Excerpt from:
Williamsburg Journal – Tribune, Williamsburg, Iowa County, Iowa, Thursday July 29, 1909
The First White Child Born in Iowa County
M.F. Convey of Dayton has this Record
and York Township the Honor
A Bit of Ancient History
Old Settlers, Old Schools and Old Customs
"The parents who gave the first white baby to Iowa County were Mr. and Mrs. John Convey. They were natives of County West Meath, Ireland. They started to rear their family in their native land but landlords, rack rents and poor crops sent them out on the great tide of exiles whose brain and brawn contributed so largely to the making of this country what it is.
John Convey was as brave a Celt as ever crossed the ocean’s watery waste and in his breast there burned a feverish longing for a home that he might call his own. The frontier beckoned him and camp after camp he passed until he reached Iowa City, then the western point of civilization. Here he resided for a few years and, in company with Michael Duffy, another of York’s first settlers, worked on the old State Capitol. In 1843 they, the Conveys and the Duffys, pushed out to the front and located in what is now York township, thus becoming its first settlers. Iowa County was then attached to Johnson County and none of its land was yet open for settlement except a small strip along its eastern border. Not a line had yet been run by the surveyor. Ed Ricord, the first settler in Iowa County, lived over in what is now Greene township and John Furlong, the parent of the John Furlong who now lives in York, was among the very first settlers in Iowa County locating in Greene township in 1841. In 1844-45, the Evanses and Hansons located in what is now Troy township. But a better idea of the newness of the country can be had from the fact that when Iowa County was organized in 1845 there were just two polling places in the county, one at Ed Ricord’s home in Greene township and the other at the old trading house in Iowa township kept by Robert Hutchison. The first election was held on the 4th of August 1845 and 36 votes were cast in the county, 22 at the Hutchison’s and 14 at Ricord’s. The names of the voters at the Ricord polling place are recorded in the poll book in the following order:
1. Charles Jones
2. Edward Spratt
3. John Convey
4. Michael Duffy
5. Elisha Ricord
6. Henry Starry
7. Jacob Ricord
8. Edward Ricord
9. Michael Roup
10. James McKray
11. Reuben Smith
12. Erastus Convers
13. Stephen Hanson
14. Thomas Hanson
The Convey Home
The old Convey home was in the southwest corner of what is now York township and was on the bank of Convey’s Creek, the name which the stream still bears. The old farm is now occupied by Mrs. Catherine Griffin. When John Convey located here it was the heart of a virgin forest, abounding in game, consisting chiefly of deer and turkeys. To the northwest lay the open prairie, wrapped in the solitude of ages and trackless as a sea. Once each year over this vast expanse rolled and roared the fierce prairie fire and more than once the Convey home was threatened with destruction. And when winter came what brave hearts were required to withstand the long siege of frost and churlish wind. Across these prairies the “cavalry of the wild blast” led the hosts of winter and the keen-edged sabres of the frost cut deeper than the sting of hate or envy.
But the Convey home flourished, five stalwart sons and two daughters made up the family. The father for several years was engaged in freighting from Muscatine to Iowa City and then came the dark and soul–trying days of 1861 when the nation’s heart throbbed wildly at the sound of fife and drum. The strife made a heavy toll on the Convey home. In 1861, at the first call for men, Lawrence, John and James Convey went to the front. Lawrence and John were members of Berge’s Sharpshooters and James was killed in action at Silver Creek, Mo. In 1862, Michael, around whom this sketch is written, enlisted in Company 1, 6th Cavalry and for several years he patrolled the frontier and fought “bad” Indians who were murdering defenseless settlers......."
Williamsburg Journal – Tribune, Williamsburg, Iowa County, Iowa, Thursday July 29, 1909
The First White Child Born in Iowa County
M.F. Convey of Dayton has this Record
and York Township the Honor
A Bit of Ancient History
Old Settlers, Old Schools and Old Customs
"The parents who gave the first white baby to Iowa County were Mr. and Mrs. John Convey. They were natives of County West Meath, Ireland. They started to rear their family in their native land but landlords, rack rents and poor crops sent them out on the great tide of exiles whose brain and brawn contributed so largely to the making of this country what it is.
