m 6 [1864] IA school Nora Gwin w f 4 [1866] IA school Infant Gwin w f 1mo. [1870] IA at home July 1870 is declared as birth month. From the 23 Jun 1880 Census of English River Twnp., Washington Co., Iowa Res/Fam Name                                          Race Sex Age Relat. to HoH Est DOB fr. age POB Occ. John M. Gwin Comments 181/190 William Gwin w m 53 head [1827] IN/TN/KY farmer Catharine Gwin w f 47 wife [1833] OH/OH/KY keeping house Violet Gwin w f 22 daughter [1858] IA/IN/OH teacher Ella M. Gwin w f 18 daughter [1862] IA/IN/OH keeping house Nora A. Gwin w f 13 daughter [1867] IA/IN/OH at school Willard D. Gwin w m 15 daughter [1865] IA/IN/OH [BLANK] Poor Willard was called a girl by the census taker who later realized his error (or at least someone did) and scratched out the "daughter". Lilly B. Gwin w f 9 daughter [1871] IA/IN/OH at school Orley B. Gwin w m 7 son [1873] IA/IN/OH at school 183/192 William Snider w m 48 head [1832] WV/WV/WV farmer Pretty clear from this that William and his parents are from West Virginia. Martha Snider w f 44 wife [1836] IL/TN/TN keeping house AHA. Martha does not know where her mother was from. Or perhaps William is answering the census for her and HE doesn't know. Eva Snider w f 14 [BLANK] [1866] IA/WV/IL at school Martha A. Snider w f 8 [BLANK] [1872] IA/WV/IL at school From the 1 Jan 1885 Iowa State Census of Cedar Twnp., Washington Co., Iowa Res/Fam Name                                          Marr. Stat. Sex Age POB John M. Gwin Comments 34/36 William W. Gwin m m 57 IN I'm still trying to find out where William and Catherine are buried. Does anyone know? Catharine Gwin m f 51 OH Violet Gwin s f 26 Willard Gwin s m 20 Nora Gwin s f 17 Lily Gwin s f 14 Orlie Gwin s m 11 We've found Orlie in 1910 and following, but we've not yuet found him in 1900 or 1895. From the 2 & 4 Jun 1900 Census of Reno, Leavenworth Co., Kansas Res/Fam Name                              Relat to HoH Race Sex Age DOB Yrs. Md. #Ch./ #Lvg. POB FPOB MPOB Occ. John M. Gwin Comments 24/24 Nathan Gwin head w m 45 Jul 1854 20 IA UNK UNK farmer We have the 1910 census, immediately below, to  strongly suggest that this is Nathan Alvin Gwin, son of William W. and Catherine Bush Gwin. Eliza E. Gwin wife w f 39 Feb 1861 20 3/3 OH OH OH Frank Gwin son w m 19 Nov 1880 IA IA OH farm laborer Lillie Gwin dau w f 17 Jun 1882 IA IA OH at school Albert Gwin son w m 11 Sep 1888 IA IA OH at school From the 9 May 1910 Census of Wakarusa, Douglas Co., Kansas Res/Fam Name                                   Relat to HoH Race Sex Age DOB Yrs. Md. #Ch./ #Lvg. POB FPOB MPOB Occ. John M. Gwin Comments 257/262 Nathan A. Gwin head w m 54 Jul 1854 30 m1 IA IN OH farmer Now we can not only see the same Nathan's middle initial "A" but we can also see his parents POB (IN and OH) and suggest with much more conviction than before that this is most probably our Nathan Alvin Gwin, son of William W. and Catherine Bush Gwin. Eliza C. Gwin wife w f 49 Feb 1861 30 m1 3/3 IN IN IN Frank E. Gwin son w m 29 Nov 1880 s IA IA IN house carpenter Lillian M. Gwin dau w f 27 Jun 1882 s IA IA IN none Albert L. Gwin son w m 21 Sep 1888 s IA IA IN farm laborer From the 19 Apr 1910 Census of Altamont Pct., Spokane Co., Washington Res/Fam Name                                        Relat to HoH Race Sex Age DOB Yrs. Md. #Ch./ #Lvg. POB FPOB MPOB Occ. John M. Gwin Comments 1804/ -- /163 George E. Wright head w m 42 [1868] 14 IA WI WI wholesale druggist This could easily be our Edward Wright. Lillie G. Wright wife w f 39 [1871] 14 1/1 IA IN OH none I believe this to be our Lillie Belle Gwin Wright. Her parents POB (IN and OH) cinch it in my mind. Katherine Wright daughter w f 8 [1902] UT IA IA none And this could easily be our Evelyn Catherine Wright, the census taker having misspelled her name with a K instead of a C, after her grandmother. From the 25 Apr 1910 Census of Seattle, King Co., Washington Res/Fam Name                                   Relat to HoH Race Sex Age DOB [est] Yrs. Md. #Ch./ #Lvg. POB S/F/M Occ. John M. Gwin Comments 5040 32nd Ave. So./149/152 Orley B. Gwin head w m 37 [1873] m2/10 IA/IN/OH Letter Carrier, Post office This is the son of William W. and Catherine Bush Gwin. Mary Lloyd Gwin wife w f 31 [1879] m2/10 2/2 TX/OH/Can English none Robert Lloyd Gwin adopted son w m 10 [1900] s AK/NJ/TX none Walter