WASSON, Miles Abernathy

WASSON, DELP, STEELE, LOGAN, STOKES, MOORE, MULLINIX, GAMMILL, ROCKHOLD, HAWKINS, SMITH, AUSTIN

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/16/2014 at 11:19:27

Biography ~ Miles Abernathy Wasson

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), Pp. 531-32:

MILES A. WASON, of Morgan Township, is a representative of one of the earliest settlers of Southern Iowa. In 1840 his father, WILLIAM WASSON, immigrated from Morgan County, Illinois, to Mercer County, Missouri. He supposed that his location was on the Iowa side of the State line. He was a native of North Carolina, where he was reared, and where he married Miss SARAH DELP. About the year 1832, the family removed to Morgan County, Illinois, where they lived until they came West. The father died of typhoid fever, in 1841. There were nine children, eight of whom came West with their parents. The second son, JOSEPH DELP, came several years later, and is now a resident of Lineville, Wayne County. MILES WASSON selected his present farm in 1843. In 1846 he enlisted for service in the Mexican War, as a member of the Indian Battalion Mounted Volunteers. He served on the frontier about thirteen months. On return he found that SAMUEL STEELE had taken possession of his claim, and had sold the same to WILLIAM E. LOGAN. In 1846 the spring of 1850, Mr. WASSON fitted up an ox team, and drove across the plains to California. He was successful, and $400 of his old claim. When the selection of lands was made in accordance with the 500,000 acre grant of school lands, Mr. WASSON gave in 160 acres of his claim for that purpose, which enabled him to purchase the same for $1.25 an acre. With the exception of JOHN E. LOGAN, Mr. WASSON is the oldest settler of Morgan Township having been here since 1852. As early as 1843, he went to Fort Des Moines with others, for the purpose of getting their pay form the Indians, for horses, etc., sold to them the previous autumn. They had promised to pay when they received their allowance from the Government. At that time there was not a house to be seen, between Mr. WASSON place and Des Moines. He now owns 400 acres of land. Mr. WASSON was married in the spring of 1852, to RACHEL JANE STOKES, a daughter of YANCEY B. and ELIZABETH (MOORE) STOKES, who settled in Morgan Township, in 1849. Her father was a native of Virginia, and her mother of Pennsylvania. They settled in Missouri at an early day, and moved to California in 1852. The father died March 14, 1886; the mother died March 19, 1872. Mrs. WASSON was born in Davis County, Missouri, in 1836. Mr. and Mrs. WASSON have had ten children, nine of whom are living - SANDY F., HOWARD F., JOHN W., FLORENCE S., SARAH E., RACHEL J., VIOLA, HARDEN (sic) and YANCY B. LUCINDA, the third child, wife of IRA GAMMILL died, leaving three children – ALLIE, MILES and WILLARD.

NOTE: Sarah (Delp) died at the age of 72 years, 1 month and 3 days on June 11, 1867. She was interred at White Oak Cemetery, Decatur Co. IA.

Miles Abernathy Wasson was born October 8, 1826, Iredell Co. NC, and died October 29, 1888, Lineville IA. Rachel Jane (Stokes) Wasson waas born August 10, 1835, and died October 29, 1917, Lineville IA. They were interred at Evergreen Cemetery, Lineville IA.

Of Miles and Rachel's children:
Howard Freeman Wasson, born 1854, died 1929, intered Evergreen Cemetery, Lineville IA

Howard married Hattie M. Mullinix (1859-1927), interred Evergreen Cemetery
Lucinda "Lucy" (Wasson) Gammill, born 04 Jul 1856, died 14 Feb 1881, Davis City IA, interred Gammill Cemetery, Decatur Co. IA

Lucy married Ira Gammill (1849-1885), interred Gammill Cemetery
John Wesley Wasson, born 11 Jun 1858, died 11 Jan 1923, Leon IA, interred Evergreen Cemetery

John married Elizabeth E. Rockhold (1860-1929); Infant Son, born and died 1885, interred Evergreen Cemetery
Florence (Wasson) Hawkins, born 1860, died 1931, interred Evergreen Cemetery

Florence married Ira Irvin Hawkins (1848-1936), interred Evergreen Cemetery
Rachel (Wasson) Rockhold, born 1864, died 1952, interred Evergreen Cemetery

Rachel married John J. Crittingdon Rockhold (1862-1934), interred Evergreen Cemetery
Hardy Wasson, born 1868, 1950, interred Evergreen Cemetery

Hardy married Elizabeth Wasson (1869-1957), interred Forest Park Cemetery, Houston TX
Sarah E. (Wasson) Smith, born 18 Dec 1870, died 12 Dec 1956, wife of Edward A. Smith, interred Shinar Cumberland Presbyterian Cemetery, Pleasant Grove IA
Yancy Bailey Wasson, born 1873, died 1958, interred Evergreen Cemetery

Yancy married Chassie E. Austin (1875-1961)

Transcribed by Sara LeFleur, Decatur County Historial Society Musuem, January of 2014

Note by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2014