John Convey was as brave a Celt as ever crossed the ocean’s watery waste and in his breast there burned a feverish longing for a home that he might call his own. The frontier beckoned him and camp after camp he passed until he reached Iowa City, then the western point of civilization. Here he resided for a few years and, in company with Michael Duffy, another of York’s first settlers, worked on the old State Capitol. In 1843 they, the Conveys and the Duffys, pushed out to the front and located in what is now York township, thus becoming its first settlers. Iowa County was then attached to Johnson County and none of its land was yet open for settlement except a small strip along its eastern border. Not a line had yet been run by the surveyor. Ed Ricord, the first settler in Iowa County, lived over in what is now Greene township and John Furlong, the parent of the John Furlong who now lives in York, was among the very first settlers in Iowa County locating in Greene township in 1841. In 1844-45, the Evanses and Hansons located in what is now Troy township. But a better idea of the newness of the country can be had from the fact that when Iowa County was organized in 1845 there were just two polling places in the county, one at Ed Ricord’s home in Greene township and the other at the old trading house in Iowa township kept by Robert Hutchison. The first election was held on the 4th of August 1845 and 36 votes were cast in the county, 22 at the Hutchison’s and 14 at Ricord’s. The names of the voters at the Ricord polling place are recorded in the poll book in the following order:
1. Charles Jones
2. Edward Spratt
3. John Convey
4. Michael Duffy
5. Elisha Ricord
6. Henry Starry
7. Jacob Ricord
8. Edward Ricord
9. Michael Roup
10. James McKray
11. Reuben Smith
12. Erastus Convers
13. Stephen Hanson
14. Thomas Hanson
The Convey Home
The old Convey home was in the southwest corner of what is now York township and was on the bank of Convey’s Creek, the name which the stream still bears. The old farm is now occupied by Mrs. Catherine Griffin. When John Convey located here it was the heart of a virgin forest, abounding in game, consisting chiefly of deer and turkeys. To the northwest lay the open prairie, wrapped in the solitude of ages and trackless as a sea. Once each year over this vast expanse rolled and roared the fierce prairie fire and more than once the Convey home was threatened with destruction. And when winter came what brave hearts were required to withstand the long siege of frost and churlish wind. Across these prairies the “cavalry of the wild blast” led the hosts of winter and the keen-edged sabres of the frost cut deeper than the sting of hate or envy.
But the Convey home flourished, five stalwart sons and two daughters made up the family. The father for several years was engaged in freighting from Muscatine to Iowa City and then came the dark and soul–trying days of 1861 when the nation’s heart throbbed wildly at the sound of fife and drum. The strife made a heavy toll on the Convey home. In 1861, at the first call for men, Lawrence, John and James Convey went to the front. Lawrence and John were members of Berge’s Sharpshooters and James was killed in action at Silver Creek, Mo. In 1862, Michael, around whom this sketch is written, enlisted in Company 1, 6th Cavalry and for several years he patrolled the frontier and fought “bad” Indians who were murdering defenseless settlers......."
Excerpt from:
Williamsburg Journal – Tribune, Williamsburg, Iowa County, Iowa, Thursday July 29, 1909
The First White Child Born in Iowa County
M.F. Convey of Dayton has this Record
and York Township the Honor
A Bit of Ancient History
Old Settlers, Old Schools and Old Customs
"The parents who gave the first white baby to Iowa County were Mr. and Mrs. John Convey. They were natives of County West Meath, Ireland. They started to rear their family in their native land but landlords, rack rents and poor crops sent them out on the great tide of exiles whose brain and brawn contributed so largely to the making of this country what it is.
John Convey was as brave a Celt as ever crossed the ocean’s watery waste and in his breast there burned a feverish longing for a home that he might call his own. The frontier beckoned him and camp after camp he passed until he reached Iowa City, then the western point of civilization. Here he resided for a few years and, in company with Michael Duffy, another of York’s first settlers, worked on the old State Capitol. In 1843 they, the Conveys and the Duffys, pushed out to the front and located in what is now York township, thus becoming its first settlers. Iowa County was then attached to Johnson County and none of its land was yet open for settlement except a small strip along its eastern border. Not a line had yet been run by the surveyor. Ed Ricord, the first settler in Iowa County, lived over in what is now Greene township and John Furlong, the parent of the John Furlong who now lives in York, was among the very first settlers in Iowa County locating in Greene township in 1841. In 1844-45, the Evanses and Hansons located in what is now Troy township. But a better idea of the newness of the country can be had from the fact that when Iowa County was organized in 1845 there were just two polling places in the county, one at Ed Ricord’s home in Greene township and the other at the old trading house in Iowa township kept by Robert Hutchison. The first election was held on the 4th of August 1845 and 36 votes were cast in the county, 22 at the Hutchison’s and 14 at Ricord’s. The names of the voters at the Ricord polling place are recorded in the poll book in the following order:
1. Charles Jones
2. Edward Spratt
3. John Convey
4. Michael Duffy
5. Elisha Ricord
6. Henry Starry
7. Jacob Ricord
8. Edward Ricord
9. Michael Roup
10. James McKray
11. Reuben Smith
12. Erastus Convers
13. Stephen Hanson
14. Thomas Hanson
The Convey Home
The old Convey home was in the southwest corner of what is now York township and was on the bank of Convey’s Creek, the name which the stream still bears. The old farm is now occupied by Mrs. Catherine Griffin. When John Convey located here it was the heart of a virgin forest, abounding in game, consisting chiefly of deer and turkeys. To the northwest lay the open prairie, wrapped in the solitude of ages and trackless as a sea. Once each year over this vast expanse rolled and roared the fierce prairie fire and more than once the Convey home was threatened with destruction. And when winter came what brave hearts were required to withstand the long siege of frost and churlish wind. Across these prairies the “cavalry of the wild blast” led the hosts of winter and the keen-edged sabres of the frost cut deeper than the sting of hate or envy.
