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JOHN MAGILL, farmer, residing on section 28, Benton Township, was born in Mifflin County, Pa., Oct. 5, 1824, and is a son of John and Catherine (Hanowalt) Magill, natives of Pennsylvania. His father was a farmer, born April 8, 1792, and lived in the above-named county till his death, which took place Dec. 15, 1864. His mother was born July 22, 1798, and died Nov. 3, 1832.Our subject was born and reared on a farm, remaining at home until his removal to this State. In the spring of 1855, together with his family, he emigrated to Benton County, Iowa, and located in Eden Township, where he bought 100 acres of land, but which he sold in a very short time. He then moved to Benton City and began work in a sawmill as a tail-sawyer. In 1859 he spent one summer in traveling, starting for the gold regions, but meeting so many returning from there, he turned his face southward. In 1860 he came back to Benton County, and that year worked a farm in Eden Township. In the spring of 1861 he returned to Benton City, but soon afterward enlisted in Co. G, 5th Iowa Vol. Inf., and served until October, 1862, when he was discharged on account of disease of the lungs, contracted while in the service. Returning home he remained about two years, when he bought the place where he now lives, consisting of sixty acres of land, which at that time was unimproved, but which he has since converted into a good farm.
Mr. Magill was united in marriage, March 11, 1850, to Nancy J. Taylor, and they are the parents of six children — William C., Martha J., Amanda J. and Mary E., twins; Sarah Emily and John A. Mr. Magill is an old resident of Benton County and knows much of the hardships of pioneer life.
Source Citation: "1887 Benton County, Iowa Biographies" [database online] Benton County IAGenWeb Project. <http://iagenweb.org/benton/>
Original data: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Benton County, Iowa." Chicago: Chapman Brothers, 1887, p. 254-255.
Transcribed by: Sue Soden. Submitted to the Benton County IAGenWeb Project on January 28th, 2009. Copyright © 2009 The IAGenWeb Project.
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