Hi Everyone: I know, I'm being redundant here, but please be sure to send e-mails to my new e-mail addy: [email protected] I'm closing out the other ISP account with SCICAN and they will not forward any e-mails. Thanks, and hope everyone has a wonderful holiday weekend. We have no exciting plans -- just a motorcycle ride or two!! My Best, Nancee

Thank you Nancee for this. 1st time i have seen anything on my Throckmorton connection. Daisy Throckmorton's parents where, Doctor Thomas Throckmorton and Mary Ann Bentley. Mary Ann Bentley's mother was a SCOTT and connects her to them as well as making her a cusin to the Douglas(ss) families in Lucas Co., Iowa.

Thank you so much for this Nancee, S.A. Scott is Simon Asbury Scott. He is the son of Aaron Salter Scott and Elizabeth Ann Wells. Simon is also a cusin to Noble Douglass of Chariton, Iowa sincerly David

Thank you Nancee for sending this. Marie Niswender was the daughter of Frank D. Niswender and Emma T. Larkin. Marie was a school teacher and also a principal for Franklin School in Lucas Co., Iowa.

I am curious if this J. D. Threlkeld is a decendent of Noah Threlkeld and Mercella Douglass? I have some Threlkeld information and pieceing together what i find. Thanks to Mary Beth for helping with alot of the information i do contain on them... sint help is appreciated, sincerly David

Thank you so much Nancee. It's a real treat when i spot my kin, however i always enjoy reading all the postings you make. I am finaly being able to be back on the computer. Over the weekend i have reformated 3 times and have lost alot of information. Mrs Emma Niswender. Emma Larkin married Francis D. Niswender. The son of Samuel Niswender and Eliza Koahn-Budd-Niswender. Emma and Frank Niswender had 3 children. Only 1 had any children of thier own. Thier daughter Marie Niswender who never married was a school teacher in Lucas Co., Iowa. Thier daughter Esther B. Niswender who married ( unknown Mains ) at unknown date. She was born 04/23/1900 and died 03/16/1933. It is belived she also had no issue as she was listed single in 1930 census. Thier only son James G. Niswender had but 1 child of his own Marion Edward Niswender who himself has since passed away.

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, September 13, 1906 'Hon. Thomas Brandon and Wife Celebrate Fiftieth Marriage Anniversary. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ On Tuesday, Sept. 11, 1906, Hon. THOMAS BRANDON and wife celebrated their golden wedding occasion with their children and a large company of friends, at their home in Russell. Thus the first half century is past and it has proven a most tranquil culmination of a matrimonial epoch. Fifty years in computing the life of an idea, the evolution of thought or the age of the world is but a small space of time, but in reckoning the careers of individuals it encompasses all the youthful part of their existence, so MR. and MRS. BRANDON have arriven at that point where they no longer claim to be young. On the former occasion the nuptials were solemnized a short distance northeast of Melrose, or where the town now is, by James M. Blue, J.P., in the simple manner as prescribed by the Iowa statutes and subsequent years have added the benediction. When THOMAS BRANDON was joined in wedlock to MARY JANE STEPHENS there were no perfumed invitations sent out, no stepping forward to the stra! ins of Mendelssohn's wedding march, or groomsmen present arrayed in blushes or ladies maids bearing bride's roses, or the rattle of silken fabrics with changing shades from Paris, and it is even said that the groom himself even forgot to attire himself in "conventional black." But these things were not yet in vogue. It is also asserted that they never thought of going off on a wedding tour to stay as long as their money lasted, to be showered with rice at the stage station, but what was more practical they went to their home, which the groom had provided, and he began cutting corn fodder or putting up prairie hay the next morning, perhaps forgetting to take off his wedding suit, and she entered upon her household duties. This was on the home farm near Iconium. So it is no wonder that they prospered as the years went by. He worked with his brain and brawn, and she planned and economized until today there is likely not a man in Lucas County who can draw a personal check, and have it honored, for a greater amount. His experiences have been varied as a farmer, dealer in stock, speculator, banker and citizen, but one of the best assets he ever possessed was his personal integrity. He never failed to keep faith. He is a native of Green County, East Tennessee, 80 years of age, the oldest of eleven children, still actively engaged in business and came to Iowa in 1843. His wife, whose maiden name was MARY JANE STEPHENS, was born in Green Briar County, W. Vir. To them seven daughters have been born, all of whom were present on Tuesday, and the next generation represents thirty-five grandchildren. Two sisters of MR. BRANDON were also present, MESDAMES EUNICE CAVES, of Green City, Mo., and MRS. DICY IRWIN, of Skeedee, Oklahoma. The only two at the function on Tuesday, who were witnesses on the former occasion were the bride's sister, LIZZIE REPP, of Albia, and MR. BRANDON's old time friend, who is now a youth of 89 summers, the venerable JOHN NOWLES, of Moravia. At the noon hour a sumptuous feast was spread to which all did ample justice. After dinner an assemblage was held on the lawn and speech-making was the order, and addresses were made by F.R. Crocker, Mr. Massman, John DeMuth, Mr. Bellman, Mrs. Martin, H.W. Gittinger and others, the day closing with singing by request of MR. BRANDON, "God Be With You Til We Meet Again." The congratulations were cordial and all displayed that enjoyment so essential to good fellowship and none entered into the spirit with a truer gratification than the bride and groom of long ago. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert September 2, 1906 [email protected]