But the Convey home flourished, five stalwart sons and two daughters made up the family. The father for several years was engaged in freighting from Muscatine to Iowa City and then came the dark and soul–trying days of 1861 when the nation’s heart throbbed wildly at the sound of fife and drum. The strife made a heavy toll on the Convey home. In 1861, at the first call for men, Lawrence, John and James Convey went to the front. Lawrence and John were members of Berge’s Sharpshooters and James was killed in action at Silver Creek, Mo. In 1862, Michael, around whom this sketch is written, enlisted in Company 1, 6th Cavalry and for several years he patrolled the frontier and fought “bad” Indians who were murdering defenseless settlers......."
Williamsburg Journal – Tribune, Williamsburg, Iowa County, Iowa, Thursday July 29, 1909
The First White Child Born in Iowa County
M.F. Convey of Dayton has this Record
and York Township the Honor
A Bit of Ancient History
Old Settlers, Old Schools and Old Customs
"The parents who gave the first white baby to Iowa County were Mr. and Mrs. John Convey. They were natives of County West Meath, Ireland. They started to rear their family in their native land but landlords, rack rents and poor crops sent them out on the great tide of exiles whose brain and brawn contributed so largely to the making of this country what it is.
John Convey was as brave a Celt as ever crossed the ocean’s watery waste and in his breast there burned a feverish longing for a home that he might call his own. The frontier beckoned him and camp after camp he passed until he reached Iowa City, then the western point of civilization. Here he resided for a few years and, in company with Michael Duffy, another of York’s first settlers, worked on the old State Capitol. In 1843 they, the Conveys and the Duffys, pushed out to the front and located in what is now York township, thus becoming its first settlers. Iowa County was then attached to Johnson County and none of its land was yet open for settlement except a small strip along its eastern border. Not a line had yet been run by the surveyor. Ed Ricord, the first settler in Iowa County, lived over in what is now Greene township and John Furlong, the parent of the John Furlong who now lives in York, was among the very first settlers in Iowa County locating in Greene township in 1841. In 1844-45, the Evanses and Hansons located in what is now Troy township. But a better idea of the newness of the country can be had from the fact that when Iowa County was organized in 1845 there were just two polling places in the county, one at Ed Ricord’s home in Greene township and the other at the old trading house in Iowa township kept by Robert Hutchison. The first election was held on the 4th of August 1845 and 36 votes were cast in the county, 22 at the Hutchison’s and 14 at Ricord’s. The names of the voters at the Ricord polling place are recorded in the poll book in the following order:
1. Charles Jones
2. Edward Spratt
3. John Convey
4. Michael Duffy
5. Elisha Ricord
6. Henry Starry
7. Jacob Ricord
8. Edward Ricord
9. Michael Roup
10. James McKray
11. Reuben Smith
12. Erastus Convers
13. Stephen Hanson
14. Thomas Hanson
The Convey Home
The old Convey home was in the southwest corner of what is now York township and was on the bank of Convey’s Creek, the name which the stream still bears. The old farm is now occupied by Mrs. Catherine Griffin. When John Convey located here it was the heart of a virgin forest, abounding in game, consisting chiefly of deer and turkeys. To the northwest lay the open prairie, wrapped in the solitude of ages and trackless as a sea. Once each year over this vast expanse rolled and roared the fierce prairie fire and more than once the Convey home was threatened with destruction. And when winter came what brave hearts were required to withstand the long siege of frost and churlish wind. Across these prairies the “cavalry of the wild blast” led the hosts of winter and the keen-edged sabres of the frost cut deeper than the sting of hate or envy.
But the Convey home flourished, five stalwart sons and two daughters made up the family. The father for several years was engaged in freighting from Muscatine to Iowa City and then came the dark and soul–trying days of 1861 when the nation’s heart throbbed wildly at the sound of fife and drum. The strife made a heavy toll on the Convey home. In 1861, at the first call for men, Lawrence, John and James Convey went to the front. Lawrence and John were members of Berge’s Sharpshooters and James was killed in action at Silver Creek, Mo. In 1862, Michael, around whom this sketch is written, enlisted in Company 1, 6th Cavalry and for several years he patrolled the frontier and fought “bad” Indians who were murdering defenseless settlers......."
Inscription
Gravestone indicates John was 59 years old at time of death.
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