This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: LAUGHLIN, DOUGLAS, MURRAY, CUTTLE Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Tk.2ADE/2265 Message Board Post: Obituary John H. Laughlin Was born in Saratoga County, N.Y., August 23, 1836 and died at his home in Postville, Iowa, December 22, 1916, aged 80 years and 4 months. When a boy he came with his parents to Indiana, which was then a new country, where they experienced the hardships of early pioneers. In 1849, in company with two other families, the Laughlins moved to Northeast Iowa, making the journey with ox teams, being six weeks on the way. After looking about for a desirable location, they came to Post Township, where they bought a squatters claim (a track of land granted to soldiers of the Mexican War - Wm. Paine - by the government) paying $1.25 an acre for his relinquishment. This land is now owned by James R. Laughlin. The following years were busy ones spent in doing pioneer work, clearing the land, getting out building timbers for the house, which replaced the log cabin, and fencing the farm. Surrounded by the many comforts of the present day as we are we cannot appreciate the many hardships and deprivations that the early settlers of our prosperous country endured so bravely. On March 14, 1860, he married Mary Douglas. She died May 2, 1883. On April 1, 1886, he married Elizabeth Murray. She died August 16, 1913. Funeral services at Congregational Church at 2 P.M. Sunday December 24, 1916. Rev. Childress officiating. Submitter's note: Son of John Laughlin and Jane Cuttle.