Carter Gwin son w m 8 [1902] s WA/IA/TX none Walter must b the only descendant of Orley, unless he had children by his first wife. Jacob E. Gould brother-in-law w m 30 [1880] m1/4 NH/NH/NH traveling salesman, optical coo_ [illegible] Edith P(or?)tman Gould sister-in-law w f 27 [1883] m1/4 0/-- TX/OH/Can English none From the POB, this is Mary's sister. From the 26 Jan 1920 Census of Newman Twnp., Spokane Co., WA Res/Fam Name Relat to HoH Race Sex Age DOB Yrs. Md. #Ch./ #Lvg. POB FPOB MPOB Occ. John M. Gwin Comments FM/74/74 George E. Wright head w m 52 [1868] 14 IA WI WI Orchardist, Orchard Tract This must be our Edward Wright. Lilly G. Wright wife w f 49 [1871] 14 1/1 IA IN OH Public Schools teacher I believe this to be our Lillie Belle Gwin Wright. Evelyn Wright daughter w f 18 [1902] UT IA IA none And this must be Evelyn Catherine Wright, the donor of her grandmother's quilt to the museum mentioned in the above letter. Hmm. She is 18, but her mother has only been married 14 years. Is George her real father, then? Or was Lilly married earlier and Evelyn adopted? From the 6 Jan 1920 Census of Seattle, King Co., WA Res/Fam Name Relat to HoH Race Sex Age DOB Yrs. Md. #Ch./ #Lvg. POB FPOB MPOB Occ. John M. Gwin Comments 1009 5th St. W./ 84/131 Orley B. Gwin head w m 46 IA IN OH shipyard carpenter This is Orley Bush Gwin, found in this census thanks to the obituary for his sister, Ella Mae, above. Haley O. Gwin wife w f 21 IN IN IN From the 21 Jan 1920 Census of Pct. 7, Plaserville, San Miguel Co., CO Res/Fam Name                                        Relat to HoH Sex Race Age Marr. Stat. POB FPOB MPOB John M. Gwin Comments FM/27/27 Nathan A. Gwin head m w 64 m IA IN OH This is the same Nathan A. Gwin, and his two sons and their families. San Miguel Co. is where Telluride Ski Area is today, and Placerville is only a few miles from there. However, I can't yet find any sign of any of them in 1930. Eliza C. Gwin wife f w 59 m IN IN IN FM/26/26 Frank E. Gwin head m w 39 m IA IA IN Elisibeth M. Gwin wife f w 31 m KS VA VA Wm. E. son m w 7 s KS IA KS FM/27/27 Albert L. Gwin head m w 31 m IA IA IN Florence G. Gwin wife f w 31 m KS OK OK Eugene R. Gwin son m w 7 s KS IA KS Ruth D. Gwin daughter f w 3 s MO IA KS Esther M. Gwin daughter f w 17 mo. s CO IA KS From the 2 Feb 1920 Census of Laurance City, Wakanusa, 1st Pct., Douglass Co., KS Res/Fam Name Relat to HoH Sex Race Age Marr. Stat. POB FPOB MPOB Occupation John M. Gwin Comments 1045/258/287 W. D. Gwin head m w 54 m IA IN OH farmer We have him as the fourthborn of William and Catherine Gwin Lavina Gwin wife f w 55 m IA NY MI none Howard Gwin son m w 22 s KS IA IA farmer Willard Gwin son m w 24 s KS IA IA Civil servant, Wash. D.C. What an interesting occupation! It certainly merits some followup... From the 11 Apr 1930 Census of Spokane, Spokane Co., WA Res/Fam Name Relat to HoH Sex Race Age Marr. Stat. POB FPOB MPOB Occupation John M. Gwin Comments 24/25 Willard D. Gwin head m w 65 m IA IN OH Miller, flour mill Lavina Gwin wife f w 65 m IA NY MI none Willard P. Gwin son m w 33 s KS IA IA Miller, flour mill From the 3 Apr 1930 Census of Salem, Spring Ck. Twnp., Dent Co., MO Res/Fam Name Relat to HoH Race Sex Age DOB Age 1st Mrrg. POB FPOB MPOB Occ. John M. Gwin Comments 1420 Maxwell Ave./3/3 George E. Wright head w m 62 [1868] 22 IA NY USA druggist This must be our Edward Wright. Lillie G. Wright wife w f 59 [1871] 22 IA IN OH none I'm quite convinced that this is our Lillie Belle Gwin Wright. Evelyn Wright daughter w f 28 [1902] KS IA IA stenographer And this must be Evelyn Catherine Wright, the donor of her grandmother's quilt to the museum mentioned in the above letter. The following portion of the transcription of Portrait and Biological Album of Washington Co., Iowa, published ca. 1870, was taken from the beautiful and highly recommended site of someone whose initials are DJC. This person transcribes old historical books and documents and places them online to help people genealogically. Thank you, DJC! http://freepages.books.rootsweb.com/~cooverfamily/album_77.html#bush ABSALOM BUSH, retired farmer, resides at Kalona. He was born in Fayette County, Ohio, Feb. 8, 1813, and is the son of Leonard and Catherine (Powers) Bush. His father was born in Pendleton County, Va., of German ancestry. He was a farmer and a natural mechanic, and was also