.
William Watkins Gwin
(Secondborn of Richard Watson and Nancy Watkins Gwin)
and
Catherine Bush
(Daughter of Absalom and Violet [nee Figgins] Bush)
.


Page Updated 10 Dec 2007


Return to Genealogy Home Page -- Return to Richard W. and Nancy W. Gwin Page


4.02--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 Rush 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 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.]
 
 

4.02--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 Rush 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.] 
 

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.

5.01--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.;

5.02--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.;

5.03--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.

6.01--George L. Bartholomew, b. ca. 1882; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch.;  
6.02--Nellie Bartholomew, b. ca. 1882; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. O. K. Scott (b. unk.; d. unk.; bd. unk.); unk. ch.;  
6.03--Nina Bartholomew, b. ca. 1882; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. Earl Smith (b. unk.; d. unk.; bd. unk.); unk. ch.;  
6.04--Esther Bartholomew, b. ca. 1882; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. B. C. Crozier (b. unk.; d. unk.; bd. unk.); unk. ch.; 
 
 

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.

6.01--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.;

7.01--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);

8.01--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

9.01--Kevin Klopfenstein, m. Deb (nee unk.), [PRIVATE]

9.02--Vivian Klopfenstein, m. Pat (nee unk.), [PRIVATE]

9.03--Mark A. Klopfenstein, m. Cheryl (nee unk.), [PRIVATE]

9.04--Vaughn Klopfenstein; m. Lori (nee unk.), [PRIVATE]

9.05--Michelle Klopfenstein, m. Scott (nee unk.), [PRIVATE]

8.02--Cecelia Ann "Ce Ann" Klopfenstein, m. Donald Duane Martin, [PRIVATE]

8.03--Jay Lynn Klopfenstein, m. Diana Joyce Cole, [PRIVATE]

7.02--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...]
8.01--Richard Eugene "Gene" Scott, [PRIVATE]

8.02--Micheal (sic) Scott, [PRIVATE]

8.03--Linda Scott, [PRIVATE]

8.04--Fred Scott, [PRIVATE]

ROS m2.  Margaret Vincent Werthein

8.05--Elizabeth Werthein Scott, [PRIVATE]

8.06--Michael Werthein Scott, [PRIVATE]

7.03--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);
8.01--Norman Scott, [PRIVATE]

8.02--Herbert Scott, [PRIVATE]

6.02--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."]

6.03--Nina May Bartholomew, b. 9 may 1886, 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 ( );

6.04--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")

5.04--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.;

6.01--Willard Gwin, b. ca. 1896 [listed as "Willard", age 24 in the 1920 census of Wakanusa, 1st Pct., Douglass Co., KS]

6.02--Howard Gwin, b. ca. 1898 [listed as "Howard", age 22 in the 1920 census of Wakanusa, 1st Pct., Douglass Co., KS]

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. 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.;

6.01--Cedric Atheling Heigho, b. 1900; d. unk.; m. never; no known ch.

6.02--Virginia Gwin Heigho, twin, b. 1903; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. Theodore Yntema, Sr. (b. unk.; d. unk.; bd. unk.); 1 ch.

7.01--Theodore Yntema, Jr., b. unk.

6.03--Katherine Audley Heigho, twin, b. 1903; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. Melber Chambers (b. unk.; d. unk.; bd. unk.); 1 ch.

7.01--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 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


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




5.06--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).]
6.01--Evelyn Catherine Wright, b. ca. 1902 in UT; d. unk.; bd. unk.; m. unk.; unk. ch.;]
5.07--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.;

5.08--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;

5.09--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;

5.10--(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...


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 2005Jim 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.)
 



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