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, September 21, 1905 WILLIAM RELPH, one of the leading farmers of Benton Township, informs the Leader that the storm on Monday damaged the corn crop in that section to the extent of not less than 10 per cent, tearing off the larger ears and blowing the stalks over. Did you ever stop to think what a precarious existence KING CORN has anyway? In the spring time it has to run the gauntlet of cutworms when the weather is wet and the nights are cold. Then when it peeps through the ground an attack of jaundice is frequently in store and it makes puny headway until the warm days in June when it begins to grow a little. Next the drowth overtakes it and it hovers a time between life and death with the hectic fever of July. After this comes weanin' time when the moist earth is no longer packed about its roots and it stands up knee high and is expected to throw out its spurs. This corresponds to the teething period of infants and engenders much anxiety. In a short time it tassels like a belle of fashion and stretches out its arms for the male plant. Here often hopes are blighted and the scorching winds produce a barrenness and a season of desolation. The autumn winds sway it blithely and maim and the early frosts come to wither for a prem! ature harvest. Besides a certain per cent is condemned and has an ignominious end in a tincture called forty-rod whiskey. KING CORN is a powerful old potentate but his reign is not in a bed of roses. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert September 2, 2004 [email protected] *Wonderful analogies! Being an Iowa native, I NEVER thought of corn growing this way!? -- And, its 'disgraceful' ending in whiskey.......

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, September 21, 1905 HARLEY WAYNICK and HENRY SCHOTTE, who were sentenced to serve a five-year term in the penitentiary at Ft. Madison, at the August term of court, 1904, arrived home Tuesday night, having been paroled by Gov. Cummins on the 13th inst. By the terms of the parole, the boys are to abstain from the use of intoxicating liquors, keep away from places where such stuff is sold, spend their evenings at home after working hours, make monthly reports to the Governor, and to remain residents of Lucas County, otherwise they are to be returned and serve out the balance of their unexpired term. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert September 2, 2004 [email protected] *Hm. this doesn't say anything about 'wild women'. ha.

