[John M. Gwin Note: In July 2006, Cousin Cordelia Fisher sent me photocopies of the news item and obituaries I have transcribed here in this purple, all of which appeared in the Neodesha Register, Neodesha, Kansas. The last item was dated Friday, July 10, 1885. An unrelated legal notice on the same page as the R. W. Gwin obituary was dated Neodesha, Kan., Jan. 15, 1885. See more from Cordelia below.] Mrs. E. T. Wells has been called twice of late to the bedside of her aged father, R. W. Gwin, living near Independence, who is not expected to live.  He is 82 years of age. [Cordelia Fischer Note: This is Eliza T. Gwin, wife of Ezra T. Wells.] R. W. Gwinn (sic), father of Mrs. E. T. Wells, was buried in the Neodesha cemetery last Friday.  He was a resident of Sycamore Valley and was aged 82 years. He had been a pioneer in the settlement of four territories, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Kansas, and was the father of fifteen children, fourteen of whom are living; his wife, whom he had lived with 63 years, is still living but was too much prostrated by the death of her companion to be able to attend the burial. The old pioneers are passing away and will soon live only in the memories of their children. E. T. Wells received on last Monday a dispatch from Kansas City telling of the death of his motherinlaw, Mrs. Nancy Gwinn (sic), in that city. Mrs. Wells, who has been absent for some time, was with her mother at the time of her death. It has been but a short time since we chronicled the death of Mr. Gwinn (sic), husband of the deceased. May peace and salvation be there. from the Friday, July 10, 1885 Neodesha Register [John M. Gwin Note: Cordelia also sent me a photocopy of a typed transcription (of what appears to me to be page 82) of a "Marriage Register, cont." which is labeled in someone's hand, "Harrison Co., IN, Marriages, 1817-32". I have transcribed here the last entry on this page.] Richard W. Gwin and Nancy Watkins April 12, 1824, Consent of father According to license issued the 12th day of April 1824 I joined together in the holy state of matrimony on the 13th day of the month my son Richard Gwinn and Nancy Watkins the daughter of John Watkins. Given under my hand this 14th day of May 1824. Isom Gwinn M. G. [John M. Gwin Note: Cordelia also sent me a photocopy of a Mar. 5, 1992, typed letter sent to her from a Terry Harper of the Loran Fawcett Funeral Home, 704 Indiana, Neodesha, Kansas 66757, the text of which I transcribe here.] Mar. 5, 1992 Ms. Cordelia Fischer 5495 Paseo Tortuga, Calif. 92687 Dear Ms. Fischer: The information I obtained from cemetery records is as follows:   R. W. Gwin, Sr. Age: 80-11-6 Died: 1/7/1885 Nancy Gwin (Wife of R. W.) Age: 78-3-21 Died: 7/6/1885 Mary E. Gwin Born: 1848 Died: 1931 Earl Gwin: Age: 1 yr., 6 mo. Died: 1/15/1881 (Son of Mary) These people were buried on the north half of a lot that had a large, family monument in the middle of the lot. The name on the stone was Wells. An E. T. Wells was buried there. (10/17/1883 - 7/3/1904) The lot was bordered by a concrete bordering with the name of Gwin on it. I don't know if the Wells were related. Sincerely, Terry Harper Terry Harper

1880 Census of Independence, Montgomery Co., KS

Res/Fam	Name	Relat. to HOH	Age	Est. DOB	POB	F's POB	M's POB	Jim Wall Comments	John M. Gwin Comments
	Richard W. Gwin	self	76	ca. 1804	TN	VA	VA		This data was found on the 1880 Census Online. Richard's POB almost has to be on the 249-acre farm of his father, Isom Gwin, in Crowson's Cove, Sevier Co., TN. This also verifies that his parents, Isom Gwin and Mary Canterbury Gwin, were born in Virginia.
	Nancy Gwin	wife	73	ca. 1807	KY	MD	MD	My book on Harrison County, Indiana marriages shows the following: 4/12/1824? Richard W. Gwinn, c. of f. Isom Gwinn and Nancy Watkins, f. John Watkins by Isom Gwinn. (Richard W. Gwinn and Nancy Watkins were married in Harrison Co., IN, 12 April 1824; Isom Gwinn gave consent for his son to marry; consent of John Watkins, father of Nancy, was given by Isom Gwinn.)	This data was found on the 1880 Census Online. Cousin Cordelia reports that Richard and Nancy were married by his father, Isom Gwin, a "Minister of the Gospel."