a carpenter, manufacturing looms and spinning-wheels, and various other household articles. He was a master in the use of tools, and could make anything that he was requested to, and no man could do finer work. He was married in Virginia to Miss Catherine Powers, who was his companion and helpmeet until death. She was born in Hardy County, Va., and was the daughter of a Dunkard minister. Her family were also of German origin. The family, consisting of the parents and three children, removed to Ross County, Ohio, on the north fork of the Paint River, where they staid [stayed] two years, and then removed to the farm in Fayette County. This farm was a wild, umimproved place in a wilderness. Their log house was built page 458 without a floor, and after the family were moved the first work of Mr. Bush was to grub the stubs and roots out of the room, and to level off a floor. He and his wife improved the farm and reared a family of eleven children. Mr. Bush died at the age of seventy years, his wife surviving him and dying at the age of seventy-four. Our subject, Absalom Bush, was reared on a farm and became an expert at tools under the instruction of his father. He was married, Oct. 7, 1832, to Violet, daughter of Levi and Violet (Figgins) Arnold. Mrs. Bush was born in Kentucky, but came to Ohio when very young. She was reared in Fayette County. Mr. and Mrs. Bush are the parents of twelve children, five boys and seven girls, three of whom died in childhood. The others are: Catherine, the wife of William Gwinn, now residing in Keota, Iowa, and the mother of six children, three boys and three girls; Darius, next of birth, was a soldier of the late war, enlisting in Co. H, 7th Vol. Inf., July 11, 1861, on the second call for troops; he was killed in the first battle (Belmont) Grant fought, Nov. 14, 1861. His younger brother, Cyrus, was severely wounded in the same battle, by a gunshot wound in the shoulder. Mr. Bush went to Belmont and brought home his wounded son. His other son was then reported missing, but the father did not know the facts of his death until eight months later, when he learned from a returned prisoner that Darius was cut down by a rebel Colonel, his head being nearly severed from his body. The Union soldiers, seeing the act, shot the Colonel dead in his tracks. A still younger son, D. Ezra, was also a soldier, and was twice wounded, the last time severely (see sketch of D. E. Bush.) The next youngest child was Elizabeth, who died at the age of eighteen years; Sarah was the wife of E. S. Marsh, and died July 25, 1887, leaving six children, four girls and two boys; Cyrus married Alice Brown, and has six children, three boys and three girls, and resides in English River Township; D. Ezra married Mary Coombs, and has four children, one girl and three boys, and also resides in English River Township; Mary, the wife of John P. Coffman, of the Baptist Church of Albion, Iowa, has six children, four girls and two boys; Leonard, a farmer of Cedar Township, this county, is married to Margaret Strabling, and has four sons and one daughter. The three who died in childhood were Anderson, aged eleven years, Louisa and Huldah. The last named was the youngest child. Mr. Bush came to Washington County with his family in October, 1846. He bought the farm now owned by his son D. Ezra, on section 24, and continued farming until 1862, and then moved to the village of Kalona, where he has since resided. He has not been a seeker after office, but has served as Township Trustee, and in minor positions. In politics he was a Whig, and a life-long Abolitionist, and worked earnestly for the restriction of slavery. He became a member of the Republican party at its formation, and has been a stanch supporter of its principles ever since. Mr. Bush and wife and several of their children, are members of the Christian Church. They have now forty grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Mr. Bush is a man of sincere humane sentiments, has always been a champion of the weak and oppressed, and a fearless denouncer of tyranny and wrong. His patriotism was unbounded, and the sacrifice made by him in the loss of one son and the wounding of two others, attested his sincerity. He is a man of remarkable temperate habits; for forty years he has drunk no intoxicating liquors nor taken a dose of medicine.