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, September 21, 1905 MARRIED. -- On Sunday evening, Sept. 17, 1905, at the rooms of the officiating magistrate, Justice E.H. Storie; MR. T.F. LAMBIRTH and MRS. ESTHER ADAMS. The contracting parties are both residents of Chariton. May their barques glide o'er life's sea -- A continuous voyage of felicity. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert September 2, 2004 [email protected]

Tom sent this note to me, and I wanted to share it with everyone.. (I hope that's o.k. Tom..) You made my evening and 'a few tears' to come to my eyes. Thanks so much. My Best, Nancee -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Hermann" <[email protected]> To: "Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert" <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, September 02, 2004 7:50 PM Subject: Re: [IALUCAS] LUCAS COUNTY HISTORY ARTICLES... > Nancee: > > I have been following your reprints of newspaper articles for quite some > time now....and have enjoyed them thoroughly. Now the articles about my > great grandfather Thomas Brandon have really hit home. Your extra-ordinary > efforts in sharing are truly appreciated. Thank you sooooo much. > > To date I have saved almost all of your emails, but these about my gr > grandfather are precious to me. Thank you again. > > Tom Hermann > Milwaukee, WI

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, September 21, 1905 MARRIAGE LICENSES: Since our last report clerk Carpenter has granted marriage licenses to the following parties: TOM BEATTY, 25 to NELLIE LONG, 19. CLAUDE M. LINFOR, 26 to LUCY FRANCES THOMPSON, 21. GUY E. DALE, 18 to ORA PHILLIPS, 18. E.C. WILTSEY, 29 to NELLE KNOWLTON, 21. T.F. LAMBIRTH, 38 to ESTHER ADAMS, 37. BERT BINGAMAN, 23 to BERTHA MCCORKLE, 20. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert September 2, 2004 [email protected]

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, September 21, 1905 The many friends in this community were greatly shocked to learn of the death of MRS. CLARA ALEXANDER, wife of Mayor G.W. ALEXANDER, which occurred at the family residence on Main Street on Saturday morning, September 16, 1905, after an illness of seven weeks with kidney trouble. It was not generally known that her condition was critical and the news of her death came with great surprise. Funeral services were held at the home on Sunday afternoon at three o'clock, conducted by her Pastor, Rev. W.S. McCullagh, and were attended by a large concourse of sorrowing friends. The floral offerings were varied and beautiful, parting tributes to the memory of the deceased. Beautiful emblems were contributed by the city council and by the members of the Chariton Bar Association of which MR. ALEXANDER is a member. The members of the Grand Army of the Republic manifested their sympathy for their sorrowing comrade by attending the last sad rites in a body. At the close of the servic! es the remains were gently laid to rest in the Chariton Cemetery. The members of the city council, Messrs. C.P. Connell, Frank Manning, Fred Yengel, J.H. Darrah, H.H. Larimer and B.R. Van Dyke acted as pall bearers. CLARA H. HENDRICKS was born in Vermont in October, 1840. When but a very small child she went to the State of New York where she lived for several years and then moved to Mineral Point, Wisconsin, where she was married to EDWARD DODSON who died in 1869. They were the parents of one son, CHARLES DODSON, who passed away in Oskaloosa a few years ago. She was married at Manchester, Iowa, on December 30, 1872, to G.W. ALEXANDER who survives her and who has the deepest sympathy of the entire community in his great grief. MR. and MRS. ALEXANDER came to Chariton immediately after their marriage and this place has since been their home. When quite young she was converted and recently united with the Presbyterian Church. During her illness she frequently expressed her readiness to depart this life and her only regret was the separation from her husband and her granddaughter, ETHEL DODSON of Davenport, who came last Friday and was present at the funeral services. MRS. ALEXANDER was a lady of strong mind, well read and a character most excellent. Her highest happiness came from being helpful to others and she often ministered to the sick when in ill health herself. She was quiet and unassuming in her manner, and possessed to an unusual degree those lovable womanly qualities that are always so much admired. She had a wide circle of loyal, devoted friends who will mourn her death sincerely. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CARD OF THANKS I wish to thank most earnestly each and everyone of my kind friends for their help and sympathy during the sickness and at the death of my wife. --G.W. ALEXANDER. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Grand Army Veterans did a most graceful act Sunday afternoon in attending the funeral of the late MRS. CLARA H. ALEXANDER, wife of Mayor G.W. ALEXANDER. They were out enmass and no finer tribute of respect has ever been paid in Chariton and exemplifies a charity as broad as humanity, prompted by the spirit that emanates from the infinite. Capt. G.W. ALEXANDER fought for the lost cause and assisted in the attempt to carry his native Tennessee out of the Union under the justification of the Whilom doctrines of states rights, but when the policy of Nationalism was established through the results of the conflict no one accepted it more readily than he and during his twenty-five years residence in Chariton has enjoyed the comradeship of those whom he opposed at arms during the waning days of the confederacy. This comradeship never more strongly asserted itself than on Sunday and in the dark hour of bereavement it forms the silver lining to his cloud of despair. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert September 2, 2004 [email protected]

