James N. McGohan, our subject, was born Aug. 3, 1823, in Bracken County, Ky., and being reared in the midst of a large family, upon a farm, he secured a meager education during his boyhood. Remaining at home until fully of age, his first trip into the world was an event of importance to him. Possessing a good horse, the young man mounted him, after bidding his friends and relatives adieu, and Dec. 25, 1845, he turned his face toward the West, being the possessor of $25.75 in cash, and the horse he rode. Making easy rides, and stopping a few days where employment could be secured, the trip, which had for its objective point Burlington, Iowa, was made in three months, he reaching this city March 2, 1846, with his cash capital increased after paying traveling expenses, he now having $27 in his purse, and the same horse which had carried him to Iowa. Mr. McGohan crossed the river on the ice Monday evening, and on the Wednesday following the ice broke up. He was the last to make the trip across that icy bridge for that time, and many people stood upon the bank anxiously watching,fearful that the horse and rider would break through at every step. Pushing into the country, James McGohan obtained work with Wolcott Seymour, who was one of the earliest settlers, and at the time of his death President of the Burlington Insurance Company; $9 per month was the compensation received for the summer spent in Mr. Seymour's employ. In the autumn of 1846 he took a trip South, and for several months chopped cord-wood near Memphis, Tenn., returning to Iowa the next spring. Having spent his cash capital, and again being ready to begin work in the new country, he hired by the month, and until his marriage in October, 1848, his time was spent in the employ of others.
His wedding was celebrated at the residence of John Crawford, whose daughter, Minerva A., was the bride. The young couple began domestic life upon a rented farm in Flint River Township. After his marriage an era of prosperity began with Mr. McGohan, though he rented lands until 1852, and in that year purchased a farm in Pleasant Grove Township, and in 1868 became the possessor of his present homestead. His children have all been born and reared in the county, and we are glad to mention the individual members: Daniel W. is now deceased; Martha J., residing at home; John W., Esther A. and William H., are all deceased; Franklin P., the husband of Maggie Holland, is a farmer of Washington Township, this county; Lydia E., wife of William A. Chadwick, a resident of Pleasant Grove Township, Des Moines County; Charles remains upon the farm aiding his father in the work; Mary M. and Sarah J. were twins, and the former is now deceased.
The death of Mrs. McGohan occurred March 25, 1887, she having lived to see her children grown and educated. She was sixty-one years of age,and in the sketch of the Crawford family elsewhere in this volume will be found an authentic history of her father's family. She was a model wife, a loving mother, and was a member of the Christian Church. Together she and her husband had shared comparative poverty, and together they later enjoyed the ease and comforts which those of frugal habits and energetic lives surround themselves with. In speaking again of Mr. McGohan, we offer this sketch as an example of a self-made man, who, with his brain and muscle, has achieved within a few years a competence for old age, and perhaps there is no one of his years residing in the county who has attended more strictly to details of business. This is a welcome and valuable contribution to a series of sketches of the representative people of Danville Township, and is presented with pleasure.
Portrait and Biographical Album of Des Moines County, Iowa
Chicago: Acme Publishing, 1888.
His wedding was celebrated at the residence of John Crawford, whose daughter, Minerva A., was the bride. The young couple began domestic life upon a rented farm in Flint River Township. After his marriage an era of prosperity began with Mr. McGohan, though he rented lands until 1852, and in that year purchased a farm in Pleasant Grove Township, and in 1868 became the possessor of his present homestead. His children have all been born and reared in the county, and we are glad to mention the individual members: Daniel W. is now deceased; Martha J., residing at home; John W., Esther A. and William H., are all deceased; Franklin P., the husband of Maggie Holland, is a farmer of Washington Township, this county; Lydia E., wife of William A. Chadwick, a resident of Pleasant Grove Township, Des Moines County; Charles remains upon the farm aiding his father in the work; Mary M. and Sarah J. were twins, and the former is now deceased.
The death of Mrs. McGohan occurred March 25, 1887, she having lived to see her children grown and educated. She was sixty-one years of age,and in the sketch of the Crawford family elsewhere in this volume will be found an authentic history of her father's family. She was a model wife, a loving mother, and was a member of the Christian Church. Together she and her husband had shared comparative poverty, and together they later enjoyed the ease and comforts which those of frugal habits and energetic lives surround themselves with. In speaking again of Mr. McGohan, we offer this sketch as an example of a self-made man, who, with his brain and muscle, has achieved within a few years a competence for old age, and perhaps there is no one of his years residing in the county who has attended more strictly to details of business. This is a welcome and valuable contribution to a series of sketches of the representative people of Danville Township, and is presented with pleasure.
Portrait and Biographical Album of Des Moines County, Iowa
Chicago: Acme Publishing, 1888.
