Sears, Daniel G.

SEARS, GADBURY, GROESBECK, BLAIR, MARTIN, WADSWORTH

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 7/8/2019 at 19:34:34

Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa, (Lewis Publishing Company (1887)), pp. 678-79:

"DANIEL G. SEARS is a representative of one of the pioneer families of Decatur County, his father, Jacob Sears, having settled in Center Township, May 15, 1854. Jacob Sears was a native of Kentucky, where he was born in1792, and where he was reared and married. His grandfather was a native of Switzerland, and came to America before the Revolutionary war, settling in North Carolina. He was a companion of Daniel Boone, on the dark and bloody ground of Kentucky. Jacob Sears married Edith Gadbury, and removed to Sangamon County, Illinois, in 1828, where he settled upon a place called Island Grove, near Springfield. Later he moved to Macoupin County, where he lived until 1839, then immigrated to Iowa, and settled upon a new farm in Franklin Township, Lee County. The parents after coming to Lee County, being advanced in life, lived with their children until their decease. The father died June 4, 1868, at the age of seventy-three, and the mother March 6, 1876, aged seventy-six years. Jacob Sears was one of the substantial and influential pioneers of Iowa. While never seeking political honors, nor accepting them when proffered, yet he was a man of very positive political opinion, being a typical Jackson Democrat. He was anti-slavery in his views, and left a slave State of Illinois, because of the existence of slavery in Kentucky. During the war for the Union he stood unfalteringly by the flag of his country. Religiously he was a communicant in the German Baptist church. He and his wife had nine children, seven of whom grew to maturity, and six are now living -- Mary, wife of Henry Groesbeck, of Union County; Mrs. Susan Blair, widow of Elijah Blair; Aaron J.; Sumner, a resident of Kansas; Sarah A.; Mrs. Adelia Martin, of Center Township, and Angeline. Samuel, the second child, died in September, 1872, aged forty-eight years. He never married, but owned a farm in Center Township, and lived with his brother, Daniel G., for many years. He was an engineer and surveyor by occupation; was surveyor of Lee County, also of Decatur County, for a number of years. He was one of the leading citizens of Southern Iowa. Daniel G. Sears was born in Sangamon County, Illiinois, March 6, 1834. He resides on section 23, Center Township, his farm containing 1,100 acres. He and his brother, Samuel, owned at one time 1,400 acres. He has an excellent stock farm. His improvements are among the best in the township, prominent among which may be mentioned his fine brick residence, which he built in 1869. November, 1858, he was married in Center Township, to Miss Mary Wadsworth, a native of Maryland. Her parents, John and Rebecca Wadsworth came from Ohio to Decatur County, in 1855. Her father is deceased, and the mother still survives. Mr. and Mrs. Sears have seven children -- Augustus C. Dodge, George, Edith, Annie, Frank, Mollie and Samuel W. Mr. Sears, like all the other members of his father's family, has been identified with the Democratic party. His brother Samuel was at one time a Representative from Lee County, in the State Legislature. Daniel served three years on the Board of County Supervisors."

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