Hi All: I thought I would re-send this article, as it is interesting to see his humble beginnings as written in 'The First Settlers' -- and his prosperous final years. Nancee -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, June 15, 1905 THOMAS BRANDON, of Russell, is an example of what a man may accomplish in the field of finance with the American opportunities to manipulate. He is at present the wealthiest man in Lucas County, or in Southern Iowa, for that matter. He is now 83 years of age, if the writer remembers correctly, and is a pioneer of this part of the State, settling originally near Iconium, in Appanoose County. In the early days he drove an ox team and broke prairie, thus converting the virgin soil into fields for cultivated crops. Within him was the elements of success and farming and banking has been his occupations until today his personal checks for hundreds of thousands of dollars will be honored in any of the financial institutions of the country. Had his environs been New York City he would have become a competitor of Russell Sage, Jay Gould and the modern Napoleons of Finance. As it is his operations have been marvels of judgment and energy. He maintains an office at Russell, and a! lthough almost bereft of eyesight, conducts operations of gigantic magnitude without visible effect on his nerves, let the balances be on which side they may. His equilibrium is remarkable and in a faculty maintained by but few Financiering is a delightful game with him. A short time ago investments were made in Chicago, so rumor has it, that did not finish according to to his notion, conducted as they were at a distance. He didn't get nervous about it as so many others would have done under like circumstances and throw up, but simply "made a trip." He came home from the big city with a bland smile which was as much as to say "My presence was needed. It's all O.K. now." MR. BRANDON has been very successful in real estate speculation in Texas of late years as he has ever been elsewhere, but is modest in all his ventures and was never known to "brag." He is a fine looking, portly man, and in spite of his weight of years may be seen almost any day on the streets of Russell as erect as an arrow, and his appearance is a striking one. His career will be written down by the future historians of Iowa as one original and unique in the extreme. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert August 26, 2004 [email protected]