E. S. FESLER is a member of the firm of E. S. Fesler & Co., dealers in hardware, farm machinery, stoves, furniture, and also undertakers at Kalona. This business is a branch of the firm of Fesler & Nicolay, at Riverside, and was established in Kalona Jan. 12, 1885, under the management of Mr. E. S. Fesler. they carry a stock worth #3,500. Mr. Fesler was born in Liberty Township, Johnson Co., Iowa, Jan. 3, 1857, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Slife) Fesler. His father was a pioneer of Iowa, of 1839, having settled in Johnson County at that date, and in the fall of 1858 removed to Washington County, engaging in the grain trade at Riverside.

Our subject was reared on a farm where he remained until of age. In 1884 he began clerking for his brother at Riverside, then removed to Wellman, where he served in the same capacity, and in January, 1885, he bought an interest in the business and opened the present store at Kalona. Mr. Fesler was married at Keota, Iowa, to Violet, a daughter of W. W. Gwin, of English River Township, where she was born. Mrs. Fesler is deceased. Politically, Mr. Fesler is a Democrat.

[from http://freepages.books.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cooverfamily/album_1d.html]

D. A. FESLER, hardware dealer, Riverside. Among the numerous enterprises of this county the name of Fesler is well known. Not only the mercantile, but also the grain business in Iowa Township, is largely controlled by Fesler & Son. Our subject was born in Johnson County, Iowa, in 1850, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Slife) Fesler, whose personal history will appear elsewhere in this volume. Growing to manhood upon his father's farm, Mr. Fesler learned the agricultural business in all its details.

Our subject received a preliminary education in the public schools and completed his business education at the Iowa State University in 1872. He engaged in teaching prior to his graduation, his first term being taught in Iowa Township at the school knows as "The Four Corners." After graduating, Mr. Fesler taught in Waubeek, Linn Co., Iowa, until the autumn of 1874, when, in company with his uncle, George Fesler, he opened a hardware store in the new town of Riverside, the first business enterprise of the kind in the place, and their store was the first one erected on the village plat for that purpose. In the spring of 1875 Mr. Fesler purchased his uncle's interest, and a partnership was formed with George H. Clark, a dealer in stoves, etc., and the two stocks were combined until 1879, when the stock was divided and Mr. Clark removed to Wellman. Mr. Fesler continued the business alone until Jan. 1, 1882, when Mr. A. Nicola became a partner in the Riverside firm. Jan. 1, 1883, our subject, in company with B. W. Nicola, purchased the hardware stock of Mr. Clark at Wellman, and this was managed by B. W. Nicola, under the firm name of Fesler & Nicola. One year later a store of the same character was purchased by E. S. Fesler, and Fesler & Nicola, of Riverside, and Wellman, at Kalona, and was put under the management of E. S. Fesler.

