John D. Waycoff

WAYCOFF, BOWEN, HUNT, DARNELL, HARTMAN

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 5/18/2009 at 13:44:11

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

pages 796-797

JOHN D. WAYCOFF, an active and
successful farmer of Viola Township,
was born in Greene County, Pennsyl-
vania, near Waynesburgh, March 4, 1839.
His father, Jacob Waycoff, was born in the
Isle of Jersey, and when quite young his
parents moved to the State of Maryland,
where he grew to manhood. He then went
to Greene County, Pennsylvania, and was
there married to Miss Nancy Bowen. After
his marriage Jacob Waycoff settled perma-
nently in Greene County, and lived there
until his death, which occurred in 1859, in
his seventy-first year. His wife, Nancy, died
in 1879. They were the parents of twelve
children, four of whom are deceased. John
D. is the youngest son and the eleventh
child. He grew to maturity in his native
county, passing his youth in farm work and
attending the common school. At the age
of twenty Mr. Waycoff was married to Cath-
erine Hunt, of Greene County, Pennsylvania,
a daughter of Philip and Hannah J. (Darnell)
Hunt. After marriage they settled in Greene
County for a time, and then removed to Ben-
ton County, Iowa, remaining there ten years.
In 1883 Mr. Waycoff removed his family to
Audubon County, Iowa, and located on his
present farm on section 7. The place con-
tains 147 acres, all well improved. Twelve
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Waycoff, ten of whom are living -- Morgan
J., Mary E., the wife of George V. Hartman;
John E., Lewis J., Frank C., William J.,
George H., Oliver L., Samuel S. and Alonzo.
Albert V. and Nettie May died in infancy.
Mr. Waycoff has served as school director
for nine years. He is a member of Florence
Lodge, No. 404, I. O. O. F., and of the G. A.
R. During the Rebellion he enlisted in the
Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, Company F,
and was assigned to the Army of the Cum-
berland, General Rosecrans commanding.
The first sound of battle was at Antietam,
and then followed many skirmishes and bat-
tles in which our subject did faithful service.
After the battle of Mission Ridge he went
through East Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama,
North Carolina and South Carolina, and at
the surrender of General Lee was at Lincoln-
ton, North Carolina. He followed Jeff Davis
in his flight, and after his capture he went to
Nashville, Tennessee, and was honorably dis-
charged in June, 1865. He then returned to
Greene County, Pennsylvania, and engaged
in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Waycoff are mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church,
worshiping at Earhart's school house. Mrs.
Waycoff was born in West Virginia, Sep-
tember 1, 1839.