In the fall of '44 there were a couple of families moved in north of us, about six miles, one by the name of INGHAM and another by the name of SEARCY. That winter, December I think it was, MR. INGHAM went to Missouri to get some corn for his team and meal to eat. There were no roads in the country at that time, and if there had been, we could not have found them from the fact there came a snow almost knee deep. Instead of going the way he should by where Moravia now is, he came farther west around on the main ridge not far from where JOHN BALLARD lived, and not very far from where we lived on the north side and MR. BALLARD on the south side of the ridge. The water that fell on my father's side of the ridge ran into the Cedar and then into the Des Moines River. MR. BALLARD lived on Honey Creek, and that creek emptied into the Chariton River and thence into the Missouri River, so MR. INGHAM had to pass between MR. BALLARD's and MR. BRANDON's. MR. INGHAM must have been bad! ly lost, as the weather was cold and the snow drifting and cannot understand how he lived through the storm; he must have turned north a little east of where the Russell Depot now stands. We did not hear any more from him till he got down near English, near where JOHN BALLARD finally moved. Someone lived there as he saw a smoke, and unhitched his team and started towards it; he either got to the shanty, or they saw him and helped him in, as his feet and hands were badly frozen. They had to keep him there several days before he was able to go home. I would be pleased to know who took care of him, and who took him home when he was able to go. If there is any man here today that knows anything about this case, I would be pleased to meet him. I was only up to Chariton Point a couple of times during '43, the first time in June and the last time in September. We had no road from our place to Chariton Point, neither did we have any stream, not even a slough to cross. We followed the main ridge from where we lived to Chariton Point. I still own a portion of the land that father took for a claim, May 10th, 1843. In the fall of '45, the Mormons viewed and established what they called the Mormon trace from Ballard's Point, afterwards called Dodge's Point, to Chariton Point. That winter, if I am not mistaken, Iowa was admitted into the Union. Late in the fall of '45 three Mormons and their families got snowed under at Chariton Point. They drove down on Chariton River and wintered there. They cut elm and lynn for their cattle to browse on it; it was all they had until the snow went away; then they found quite a bit of winter grass in the bottoms that helped them through. I don't believe they lost many cattle, but they got very thin. In the spring of '46 they came up to the edge of the prairie and built them each a shanty as their stock was too poor to travel. Some time in June '46 I heard they wanted to sell their claim as their stock had got able to pull their wagons and they wanted to go on. The prairie was covered with covered wagons, mostly going west so I had no trouble in s! ending the three Mormons word at Chariton Point that I would buy their claim if I was able. In a few days the most business one of the three walked down to where we lived, that was near Ballard's Point. His name was MCGUFF. I showed him what stock I had, which was two heifers and a three-year old cow, that was all I had excepting a horse. He agreed to take the hiefers provided his two partners were willing. I took my horse and went home with him, he being on foot, and stayed all night with him that night, and traded for his claim. They were to give possession in a week or ten days. This was on or near the middle of June '46. So I went back down to father's and got my brother to hitch up a yoke of oxen my father had. We hitched them to a cart and moved me to Chariton Point, taking a straw bed, some cooking utensils, a little meal and a blanket, and set up house-keeping. During the summer that I bached at chariton Point, Gen. A.C. DODGE came through on horse back fro! m Garden Grove, which place was settled by the Mormons in the fall of '45. MR. DODGE had got off his road and in crossing a creek had lamed his horse. He got up to my place and stayed about a week, he and I doctoring his horse. Also the same summer MR. JOHN BROPHY had an appointment from the State to select so many sections in the different counties -- saline land. He stayed with me about two weeks. He and I rode over the country hunting where we could find any meshes that the deer would visit. About the 15th of November WM. S. TOWNSEND, a man I was very well acquainted with, came up from Appanoose County, and I let him move in with me. I remained with MR. TOWNSEND, as he had a family, and I was not nearly so lonesome. I stayed with him at Chariton Point until the next spring. I hardly know how we managed to get along as neither of us had any money, and he had four or five of a family. In the spring of 1847 I sold out to MR. TOWNSEND for a horse and a two-horse wagon and went back to father's and took a claim joining him, and my brother younger than I went in with me. We bached there till the fall of '48, when we quit baching, my brother going home, and I went down and stayed with a man by the name of NOWELS that had settled in the fall of '44 about four or five miles southeast of our claim. He had a wife and one child, and I stayed with them from the fall of '48 to the spring of '49. That was the winter we had the big snow. If there is anyone here today that was in the country at that time they will remember the winter of the big snow. In September 1849 I was married and went back on my claim and lived there until April 6th, 1853, when with a couple of ox teams I, with wife and two children, my brother GEORGE, 16 years old, and my wife's brother about 17 years old, started for California, landing at San jose about the 22nd of September, 1853. I remained there until the 16th of February 1854. We all went down to San Francisco and shipped for New York, crossing the Isthmus of Panama on mules to Aspinwall, where we took passage on a boat for New York. After resting up a few days we bought tickets to Chicago and then bought tickets to Rock Island, thence down the River to Fort Madison by steamboat. There we hired a liveryman to take us out to Salem where my wife had a sister living. We hired a man to bring us up to her mother's. her father was the man that built the mill on South Chariton, in Wayne County, south of where Confidence now is. -- THOMAS BRANDON. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert September 2, 2004 [email protected] *I would have liked for him to talk 'forever'.... You might remember from an earlier posting, Thomas Brandon was a financier........

