HORN, Elisha

HORN, HARRIS, WALKER

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 1/18/2014 at 00:50:24

Biography ~ Elisha Horn

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), pp. 479-80:

ELISHA HORN, an old pioneer of Hamilton Township, and one of the successful business men of Pleasanton, is a native of West Virginia, born in Botetourt county, January 11, 1827. His parents, William and Nancy (Harris) Horn, were married in the year 1825, and reared a family of four children - Elisha, Mary Elizabeth, David and Sarah Ann, of whom our subject was the eldest child. When he waas five years of age his parents removed to Morgan County, Indiana, and there he was reared, his youth being spent in assisting his father on the farm and in attending the common schools. He grew to manhood in Clay County, Indiana, his parents locating in that county when he was thirteen years old.

He was a solider in the Mexican War, enlisting in June, 1846, in Company C. Second Indiana Infantry, and participated in the battle of Buena Vista. After being in the service twelve months he was honorably discharged when he returned to his home in Clay County, Indiana.

He was married August 6, 1848, to Miss Eliza Walker, a native of Morgan County, Indiana, a daughter of Francis and Sarah Walker. Of the six children born to this union only two survive - William F., living in Nemaha County, Nebraska, and John W., engaged in blacksmithing at Pleasanton, Decatur County. Four are deceased - Elizabeth, Sarah Ann, and two who died in infancy. In 1853 Mr. Horn, with his family, consisting of his wife and two children, removed to Mercer County, Missouri, where he entered 120 acres of Government land, on which they resided four years. In March, 1860, he came to Pleasanton and engaged in manufacturing and repairing wagons and buggies, until the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion.

He enlisted in March, 1862, in the Third Missouri Militia, afterward known as the Seventh Missouri Cavalry, Company K. He enlisted as a private, and the following July was commissioned First Lieutenant, in which position he served till he was honorably discharged in April, 1865. He was in the engagements at Marshall, Springfield, Independence and Big Blue River, and Mine RUn, where Pleasanton, Kansas, now stands. After the close of the war he returned home, and the three years following he was engaged in the mercantile business under the firm name of Horn & Wilson. He then engaged in the manufacture of vehicles, wagons, buggies and sleighs, which he has since followed at Pleasanton, and also carries a stock of hardware. His business is located on the southwest corner of the square, in a good two-story building, of which he is the owner.

In politics Mr. Horn is a Republican. He has served as trustee of Hamilton Township three or four terms, serving with credit to himself, and to the best interests of his township, and by his fair and honorable dealings he has gained the confidence and esteem of all who know him.

Transcribed by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2014