John Cameron

CAMERON, GUNN, DUSTIN

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 3/24/2009 at 15:18:50

JOHN CAMERON is a member of the firm of Cameron & Webster, breeders and importers of Clydesdale horses. The celebrated horse of this firm was imported by Mr. Singmaster, of Keota, Iowa, and is registered in the Scotch Herd Book, No. 2,481, and in the American Herd Book, No. 1,108. They also breed fine jacks, having the largest herd, numbering thirteen, in the county. Mr. Cameron's farm is located in Lincoln Township, on the branches of the Nishnabotna River, and contains 120 acres; he also rents some adjoining lands, making 280 acres under his care. Mr. Cameron is a practical farmer as well as a practical stockbreeder, and has been successful in this avocation. John Cameron, the subject of this brief biography, was born in January, 1846, in the country of Nova Scotia. His father, Allen Cameron, was a native of Scotland, who emigrated to Nova Scotia and became an extensive owner of pine lands, and for several years was largely engaged in the lumbering interests. He became heavily involved by aiding his friends in endorsing paper, so that upon his removal to Carroll County, Illinois, he was in moderate circumstances. His wife, Catherine Cameron, was also a native of Scotland. The grandfather of our subject was Alexander Cameron, who emigrated with his family from Scotland to Nova Scotia. The grandfather on the mother's side was Donald Cameron, also a Scotchman. John Cameron passed his early boyhood and school days in Carroll County, Illinois; later he attended a select school for a period of six months. His father dying soon after the removal of the family to Illinois, he was deprived of paternal care; his older brother took charge of the family, and gave what assistance his years were capable of giving. In the spring of 1868 Mr. Cameron, in company with his brother-in-law, Robert Gunn, came to Audubon County, and located on lands in section 16, which afterward were named Cameron Township, in honor of the Cameron family, he and Mr. Gunn turning the first furrow of land in the township. After breaking out his farm, and making some improvements, he returned to Illinois, and then took a trip to Colorado, in search of wealth, working in the mines which promised to be remunerative. After the lapse of a few years he returned to Audubon County, and settled on his present farm which was new and unimproved; he has placed the land under fine cultivation, and has made many valuable improvements in the way of buildings. Mr. Cameron was married in 1879 to Mrs. Sarah Dustin, of Exira, Audubon County, her par. cuts being early settlers of the county. By this union three children have been born Allen B., Grace M. and James L.

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

pages 821-822