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, October 3, 1907 'THE FIRST SETTLERS' Some History Given Not Heretofore Known by the General Public. -------------------------------------- The following, by THOMAS BRANDON, was read before the meeting of the Old Settlers in Chariton, On Wednesday, September 25, 1907. "At your request, I have written a few lines according to my best recollections, regarding the early settlement of Monroe and Lucas Counties. On May 10th, 1843, my father, JAMES BRANDON, and a Missourian by the name of WM. MOORE, and an old gentleman from Maine, we called him Captain HIGBY, and myself, landed where what is now known as Franklin Township, Monroe County. It was not surveyed at that time. Afterwards, when it was surveyed, we were in Kishkekosh County. MR. MOORE took for a claim what is now called Dodge's Point and proved to be in Appanoose County. We had a team of oxen which we had hired from a man by the name of MILLER in Missouri. By the first half of June we had broken nine acres of prairie and two and one-half acres on MR. MOORE's place with those cattle, and planted it in sod corn. Our plow got so dull we could not break any more. About that time three men drove up to the camp, and said they had been out west looking at the land. They lived in Missouri also and we knew them when they drove up. They stated to us that they had crossed the Chariton pretty much west of a point we named Chariton Point. The timber growing up on the prairie showed grand for four or five miles east of there. They had got one of their horses down; it had got the single tree hook in its foot, and had lamed it so that they could not bring it. They told father that if he could go back and doctor it up he might have the horse. Next morning we started, and took their wagon back, and followed on foot until quite late in the evening whe! n we came to where they had left the horse. I don't think the horse had lain down from the time he had got hurt until we found him. Father had on a wool hat which he gave me to carry some water to the horse. I had to go nearly a quarter of a mile before I found a slough hole where I could get the hat full of water. I carried two hats full and the horse seemed very thirsty, as it was a hot day. We tried to move the horse, but only succeeded in moving him about a rod. This was about a half mile east of the timber that we called Chariton Point. We tried to move the horse, but only succeeded in moving him about a rod. This was about a half mile east of the timber that we called Chariton Point. Some time afterwards we came up to see if we could tell anything of what became of the horse; we supposed though he was dead, and sure enough we found a pile of bones just about where we had left the animal when we went away. We called it twenty-five miles from where we first la! nded, to Chariton Point. Father looked around at the timber and admir ed the place as the timber came up so boldly to the top of the prairie, but he would not think of changing his place as he had such fine spring water. This took place in the spring and summer of 1843. I was 17 years old the 27th of August, 1843. The last part of June '43 we decided we would see if we could find anybody in the country. So we turned the oxen on the grass and left Captain HIGBY, the man from Maine, to look after them. My father, MR. MOORE, and myself, started out pretty much north, taking an Indian trail that ran right through the grove my father claimed. We thought we were near the Des Moines River. When we started we each had a blanket and a little grub to do us two or three days. We traveled on till quite late in the afternoon, and we got out on the prairie just about where the public square is in Albia now. There was a pole with an elks head with two horns on stuck on the top of the pole. We sat down there thinking it was too big a prairie to follow our Indian trail across that night. While we were still sitting and standing around, thinking of what do do, we discovered a smoke northwest. We su! pposed it was some Indians camped there. We started out thinking it wouldn't be more than a couple of miles to walk, but we found it to be about four miles before we got there, and to our surprise, when we arrived, we found WAREHAM G. CLARK and JOHN CLARK, men whom we had been acquainted with from January until May when we started for Iowa, at which time each one took his course, and did not meet again until in June. We were very glad to find someone we knew and stayed with them that night. The next day we went back to camp. In the course of a month or six weeks we went back to MR. CLARK's and found him living in the same little shanty covered with hickory bark, and they were still breaking prairie with their oxen. It wasn't very far from the timber and we named the place Clark's Point, which name it goes by till this day. That was the first time I met DR. DUNGAN. I think he was there when I went there the second time. I think that was in August 1843. DR. LEVI DUNG! AN died in 1846 and was buried at Clark's Point, Monroe County. The CLARK boys were baching and seemed to have a good time. They were the closest neighbors we had at that time and were 20 miles from us, but afterwards we went in with them. We split open an oak log, about a foot and a half or two foot through and bored the flat side full of suger holes and drove in short pins and went to making our roads. We hitched three of four yoke of oxen on to that log and I believe we started from CLARK's to father's with the drag and it was a very good day's drive. We stayed all night at father's and went back to CLARK's the next day, going twice in the same track. This made us a very good road to travel in and I guess the road is there yet if someone has not fenced it. That was a nearer way to Clark's Point than to go by where Albia is now. During the fall of 1843 or the spring of 1844, MR. MOORE had not come back to improve his claim, and a man by the name of JOHN BALLARD, from near Tippecanoe, Missouri, took his claim, or as we called it then, "jumped" his claim. He had quite a little family and we were very much pleased that he went on it, as we wanted more settlers. His stay with us wasn't long, as in '44 or '45, I am not positive which, he moved away, north and west from where he lived. Said he was going on English River. I understood when the counties were laid off he was in Lucas County. The last time I saw MR. BALLARD he came by our place. He said he lived in Missouri. I would be be pleased to hear from any of the family. To Be Continued . . . -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert September 1, 2004 [email protected]