24.01--Mary Gwin, m. Gideon Bear 
24.02--William Watkins Gwin, m. Catherine Bush (earlier and erroneously thought to be Rush--see below) {PHOTOS}
24.03--Jane Gwin, m. Jehu William Haigler
24.04--Sarah Gwin, m. Enoch Haigler
24.05--Martha Gwin, m. William W. Snyder
24.06--John H. Gwin, m. Mary J. (Thompson)
24.07--Eliza Louisa Gwin, m. Ezra T. Wells
24.08--Nancy Gwin, d. 1843; m. never
24.09--Elizabeth Gwin, m. Moses Adams
24.10--Marguerette Gwin, m.  unk.
24.11--Caroline C. Gwin, m. John H. Dunn
24.12--Anna Bear Gwin, m. William Beck Freeman {PHOTOS}
24.13--Richard W. Gwin, (Jr.), m. Mary E. (nee unk.) {PHOTOS}
24.14--Martin V. Gwin, m1. Mary C. Butcher; m2. Isabella (nee unk.)
24.15--Silas Walton Gwin, m. Cora A. (nee unk.) {PHOTOS}

 

Here's how I'm related to this family:
 

John McDonald Gwin's Line	--	Relationship	--	Lines of Richard W. Gwin's Descendants
Isham Gwin m. Mary Canterbury		parents		Isham Gwin m. Mary Canterbury
John Gwin, b. 1792, m. 1812 to Jane Walker		siblings		Richard W. Gwin, b. 1804, m. 1824 to Nancy E. Watkins
William Gwin m. Roseanne Carlisle Jones Wilson		1st Cousins		Richard's and Nancy's fifteen children (above)
William Sutton Gwin m. Ida Eliza Basset		2nd Cousins		Richard's and Nancy's grandchildren
James Basset Gwin I m. Adrian Bell Vardaman		3rd Cousins		Richard's and Nancy's g-grandchildren
Adrian Sutton Gwin m. Dorothy Lee Keeney		4th Cousins		Richard's and Nancy's gg-grandchildren (e.g., Cordelia Conner Fischer)
John McDonald Gwin m. Sharon Lynn Hamrick		5th Cousins		Richard's & Nancy's ggg-gch (e.g., Veda Thomas Ballard and Victor L. Klopfenstein,)
Jeremy (m. Kara), Charity (m. Beau), & Sarah (m. Jason)		6th Cousins		Richard's and Nancy's gggg-grandchildren (e.g., Beth Ann Carlson Geltz)

24.01--Mary Gwin, b. 13 Feb 1825 in Harrison Co., IN; d. 28 Nov 1893 in Richmond, Washington Co., IA; bd. Richmond Protestant Cemetery; m. (BACG:12 Sep 1841) to Gideon Bear (b. 7 Aug 1810 (BACG: 8 Aug 1810) in Lehigh Co., PA; d. 1 Dec 1884 in Richmond, Washington Co., IA; bd. Richmond Protestant Cem.); 14 ch. [John M. Gwin Note: My fifth cousin once removed Beth Ann Carlson Geltz (BACG) is the source of all the following data in this color blue. As you can see in this paragraph, she has Gideon's d.o.b. as 8 Aug 1810 and their marriage date as 12 Sep 1841. I gleaned all this blue data from her great page at http://koalitygenealogy.tripod.com/id23.html. Thanks for posting this, Cousin Beth!]

25.01--Charles E. Bear 25.02--William Bear 25.03--Elizabeth Bear 25.04--Jane Bear. 25.05--Samuel H. Bear 25.06--Margaret A. Bear 25.07--Richard G. Bear 25.08--Nancy E. Bear 25.09--Wilbur J. Bear 25.10--Clara Sideen Bear 25.11--Mary Alice Baer 25.12--Martha J. "Mattie" Bear 25.13--Winna Bear

Please Note: Due to the growing size of this page for Richard W. Gwin and Nancy W. Gwin, we have created and are creating separate pages for some of their children and have moved the contents of their respective sections to those new pages. The page for Gideon and Mary Gwin Bear is now located at www.zianet.com/jmcdgwin/BearGideonMaryGwin.htm.

24.02--William Watkins Gwin, b. 29 Sep 1827 in Harrison Co., IN [age 43 in the 1870 census of English River Twnp., Washington Co., IA]; d. 17 Oct 1907; m. 2 Nov 1851 in Washington Co., IA, to Catherine Bush (5 Aug 1833 in Fayette Co., OH [age 37 in the 1870 census of English River Twnp., Washington Co., IA], d/o Absalom Bush and Violet Arnold; d. 8 Oct 1914; bd. Keota Cem., Keota, IA); (see biographical notes, below, which state that this couple had 6 ch., 3 boys and three girls)

[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.]

