J. A. McGINNIS

MCGINNIS

Posted By: Jake Tornholm (email)
Date: 4/21/2020 at 11:04:58

J. A. McGINNIS made his arrival on this mundane sphere December 4, 1853, in Madison county, Iowa. He is a son of the Rev. J. B. McGinnis, deceased, a minister of the Christian Church and a prominent pioneer of Madison and Adair counties. He was well and favorably known all over southwestern Iowa, had preached the gospel of salvation in many a log cabin and school-house, and was instrumental in doing much good in the cause of his Master, whom he served faithfully as long as he lived. His death occurred at his home, twelve miles northeast of Greenfield, Adair county, Iowa, in April, 1890. He had come to this State from Indiana, and here he was the owner of a large and valuable tract of land. After giving liberally to his children he had a fine farm of 200 acres left, on which he was residing at the time of his death. He had a family of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, eleven of whom are now living.

J. A., whose name heads this biography, was the sixth born in this large family. He was a lad of nine years when his father settled in Adair county, and there he grew to manhood, spending his youth on a farm and receiving his education in the pioneer schools. He purchased land in Adams county in 1877, and is now well located on a good farm of 120 acres, eighty acres of which are in Carl township and forty in Colony township. Here he has a comfortable cottage home, good outbuildings, fine grove, orchard, etc., and everything about the premises wears an air of thrift and prosperity.

In Carl township, this county, in September, 1878, Mr. McGinnis married Miss Mary E. Madison, daughter of Charles Madison, of Carl township. She was a teacher before her marriage, was a lady of much culture and refinement, and possessed many amiable traits of character, being loved by all who knew her. She was a member of the Christian Church. She died January 10, 1890, leaving one son, Charley Guy, born June 25, 1881. Her second child, a daughter, died, December 27, 1889, at the age of three days.

Politically Mr. McGinnis is an Independent. He is a member of the Christian Church.