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, September 14, 1905 A quiet wedding occurred at the Baptist Parsonage yesterday afternoon, September 13, 1905, at two o'clock, the contracting parties being MR. CLAUDE M. LINFOR of Valley Junction and MISS LUCY FRANCES THOMPSON of this city. The ceremony was performed by Rev. F.B. Palmer in the presence of only a few witnesses. The bride has resided in this city for several years. For a time she was employed at the Depot lunch counter but recently has been employed at the Bates House. She is an estimable young lady, possessing many lovable characteristics, and is held in high esteem by all who know her. The groom is an engineer in the employ of the rock Island Railway and is spoken of as a worthy young man. MR. and MRS. LINFOR expect to make their home in Council Bluffs. The Leader joins the hosts of friends in this city in extending hearty congratulations and trusts that they will have a long and happy wedded life. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert September 2, 2004 [email protected]

Hi All: I hope you are all enjoying the Lucas County Historical articles that I've gleaned from The Chariton Leader microfilms. Let me know what you think about them -- have several more to send. Also hope you're finding some additional info. on ancestors via. the newspaper articles. Thanks to all of you who let us know when you find a nugget of info. This is such a nice 'addiction' to have. (smiles).. Best Regards, Nancee

Hi All: I now have a new ISP -- and a new e-mail address: [email protected] Don't want to miss any of your notes!! Best Regards As Always, Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert

