McKibben, John

MCKIBBEN, MARGRAVE, ERNEST, HURD, HYDE, KING

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 7/2/2019 at 13:13:12

Biography ~ John McKibben

"Biographical and Historical Record of
Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), Pp. 606-609:

JOHN McKIBBEN, farmer and stock-raiser, resides on section 4, Garden Grove Township, where he owns 360 acres of well-cultivated land. He also owns 210 acres of fine land in High Point Township. His postoffice address is Garden Grove. He was born in Trumbull County, Ohio, February 25, 1836, a son of Thompson and Elizabeth (Margrave) McKibben, natives of Mercer County, Pennsylvania, of Scotch ancestry. The father died in 1866, aged sixty years, and the mother lives at Newton Falls, Trumbull County, Ohio, at the age of seventy-five years. Four of their six children are living – James, of Kansas; Seymour, of Trumbull County, Ohio; Delia, wife of Henry Ernest, and John. John McKibben was reared and educated in his native county, and taught school two winters, in Ohio and Wisconsin. He came to Decatur County, Iowa, in 1857, and purchased 200 acres of wild land, which he commenced at once to improve, and now has one of the best improved farms in the county. He makes a specialty of breeding and raising fine Merino sheep, having about 500 head. He has seventy-five head of very fine thorough-bred short-horn cattle, and a number of choice Poland-China hogs. Mr. McKibben was married in Trumbull County, Ohio, April 6, 1857, to Harriet Hurd, also a native of that county, daughter of Comfort and Sarah (Hyde) Hurd, of English descent. They are the parents of six children – Frank T., a merchant at High Point; Mary E., wife of George King, of High Point; Mattie L., a superior musician, who expects to graduate in March, 1887; Sarah B., a very fine artist, who also expects to graduate in the spring of 1887; Lillie H., also at school, and John O., at home. Mr. And Mrs. McKibben are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is steward and trustee. They are very much respected in the community where they are known. They have by their industry, economy and perseverance accumulated a large property, and are numbered among the prominent and influential citizens of the township.

(Submitted to the Decatur County GenWeb site by Christy Jay, email: Jaygenie@aol.com)