An Iowa Bio fwd with permission. ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Nan Brennan <nan.brennan@mindspring.com> To: nir-down@rootsweb.com, mcevoy@rootsweb.com Sent: Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:04:00 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [NIR-DOWN] County Down to Iowa James McAvoy Thanks to Lois G C McMillin of the Iowa Biographies Project McAvoy, James, Deceased; was born January 9, 18009, in County Down, Ireland. His father was a sea-faring man, and gave his son a thorough education. At the age of 18 he came to America, and went to Washington, D. C., and soon after secured a contract on the national pike; but lost his earnings by the failure of the chief contractors. He then went to Greencastle, Indiana, and then to Stilesville, Indiana, still working on public works, canals and railroads. During the Mexican war he enlisted in Capt. Crawford's company, Second Indiana Volunteers, and served till the regiment was disbanded. He came to this county in 1850, and located where the family homestead now is; consisting of 327 acres of improved land. He was married December 2, 1833, to Miss Jane Cunningham, a native of North Carolina, born May 19, 1811; the marriage taking place at Stilesville, Indiana. Mr. McAvoy after living an active and useful life, passed away September 27, 1872, much regretted by all. A man of brilliant education, ready wit, and thorough knowledge of the world. He was a war democrat and visited the army several times during the rebellion. He left a family of four children, Charles J., Larissa A., and Lewis C., living at home, and Christopher C., married, and John F., deceased in 1858, aged 19. Charles J. served during the war, enlisting in August 1862, in Company G, Second Iowa Infantry, and was in the battles of Bear Creek, Buzzard's Roost, Kenesaw Mountain, and was with Sherman through Atlanta and Savannah; and then to Washington, being in the grand review, and mustered out June 14, 1865. Since which time he has been engaged in farming. ---------------------------------------- 479 list members as of 1 Mar 2009 - this is a good place to ask your questions! ---------------------------------------- Searchable list archive at http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/index/NIR-DOWN ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to NIR-DOWN-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message