25.01--Nathan Alvin Gwin, 25.02--Nancy Violet Gwin m. Mr. Fessler 25.03--Ella May Gwin, m. Frederick Bartholomew 25.04--Willard Darius Gwin m. Lavina (nee unk.) 25.05--Nora Alice Gwin m. Edgar Heigho 25.06--Lillie Belle Gwin m. Edward Wright 25.07--Orley Bush Gwin m. unk. 25.08--(son) Gwin, d. as infant; birth order unk.; 25.09--(son) Gwin, d. as infant; birth order unk.; 25.10--(son) Gwin, d. as infant; birth order unk.;

Please Note: Due to the growing size of this page for Richard W. Gwin and Nancy W. Gwin, we have created separate pages for some of their children and moved the contents of their respective sections to those new pages. The page for William and Catherine Gwin is now located at www.zianet.com/jmcdgwin/GwinWmWCathBush.htm.

 

24.05--Martha Gwin, b. 27 Mar 1834 in Menard Co., IL; d. after 1903; bd. unk.; m. 9 Dec 1852 in IN to William W. Snyder (b. 14 Mar 1831 in Monongalia Co., VA [now WV], s/o Jeremiah and Anna [Rich] Snyder, both b. VA); William (and Martha) was "a progressive farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 34, English River Township";

25.01--Ida E. Snyder, m. A. M. Turner, a farmer in Potter Co., Dakota Terr.; 25.02--Charles F. Snyder, a farmer in Potter Co., Dakota Terr.; 25.03--Anna Snyder, m. S. A. Rodgers, a farmer in Potter Co., Dakota Terr.; 25.04--Eva Snyder, at home, preparing herself for a teacher; 25.05--Adella Snyder, at home.

Please Note: Due to the growing size of this page for Richard W. Gwin and Nancy W. Gwin, we have created separate pages for some of their children and moved the contents of their respective sections to those new pages. The page for Will & Martha G. Snyder is now at www.zianet.com/jmcdgwin/snyderwmmarthagwin.htm.

24.07--Eliza M. Louisa Gwin, b. Apr 1838 in IA [age 13 in 1850 census]; [age 65 in 1900 census of Neodosha, KS]; [age 73 in 1910 census]; d. aft. 1910; bd. City Cem., Neodesha, Wilson Co., KS; m. ca. 1859-60 [per 1860 census, below] to Ezra T. Wells (b. 17 Oct 1834 [but gravestone says 1833] in OH [age 36 in 1870 census, 46 in 1880 census]; [age 65 in 1900 census of Neodosha, KS]; d. 30 Jul 1904; bd. City Cem., Neodesha, Wilson Co., KS); two ch., according to her testimony in the 1910 census, both of whom were still living; 25.01--Albert L. Wells, b. 25 Dec. 1860 [age 9 in 1870 census, 19 in 1880 census]; [age 39 in 1900 census of Neodosha, KS]; [age 43 in the 1 Mar 1905 Kansas State Census of Neodosha City, Wilson Co., KS]; d. 7 Apr 1937 (mother, Eliza, reports in 1900 and 1910 that both her two children are still alive); bd. City Cem., Neodesha, Wilson Co., KS; occupation: pharmacist; m. Mary L. (nee unk., b. 11 Jan 1863 [age 57 (sic) in 4 Apr 1930 census of Tulsa, OK]; d. 15 May 1929); unk. ch. 26.01--Forrest Wells, b. Feb 1889 [age 11 in 1900 census, 21 in 1910]; [age 41 in 4 Apr 1930 census of Tulsa, OK]; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. ca. 1908 [m. 2 yrs. in 1900 census] to Eva (nee unk.; b. ca.1890 [age 20 in 1910 census]; [age 40 in 4 Apr 1930 census of Tulsa, OK]; d. unk.; bd. unk.); two known ch.; was a jeweler in a jewelry store in the 1910 census and for a watchmaker in 1930; Cordi Fischer says that this photo is labeled on the back,"Sis of Anna Bear Freeman". Since it was taken in Independence, Kansas, where Ezra and Eliza lived and worked, she believes and I agree that it is most likely Ezra and Eliza. 27.01--Ruth Wells, b. ca. 1909 [age 1 in 1910 census]; [age 21 in 4 Apr 1930 census of Tulsa, OK]; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch. 27.02--Carl/Karl Wells, b. ca. 1911 [age 19 in 4 Apr 1930 census of Tulsa, OK]; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch. 26.02--Paul L. Wells, b. Jul 1896 [age 3 in 1900 census]; d. unk., but perhaps betw. 1905 and 1910, since he is alive in 1905 but not present in 1910; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch. 25.02--[unk.] Wells, b. ca. ; d. after 1910 (mother, Eliza, reports in 1900 and 1910 that both her two children are still alive; however, no second child appears in any census); bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch.