The Chariton Leader, Chariton, Iowa Thursday, June 15, 1905 'BACK TO THE PIONEER DAYS' - - - - - - - The local society of English Township is collecting early history and sketches of pioneer settlers. ISAAC C. CAIN, who is perhaps the oldest settler in Lucas County, now temporarily in Washington, contributes the following which is handed us by Marshal Dunsbee: Manor, Washington; June 10, 1905. In accordance with my promise to give some facts in connection with the early days of English Township and my family parentage, I write you. My grandfather, CHAS. W. MCGLOTHLIN, was of Scottish origin, and JANE DAVIS, his wife, French; and my grandparents on the other side were ABIJAH CAIN, Irish, and MARTHA CAIN, his wife, English. This forms a cosmopolitan parentage. They all emigrated from North Carolina to Kentucky thence to Ohio and from there to Fountain County, Indiana. There GEORGE CAIN and REBECCA MCGLOTHLIN, my parents, were married, and there I was born in Dec. 1825, and emigrated to Iowa with my parents in 1841, settling in Monroe County, where I was married to ELIZABETH J. LEEPER in Nov. 1848. Our first child, C.J. CAIN, was born in said county Dec. 30, 1849. I came to Lucas County and pre-empted land in August, 1850, and moved there in September of the same year. There were only four families living between Knoxville and Chariton and one between Newbern ! and Chariton at that time -- a distance of 38 miles. The land which I pre-empted lined Newbern on the south and west and my house was built of logs. We moved into it before it was completed. The puncheon floor was only half laid, no chinking between the logs and no door when a severe snow storm caught us. Besides we had no stove; no chimney. It also was without stable for my team. The cabin was the first house where the town of Newbern now stands. RANSON DAVIS laid out the town of Newbern and built the first house near mine. Rev. JOSEPH HOWARD was the first minister of the gospel of the township and settled on land joining mine on the west. This was in the same year we came (*can't read)...three churches, the Cumberland Presbyterians and after them the United Brethren. My first crop of wheat in the county brought 18 bushels per acre and was cut with a cradle. WILLIAM STUART and SANFORD SMITH cut ten acres of wheat in one day. This was near Newbern. PLEASANT WILLI! AMS and myself built the first mill in Lucas County -- a saw mill on Big White Breast, later it was changed to a grist mill. I burned the first (*can't read) in the county on Long Branch (?) in English Township. The first potters ware made in the county was by (?) CAIN, on English Creek. The year 1861 has been designated as the year of the flood. it began to rain the 8th day of May and continued until all streams were impassable, there being no bridges. Our family (?) present supply of flour and as none could get any ground (?) then boiled corn grown the year before, grated it and then made our (?) for six weeks. MARTIN WILLIS and myself made sugar on White Breast two seasons -- 1854 and 1856. (?) I sowed the first timothy seed in the county. It was thought by people that it would not be a success, but I got quite a good crop. Wolves were very pleanty. I have seen as many as five together in the month of February in the early fifties. Settlers were very sociable and if a log cabin was ready to be raised -- the neighbors would turn out and help, without invitation. DR. CHAS. (?) began the practice of medicine in Lucas County and as bridges and (?) were sources he traveled much on horse back, stopping at cabins when hungry for milk and corn bread. If the folks were not at home he would help himself and feed his horse anyway. The Doctor (?) to tell of those days and laughs. He came to my house one very hot day and found no one at home. He was very sick, and had tied his horse and laid down in the shade when I came home and found him going to vomit but it seemed he could not. I fixed him a pallet and helped him to take a vomit, saying "that is what you would do with me." (?) he replied, "I could give it in but it would make me so sick. Bring me some warm water." He lost his hat in tying his ho! rse, which I found for him and after he recovered from his sun stroke started for his home at Chariton. I have spoken of the Rev. JOSEPH HOWARD. He was a (?) Cumberland Presbyterian and did not like to baptize by immersion. At a protracted meeting he had previously one of the converts desired to be baptized by immersion. This (?) to either comply or lose a (?), so the time was set and the (?) a neighboring stream, selected (?) goodly number of people were there to witness the ceremony. The minister waded into the stream, selected (?) to witness the ceremony. But on account of the adverse (?) of the preacher and for (?) reasons. The minister waded into the stream with the convert (?) to administer the sacrament but in some unaccountable way the subject got away from the man and made his way to the nearest shore while the preacher was assisted up the opposite slope, remarking as he reached terra-firma, "I didn't believe much in it, nohow." Thus unceremoniously terminated a meeting that failed of its original purpose. We bought most of our store goods at Eddyville. I made two trips to the Mississippi River -- to Burlington and Keokuk. Later two trips to Missouri, 200 miles, for apples which I sold at $2.00 a bushel. The years '47 and '48 were the dryest I ever saw in Iowa. The prairie grass dried in August until it burned readily. The ground cracked open until we could run sticks from four to six feet. These crevices ran east and west across the divide. RANSON DAVIS, JOSEPH STUART and myself built a steam mill in newbern. Old TOMMY WILSON was the first storekeeper and about this time WESCOAT & WAYNICK located in Chariton. -- Yours truly, ISAAC C. CAIN. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert September 1, 2004 *Note that the left side of the paper had quite of lot of words missing and was extremely dark -- so there are lots of question marks...