The fourth enterprise engaged in by our subject in this line was at Keswick, in Keokuk County, Iowa, in March, 1887, purchased by D. A. Fesler, of Riverside, Ben W. Nicola, of Wellman, and George Kaye, well known as a former resident of Riverside. Mr. Kay has charge of this store, and each of these firms are now and have been, engaged in prosperous trade. The stock is of the same character in each place, consisting of all kinds of hardware, tinware, agricultural implements, wagons, buggies, etc. The business may truthfully be said to be the largest in Southeastern Iowa, as such a large amount of territory is controlled. In thirteen years of business life Mr. Fesler has been one of the most widely known young men of not only his own county, but also of this portion of the State. In 1884, D. A. Fesler, F. A. Druf and Cyrus Billingsley, of Riverside, erected a creamery at Clarinda, Iowa, Mr. Fesler taking one-half interest. This is yet profitably operated, Mr. Fesler retaining his interest. The firm is now known as Childs Bros. & Co. The second enterprise of this character was engaged in by Mr. Fesler in the spring of 1887, he trading for an interest in the creamery at North English, Iowa County, the firm consisting of Mr. Boyd, E. Nicola, S. P. Childs and D. A. Fesler, under the firm name of Boy & Co.

In October, 1877, D. A. Fesler was married to Miss Mary E., daughter of Jesse and Phoebe (Cogner) Boyd, of Rivrside. Mr. Boyd was the original

proprietor of the village, and will be mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Four children have graced the union of Mr. and Mrs. Fesler, as follows: Zella E., Ray, Gay and Zetta. Enterprise is a characteristic of the Fesler family, and from the pioneer days to date, they have been noted among business men. Our subject began business on a capital of $350, and has, by strict business habits, become in a few years a wealthy man. He was the first Recorder of the Village Board, the second year Mayor, and has since continuously been a member of the board.

[http://freepages.books.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cooverfamily/album_65.html#fesler]

ABSALOM BUSH, retired farmer, resides at Kalona. He was born in Fayette County, Ohio, Feb. 8, 1813, and is the son of Leonard and Catherine (Powers) Bush. His father was born in Pendleton County, Va., of German ancestry. He was a farmer and a natural mechanic, and was also a carpenter, manufacturing looms and spinning-wheels, and various other household articles. He was a master in the use of tools, and could make anything that he was requested to, and no man could do finer work. He was married in Virginia to Miss Catherine Powers, who was his companion and helpmeet until death. She was born in Hardy County, Va., and was the daughter of a Dunkard minister. Her family were also of German origin.

The family, consisting of the parents and three children, removed to Ross County, Ohio, on the north fork of the Paint River, where they staid [stayed] two years, and then removed to the farm in Fayette County. This farm was a wild, umimproved place in a wilderness. Their log house was built

without a floor, and after the family were moved the first work of Mr. Bush was to grub the stubs and roots out of the room, and to level off a floor. He and his wife improved the farm and reared a family of eleven children. Mr. Bush died at the age of seventy years, his wife surviving him and dying at the age of seventy-four.

Our subject, Absalom Bush, was reared on a farm and became an expert at tools under the instruction of his father. He was married, Oct. 7, 1832, to Violet, daughter of Levi and Violet (Figgins) Arnold. Mrs. Bush was born in Kentucky, but came to Ohio when very young. She was reared in Fayette County. Mr. and Mrs. Bush are the parents of twelve children, five boys and seven girls, three of whom died in childhood. The others are: Catherine, the wife of William Gwinn, now residing in Keota, Iowa, and the mother of six children, three boys and three girls; Darius, next of birth, was a soldier of the late war, enlisting in Co. H, 7th Vol. Inf., July 11, 1861, on the second call for troops; he was killed in the first battle (Belmont) Grant fought, Nov. 14, 1861. His younger brother, Cyrus, was severely wounded in the same battle, by a gunshot wound in the shoulder. Mr. Bush went to Belmont and brought home his wounded son. His other son was then reported missing, but the father did not know the facts of his death until eight months later, when he learned from a returned prisoner that Darius was cut down by a rebel Colonel, his head being nearly severed from his body. The Union soldiers, seeing the act, shot the Colonel dead in his tracks. A still younger son, D. Ezra, was also a soldier, and was twice wounded, the last time severely (see sketch of D. E. Bush.) The next youngest child was Elizabeth, who died at the age of eighteen years; Sarah was the wife of E. S. Marsh, and died July 25, 1887, leaving six children, four girls and two boys; Cyrus married Alice Brown, and has six children, three boys and three girls, and resides in English River Township; D. Ezra married Mary Coombs, and has four children, one girl and three boys, and also resides in English River Township; Mary, the wife of John P. Coffman, of the Baptist Church of Albion, Iowa, has six children, four girls and two boys; Leonard, a farmer of Cedar Township, this county, is married to Margaret Strabling, and has four sons and one daughter. The three who died in childhood were Anderson, aged eleven years, Louisa and Huldah. The last named was the youngest child.

