Akers, Benjaminm

AKERS, COLLINGS, GUNTER, HICKMAN, MCLAUGHLIN

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 7/6/2019 at 08:24:38

BIOGRAPHY ~ BENJAMIN AKERS
June 17, 1830 ~ January 25, 1894

Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa
(Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), pp. 563-64

"BENJAMIN AKERS, section 15, Bloomington Township, has been identified with the interests of Decatur County thirty-five years, and is one of its most prominent and well-respected citizens. He is a native of Putnam County, Indiana, born June 17, 1830, a son of Bedy and Lydia (Collings) Akers, his father a native of Virginia, and his mother of Shelby County, Kentucky. When he was nine years of age his parents moved to Chariton County, Missouri, where seven years of his life was spent, assisting in the work on the farm, and attending the common schools. His father died in 1846, and soon after, he, in company with his mother, and brothers and sisters, moved to Mercer County, Missouri, where he lived about five years, and in 1851 he came to Iowa and located in Decatur County, on section 24, Decatur Township, where he lived until 1878, when he moved to his present farm. Mr. Akers was married February 23, 1851, to Miss Mary Jane Gunter, daughter of Thomas and Nancy Gunter, of Putnam County, Indiana. To them were born twelve children -- Elzann, Sarah Ellen, Nancy E., W. H., Thomas F., Lydia Ann, Jesse D., Laura E., John H., Benjamin F., Edgar B. and Mary Eva. Sarah Ellen, Lydia Ann, John H. and Edger B. are deceased. Mrs. Akers died May 6, 1873. December 1, 1875, Mr. Akers married Mrs. Elizabeth Hickman, a widow with three children -- Mary J., Henry H. and Albert M. Mrs. Elizabeth Akers died January 28, 1878, of consumption, and October 13, 1878, Mr. Akers married Mrs. Mary A. McLaughlin, a widow with four children -- Melissa Ellen, Mary Catherine, Charles E. and Thomas Carey. To them have been born two children -- Austin Elmer and Hattie L. Mr. Akers is a member of the Missionary Baptist church, in which he is a deacon. He is in politics a Greenbacker."

NOTE: Benjamin died on January 25, 1894, interment was made at Palestine Cemetery.

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

Note by Sharon R. Becker