French, J. C.

FRENCH, BUNER, PECKENPAUGH

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 12/3/2008 at 19:15:41

FRENCH, J. C.
Farmer and Stock Raiser; Sec. 33; P. O. Prairie City; was born in Orange Co., Indiana, Aug. 6, 1824. Came to this county in 1839. Has 240 acres of land, valued at $12,000. Belongs to the M. E. Church. Married for his first wife, Susannah BUNER. She was born in the same county, June 10, 1828, died January 9, 1859. They have five children living - Saro, Mary A., Edward C., Reuben H., John S. For his second wife, married Susan PECKENPAUGH, born Schuyler Co., Ill., April 17, 1836; mother of six children living - Emma, Nancy, Julia, Bell, Olive, Susannah. Emigrated from Indiana to Knox Co., Ill in the Fall of 1852; lived there 17 years, thence to Jasper Co., Iowa. When they came to Galesburg there were only two stores and about 1,000 inhabitants; there was only one house between Galesburg and Keithsburg, thirty miles. In the Fall or Winter of 1853, saw the first train that ran over the C., B. & Q. R. R. Used the first corn planter used in the United States, manufactured by G. W. Brown of Galesburg, Ill. Was amongst the earliest settlers of Knox Co., Ill. When he came to this county, located on the farm where he now resides. There was not a tree or shrub on the place. Now has a grove from twenty-five feet to forty feet high planted by his own hand and grown in the last nine years. Has an orchard of 150 trees of the best varieties. Has two and a half miles of the best hedge fence in the county; brought his seed from Illinois, sowed and set his own hedge. Mr. F. married cousins - names Susan and Susannah; their mothers are both living, one 85 years old and one 83. Mr. F. has one of the best farms in Mound Prairie Township, and is one of the sound farmers of the county. ~ "Mound Prairie Township Biographies," The History of Jasper County, Iowa, (Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1878)