Mr. Bush came to Washington County with his family in October, 1846. He bought the farm now owned by his son D. Ezra, on section 24, and continued farming until 1862, and then moved to the village of Kalona, where he has since resided. He has not been a seeker after office, but has served as Township Trustee, and in minor positions. In politics he was a Whig, and a life-long Abolitionist, and worked earnestly for the restriction of slavery. He became a member of the Republican party at its formation, and has been a stanch supporter of its principles ever since. Mr. Bush and wife and several of their children, are members of the Christian Church. They have now forty grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Mr. Bush is a man of sincere humane sentiments, has always been a champion of the weak and oppressed, and a fearless denouncer of tyranny and wrong. His patriotism was unbounded, and the sacrifice made by him in the loss of one son and the wounding of two others, attested his sincerity. He is a man of remarkable temperate habits; for forty years he has drunk no intoxicating liquors nor taken a dose of medicine.

[http://freepages.books.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cooverfamily/album_77.html#bush]

WILLIAM W. SNYDER, a progressive farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 34, English River Township, was born in Monongalia County, Va., March 14, 1832. He is the son of Jeremiah and Anna (Rich) Snyder, also natives of the Old Dominion, and the parents of twelve children, of which number nine are yet living: George and John are deceased; Abram is a resident of Greene County, Pa.; Rollo, deceased; Casandra is the widow of George Hogg, who was killed in the army; Jeremiah, Jr., is farming in Lime Creek Township, this county; Jacob, a retired farmer, is residing in Iowa City; Colby is farming extensively in Johnson County, Iowa; Samuel, in Adair County; Elizabeth is the wife of George Figgins, a farmer of English River Township, and W. W., the subject of this sketch.

The father followed the occupation of a farmer in his native State until 1842, when, hearing of the opportunities offered in the far West, and believing it would be for the advantage of his large family of children, he concluded to emigrate. He first proceeded with his family to Wheeling, thence by boat to Keokuk, Iowa, and from there overland to English River Township. He entered 250 acres of land on sections 1 and 12, and commenced to open up a farm. As one of the pioneers of this county, he became well known by all old citizens, and was a man held in high favor. Although not connected with any church, Mr. and Mrs. Snyder were strong believers in the divinity of Christ and took an interest in all Church work. The mother died in 1860 and the father in 1873. Both rest in the old Snyder Cemetery, near which stood the Snyder Chapel. Many lessons of truth, charity and integrity were presented in the lives of these good old people.

The early life of the subject of this sketch was passed on his father's farm and in attendance at the common schools until he reached the age of twenty, when he started out for himself, and began working for $8 per month. On the 9th of December, 1852, he was united in marriage with Miss Martha Gwin, a native of Menard County, Ill., born March 27, 1834, and the daughter of Richard and Nancy (Watkins) Gwin, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Kentucky. They were married in Indiana, whence they removed first to Illinois at an early day and thence emigrated to Iowa, settling in Des Moines County in 1836, thus being among the pioneers of the State. The father died Jan. 7, 1884, and the mother July 6, 1884, in Wilson County, Kan. They were well-known and useful citizens in the different localities in which they lived.

Mr. and Mrs. Snyder became the parents of five children: Ida, the wife of A. M. Turner, a farmer in Potter County, Dak; Charles F., pursuing the same vocation there also; Anna, the wife of S. A. Rodgers, a farmer of the same locality; Eva, at home, preparing herself for a teacher; Adella, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have given all of their children good school advantages, and all are members of the Missionary Baptist church, thus comprising a devoted Christian family.

After the marriage of our subject he continued to reside on the old homestead until 1869, when he first took possession it had only a small frame house on it, in which the family lived and worked happily together until 1882. The old house was then moved back to give place to a more modern and convenient dwelling. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder are now in the evening of life, some of their children growing up around them and some leaving home to seek their fortunes in a new country, as did their parents before them. They have witnessed many and great changes. Their farm, which at the time of purchase was unimproved, is now under a high state of cultivation and one of the most valuable in the township. They have seen the building of the church upon the hillside and the school-house in the valley, and have taken an active part in all religious, temperance and public affairs. During the past five years Mr. Snyder has turned his attention to the raising of high-grade stock, having on hand a number of superior Clydesdale horses, and a fine lot of Chester White hogs and Short-horn cattle. Politically, Mr. Snyder is a Democrat, and has held various township offices.

[http://freepages.books.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cooverfamily/album_98.html#snyder]