ARCHIBALD, Isaac - 1912 Bio (1836-1915)

ARCHIBALD, HALL, PAXTON, FARLEY, ANDERSON, BARTIN

Posted By: Debbie Nash (email)
Date: 11/3/2002 at 00:38:15

From the History of Jefferson County - 1912, Volume II
Pages 136-138

ISAAC ARCHIBALD

Isaac ARCHIBALD, a retired farmer now living in Glasgow, belongs to the rapidly thinning ranks of those who donned the blue and so valiantly defended the Union during the early '60s. He was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, on the 24th of October, 1836, and is a son of Benjamin and Nancy (HALL) ARCHIBALD. The parents were also natives of Ohio, where the father was employed on the river boats until 1847 when he removed to Iowa, locating in Jefferson county. Upon his arrival here he settled on a hundred and sixty acres of land at Coal Port, Lockridge township, that he had subsequently purchased. But fifteen acres of this was cleared and after erecting such buildings as were essential for the immediate comfort of the family, he applied himself to clearing and operating his land. He resided there for some time, then disposing of his property purchased an eighty-acre tract in Round Prairie township that he operated for a time. This he also subsequently sold and went to Birmingham, where he lived for a year. At the expiration of that time he bought a farm in Davis county, this state, that he improved and cultivated until his death in 1875. The mother passed away in 1837, while the family were residents of Ohio.

His introduction to the rudiments of English learning Isaac ARCHIBALD obtained in common schools of his native state, where he spent the first eleven years of his life. This was later supplemented by further study in the district schools of Jefferson county, which he attended until it was considered he had sufficient knowledge to enable him to assume the heavier responsibilities of life. As he was a youth of eleven when he removed to the farm with his father, he was sufficiently developed to assist in the work of the fields and care of the stock, so by the time he had obtained his maturity he was well qualified for the duties of an agriculturist. He left home when he was twenty-one and went to work in a sawmill, remaining there for one year. At the end of that time he returned to country life in the capacity of a farm hand, following that occupation until 1862, when he enlisted in Company D, Thirty-sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. He remained at the front from the period of his enlistment until the close of hostilities, then returned to Iowa and went to work on the railroad. This work promised but a vague and unsatisfactory future, so he once more returned to agricultural pursuits, this time as a renter. He continued to follow farming in this county until 1891, meeting with such lucrative returns from the tilling of his fields and stock-raising that he was able to retire. Removing to Glasgow he purchased a nice residence and an acre of ground, and is now enjoying the well earned rest made possible by the thrift and industry of his earlier years.

On the 1st of January, 1868, Mr. ARCHIBALD was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth PAXTON, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (FARLEY) PAXTON, the father a native of Indiana and the mother of Pennsylvania. Mr. PAXTON came to Henry county, Iowa, in the early 50's and bought and improved a farm that he operated for a good many years. The latter years of his life were spent in retirement in Rome, where he passed away in 1872. The mother survived him until 1891. Mr. PAXTON was another of those who responded to his country's call during the Civil war, by enlisting and going to the front where he remained until the restoration of peace.

Mr. and Mrs. ARCHIBALD were the parents of four children: Cora B., the widow of Charles ANDERSON, who is living in Fairfield; Ross, who is now forty-one years of age and a resident of Burlington; Minnie L., twenty-seven years of age, the wife of Henry BARTIN, a farmer of Henry county; and Jesse M., who is thirty-two years of age, a resident of Oskaloosa, where he is following the barber trade.

In matters of faith both Mr. and Mrs. ARCHIBALD are Methodist and politically he is a republican. He has always maintained relations with his comrades of the field through the medium of the Grand Army of the Republic, and is affiliated with the Pierce Post of Glasgow. Mr. ARCHIBALD's residence in Jefferson county covers a period of sixty-four years, the time of its greatest progress and highest development. He has been the interested observer of the many notable changes that have acompanied the introduction of modern inventions and conveniences, revolutionizing both commercial and industrial as well as agricultural methods. Despite his seventy-five years he is still active, and takes a keen interest in all the affairs of the day, while he is ever ready to relate one of his many reminiscences of the war or the pioneer days of Iowa.

I am copying this information for the benefit of genealogical research and am not related to said individuals.