James N. McGohan, our subject, was born Aug. 3, 1823, in Bracken County, Ky., and being reared in the midst of a large family, upon a farm, he secured a meager education during his boyhood. Remaining at home until fully of age, his first trip into the world was an event of importance to him. Possessing a good horse, the young man mounted him, after bidding his friends and relatives adieu, and Dec. 25, 1845, he turned his face toward the West, being the possessor of $25.75 in cash, and the horse he rode. Making easy rides, and stopping a few days where employment could be secured, the trip, which had for its objective point Burlington, Iowa, was made in three months, he reaching this city March 2, 1846, with his cash capital increased after paying traveling expenses, he now having $27 in his purse, and the same horse which had carried him to Iowa. Mr. McGohan crossed the river on the ice Monday evening, and on the Wednesday following the ice broke up. He was the last to make the trip across that icy bridge for that time, and many people stood upon the bank anxiously watching,fearful that the horse and rider would break through at every step. Pushing into the country, James McGohan obtained work with Wolcott Seymour, who was one of the earliest settlers, and at the time of his death President of the Burlington Insurance Company; $9 per month was the compensation received for the summer spent in Mr. Seymour's employ. In the autumn of 1846 he took a trip South, and for several months chopped cord-wood near Memphis, Tenn., returning to Iowa the next spring. Having spent his cash capital, and again being ready to begin work in the new country, he hired by the month, and until his marriage in October, 1848, his time was spent in the employ of others.
His wedding was celebrated at the residence of John Crawford, whose daughter, Minerva A., was the bride. The young couple began domestic life upon a rented farm in Flint River Township. After his marriage an era of prosperity began with Mr. McGohan, though he rented lands until 1852, and in that year purchased a farm in Pleasant Grove Township, and in 1868 became the possessor of his present homestead. His children have all been born and reared in the county, and we are glad to mention the individual members: Daniel W. is now deceased; Martha J., residing at home; John W., Esther A. and William H., are all deceased; Franklin P., the husband of Maggie Holland, is a farmer of Washington Township, this county; Lydia E., wife of William A. Chadwick, a resident of Pleasant Grove Township, Des Moines County; Charles remains upon the farm aiding his father in the work; Mary M. and Sarah J. were twins, and the former is now deceased.
The death of Mrs. McGohan occurred March 25, 1887, she having lived to see her children grown and educated. She was sixty-one years of age,and in the sketch of the Crawford family elsewhere in this volume will be found an authentic history of her father's family. She was a model wife, a loving mother, and was a member of the Christian Church. Together she and her husband had shared comparative poverty, and together they later enjoyed the ease and comforts which those of frugal habits and energetic lives surround themselves with. In speaking again of Mr. McGohan, we offer this sketch as an example of a self-made man, who, with his brain and muscle, has achieved within a few years a competence for old age, and perhaps there is no one of his years residing in the county who has attended more strictly to details of business. This is a welcome and valuable contribution to a series of sketches of the representative people of Danville Township, and is presented with pleasure.
Portrait and Biographical Album of Des Moines County, Iowa
Chicago: Acme Publishing, 1888.
His wedding was celebrated at the residence of John Crawford, whose daughter, Minerva A., was the bride. The young couple began domestic life upon a rented farm in Flint River Township. After his marriage an era of prosperity began with Mr. McGohan, though he rented lands until 1852, and in that year purchased a farm in Pleasant Grove Township, and in 1868 became the possessor of his present homestead. His children have all been born and reared in the county, and we are glad to mention the individual members: Daniel W. is now deceased; Martha J., residing at home; John W., Esther A. and William H., are all deceased; Franklin P., the husband of Maggie Holland, is a farmer of Washington Township, this county; Lydia E., wife of William A. Chadwick, a resident of Pleasant Grove Township, Des Moines County; Charles remains upon the farm aiding his father in the work; Mary M. and Sarah J. were twins, and the former is now deceased.
The death of Mrs. McGohan occurred March 25, 1887, she having lived to see her children grown and educated. She was sixty-one years of age,and in the sketch of the Crawford family elsewhere in this volume will be found an authentic history of her father's family. She was a model wife, a loving mother, and was a member of the Christian Church. Together she and her husband had shared comparative poverty, and together they later enjoyed the ease and comforts which those of frugal habits and energetic lives surround themselves with. In speaking again of Mr. McGohan, we offer this sketch as an example of a self-made man, who, with his brain and muscle, has achieved within a few years a competence for old age, and perhaps there is no one of his years residing in the county who has attended more strictly to details of business. This is a welcome and valuable contribution to a series of sketches of the representative people of Danville Township, and is presented with pleasure.
Portrait and Biographical Album of Des Moines County, Iowa
Chicago: Acme Publishing, 1888.
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