James SIRRINE

SIRRINE, DICKIRSON, HEWITT, REESE, DENSLOW

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/25/2011 at 00:38:38

1883 History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo Counties, Iowa

JAMES SIRRINE

The first actual settler, in what is now Lake township, was James DICKIRSON in 1852. He settled on section 7, and built the first house in the township.

James SIRRINE, of Clear Lake, is one of the oldest settlers, not only of Clear Lake, but of Cerro Gordo county. He came here in 1853, and entered six forties, four of which were on section 13, at the east end of the lake, where he now resides.

Mr. SIRRINE was born at Peekskill, N. Y., in 1811. His father removed to Pennsylvania, when James was a child, and settled in Pike county in that State. He was reared in Pennsylvania, married and returned to the State of New York, where he lived thirteen years. He then removed to Illinois, where he lived two years, then came to Iowa.

His father settled near him, where he resided until 1878, when he removed to Minnesota.

But few families were living in Cerro Gordo county when Mr. SIRRINE came here. DICKIRSON and HEWITT, the earliest settlers of the county, had been here but two or three years. One by one, the pioneers are passing away and Mr. SIRRINE is one of the few who are left of those who laid the foundation of a home here thirty years ago.

Mr. SIRRINE married Susan REESE, born in New York; she died here in 1859. His present wife was born in Indiana. Mr. SIRRINE had five children by his first wife, three of whom are living - Robert, Frederick and Stephen. James and David were soldiers in the army of the Union during the rebellion; the former was a member of the 12th United States Regulars, and was killed at the battle of the Wilderness; the latter was a member of the same regiment, and was killed accidentally at Fort Hamilton.

Robert SIRRINE, the oldest son, was born in McHenry Co., Ill., in 1837, and came to this county with his father. He is one of the most prosperous and substantial farmers of Lake township. He resides on section 16, where he has a fine farm of 160 acres; he also owns another farm of 160 acres on section 21. He married Martha DENSLOW, daughter of John DENSLOW. She was born in Linn Co. Iowa.

SOURCE: History of Franklin and Cerro Gordo Counties, Iowa. p. 870. Union Publishing Co. Springfield IL. 1883.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2011