I took all of these photos in the City Cemetery, Neodesha, KS, when I visited there in May 2008.   --John M. Gwin Above, left: grave of Ezra T. Wells, who is buried in the Gwin Family plot with Richard W. Gwin, Sr., Nancy W. Gwin, and others. Inscription reads: "E. T. Wells; Oct. 17, 1833; July 30, 1904" Above, right: Albert L. Wells family plot; individual inscriptions appear below: AL. WELLS Dec. 25, 1860 Apr. 7, 1937 MARY L. Jan. 11, 1863 May 15, 1929 PAUL L. WELLS PVT. US ARMY WORLD WAR 1 July 21, 1896 Jan. 20, 1976 HELEN M. WELLS Mar 17, 1898 Sept. 22, 1980 This stone for Patricia J. Wells, right, has only a date of birth on it, leading us to believe she is still alive. It reads : PATRICIA J. SEPT. 3, 1925 Since Helen's dates, above, seem to  correspond to Paul's, she must be his wife, and Patricia must be their daughter.

{John M. Gwin Note: In her notes on the illness and death of R. W. Gwin, Sr., above, Cousin Cordelia Fischer identified "Mrs. E. T. Wells" as being "Eliza T. Gwin, wife of Ezra T. Wells". If her identification is correct (and I have no reason to believe it is not), then this Mrs. Wells could be this Eliza Louisa Gwin, since cursive capital ells and tees are often mistranscribed for each other. Mrs. E. T. Wells has been called twice of late to the bedside of her aged father, R. W. Gwin, living near Independence, who is not expected to live.  He is 82 years of age. [Cordelia Fischer Note: This is Eliza T. Gwin, wife of Ezra T. Wells.]}

24.08--Nancy Gwin, b. ca. 1838-39; d. 1843, ca. age 4-5; m. never; no ch.

In Memoriam N A N C Y    G W I N (1838-39  --  1843) Eighthborn Child of  Richard W. and Nancy W. Gwin Middle Child of Fourteen Others The younger seven could not remember her but through the memories of their parents and the older seven, none of whom could ever forget her.

24.09--Elizabeth Gwin, b. ca. 1839-40 in IA [age 10 in 1850 census]; d. aft. 1885; bd. unk.; m. Moses Adams (b. ca. 1833-34 in OH [age 22 in the 1856 Iowa State census of Jackson, English River Twp., Washington Co., IA]; [age 32 in the 6-8 May 1865 Kansas State census of Stanton Twp., Miami Co., KS]; [age 54 in the 1 Jan 1885 Iowa State census of Keokuk, English Riv. Twp., Washington Co., IA]; d. aft. 1885; bd. unk.); 3 known ch.

25.01--John K. Adams, b. ca. 1856 in IA [age 4 in 14 Jul 1860 census of English River Twp., Washington Co., IA]; [age 13 in the 20 Jul 1870 Census of Stanton Twp., Miami Co., KS]; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch.

25.02--Richard W. "Walter" Adams, b. ca. Mar 1860 [age 4 mo. in 14 Jul 1860 census of English River Twp., Washington Co., IA]; [age 10 in the 20 Jul 1870 Census of Stanton Twp., Miami Co., KS; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch.

25.03--Martha "Mattie"Adams, b. ca. Dec 1869 in KS [age 8 mo. in the 20 Jul 1870 Census of Stanton Twp., Miami Co., KS]; [age 16 in the 1 Jan 1885 Iowa State Census of Keokuk, English River Twp., Washington Co., IA]; d. aft. 1 Jan 1885; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch.

From: "Mike Walker" <walk5755@bellsouth.net>
Date: December 8, 2007
To: "John Gwin" <jmcdgwin@zianet.com>, <JAMESTWALL@aol.com>
Subject: History of Washington County, Iowa

This is a pretty good read, and it mentions the Gwins and Bears that were in the county early on. (Start on about page 294)

http://www.usgennet.org/usa/topic/historical/LightOn/1880wash_1.htm

"Between the years 1840 and 1846 there was a heavy immigration into the north part of the county. There was probably a larger per cent of increase in that section during that period than in any other part of the county.

"William M. Gwin, who settled in the vicinity of Richmond in 1843, still resides on his original claim. He has probably lived in the State longer than any other inhabitant of the county, he having come to Des Moines county in 1835. Mrs. Mary Bear, Mrs. Martha Snyder and Mrs. Elizabeth Adams, sisters of Mr. Gwin, are also very early settlers, they having come to the county about the same time. Absalom Bush settled on a claim one mile west of Richmond in the year 1846; he says there were but three houses in the town at that time."

Cheers!
Cousin Mike in SC

[John M. Gwin Note: Thanks, Mike! We had next to nothing on Richard W. Gwin's daughter Elizabeth before today! Your e.mail gave us her married name and enabled us to find her and her family in 1860 and other censuses! Way to go! :-)]