PACKWOOD, Samuel - 1890 Bio (1818-1902)

PACKWOOD, MCKINLEY, GALLOWAY, GOSS, COUTER, SMITH

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/20/2007 at 20:31:33

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 503-504

Samuel PACKWOOD is the founder of the village of that name. It was organized in the autumn of 1883, and is pleasantly situated on the Burlington & Western Railroad. It is a thriving place with excellent business facilities, and is doing a good general trade. It contains three general stores, one hardware store, two grain elevators, one brick and tile factory, two good frame churches -- a Methodist Episcopal Church and a Christian Church -- and its school privileges are in keeping with all its other advantages. The town site is located on the farm of Samuel PACKWOOD, on the north half of section 14, Polk Township, Jefferson County, in the midst of as fine farming country as can be found along the Mississippi. A bright future seems to be awaiting this village, for its citizens are men of progressive ideas, whose energy and ability will no doubt cause it to rapidly increase in size and advantages.

Samuel PACKWOOD, as well as being one of the founders of the village is one of the pioneers of this State, the date of his locating in Des Moines county being 1848. From that day to the present he has borne his share in the upbuilding of the county's interests, and has identified himself with such enterprises as are calculated to benefit the community. We therefore feel assured that his sketch will be received with interest by many of our readers. He was born in Clark County, Ind., in 1818, unto Samuel and Isabel (McKINLEY) PACKWOOD. His father was a native of Virginia, and his mother of Kentucky, in which State their marriage was celebrated. He was a pioneer settler of both Tennessee and Kentucky, also in Indiana, where his death occurred in 1848. His widow afterward came to Iowa, where her death occurred in Des Moines County in 1875. Mr. PACKWOOD was a Captain in the War of 1812, and his father, Samuel PACKWOOD, Sr., served his country during the Revolutionary War. The PACKWOOD family is of English descent, and the McKINLEY family is of Irish origin. Our subject is the first in order of birth in a family of four children. He was followed by James, who is married and now resides in Des Moines County, Iowa, on the farm which has been his home since 1846; Jeremiah, who died in Des Moines County in 1864; and Mrs. Isabel GALLOWAY, of California.

Samuel PACKWOOD spent the days of his boyhood and youth in a manner usual to farmer lads and such advantages as were afforded by the district schools of Indiana he received. Having attained to man's estate in Clark County, Ind., in 1844, he led to the marriage altar Miss Melinda M. GOSS, daughter of David and Mary (COUTER) GOSS, who like their daughter were natives of Indiana, where they continued to make their home throughout life. In 1848 Mr. PACKWOOD determined to make his home in the new State of Iowa, for he had heard of the opportunities it afforded new settlers, and desired to benefit his financial condition by a removal thereto. He chose Des Moines County as the scene of his labors, and while residing there was honored with the position of County Supervisor. He supported the Democracy, and became an influential member of the party in that locality. His removal in 1875 caused a loss to that county, but proved a gain to Jefferson County, of which he is now a valued citizen. On his arrival he purchased a partially improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres and began its development, but eighty acres of that amount he sold for the town site of Packwood. He built a commodious and tasty residence upon his land, and has provided it with all other necessary improvements.

On the 11th of March, 1890, Mr. PACKWOOD was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died leaving four children -- J. M. is now married and resides in Packwood; M. L. is married and makes his home in Des Moines County; Mary is now Mrs. SMITH, of Clark County, Mo; and Samuel D., who is married, is a practicing physician and surgeon of Oakville, Iowa, having been educated in the medical institute of Cincinnati, Ohio. Mrs. PACKWOOD was a member of the Christian Church and a most estimable lady, who it seemed could ill be spared from the excellent work she was here doing. Mr. PACKWOOD is also a consistent member of the Christian Church, gives liberally to its support and works for its interests. He is charitable and benevolent, ready to extend a helping hand to the poor and needy, and to aid those who are willing to help themselves.

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.