Mrs. Margaret Badger

BADGER, WYANT, MOORE, WILSON

Posted By: Joan Pulis (email)
Date: 6/30/2005 at 14:43:59

Source: The Patriot [Newspaper] biographical sketch
Mrs. Margaret Badger, who died at her home in Lincoln township on Monday evening July 20, 1896 was one of our very highly esteemed citizens. She was one of the grand old pioneers of Lucas county who has witnessed the wonderful transformation which has taken place here. When she first saw Chariton it was a little hamlet of only a few log houses. She crossed the state when it was almost a virgin prarie through its entire length. The cultivated farms and comfortable homes of today were yet to be created by the labor and energy of the pioneers. The state was not crossed with bands of steel, as it is now, whereon swift trains carry you its entire length in a few hours, but slowly and wearily in their prarie schooners the early settlers came into this goodly land. Mrs. Badger was one of the brave and noble women whom the pioneers of Lucas county will revere as lon as life lasts and one whose life and character are surely worthy of emulation by the daughters of the rising generation. She was born two miles from the pretty town of Bedford, the county seat of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, July 18, 1818.
A daughter of Jacob and Magdalena Dibert Wyant; she was the fourth of their six children, four sons and two daughters, only one of whom survive, Isaac Wyant, who came to Lucas County in 1850 but four years later removed to Clarke County, this state where he now resides, a successful farmer.
The paternal grandfather of Margaret Badger crossed the ocean and made a home in Pennsylvania where his son Jacob, father of the subject of this sketch, was born. The maternal grandfather also left his home in the old world and settled in Pennsylvania, where he built a primitive house and engaged in farming. He died in that state.
The mother of Margaret Badger was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania and was married there. Her husband dying when the youngest child Isaac, was yet a baby. Alone, she took up the great work of making a living for her little ones; but soon the sons and daughters grew to maturity, gave their services to the brave pioneer mother, who paid off the large debt overshadowing the home, and by hard work, good management and economy, saved money enough to provide a home for herself and family in the far west.
She bade farewell to her Pennsylvania home and associates in the fall of 1834 and went to Grant County, Indiana, in a covered wagon, in which the family lived during the construction of a log house in the dense timberbelt. The timber was...[next few lines unreadable]...good Christian mother lived until the Spring of 1850 when she and her son, Jacob, the eldest child, started for Iowa in a carriage, the sturdy son transporting the household goods in true freighter style. Locating in Lucas County they purchased a farm of 160 acres, one mile east of Chariton. Mrs. Wyant added to her original purchase until she owned 700 acres. She afterwards disposed of her property and came to live with her daughter, Maragaret Badger, where she died of paralysis at the age of 84 years.
Mrs. Badger always lived on a farm and received the benefits of the common schools. She was united in marriage with Ebenezer Badger January 11, 18[??]. Their ceremony took place in the little puncheon floor cabin in Indiana, and was conducted by Squire Hamble. Mr. Badger was born in Indiana November 30, 1812. His father, Daniel Badger, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Though many years have passed since their wedding day, one looking into the face of the Christian woman, of seventy eight years could not realize the privations and hardships she endured in her early pioneer life.
Mr. and Mrs. Badger came to what was then Chariton township, Lucas county, and in the fall of 1850, purchased a half section of land of what was the estate of a Mr. Howard. On the place was a two room, one story home with a mud brick chimney, two windows and clapboard doors. Those early settlers had few of the conveniences of life we enjoy today. Mills were scarce, the nearest being Eddyville on the Des Moines River where they had to go for all their flour and meal.
To Mr. and Mrs. Badger were born eleven children:
Ephraim, a soldier in the late War, 34th Iowa Infantry and now residing in Chariton.
John, who enlisted in Company I, eighth Iowa Infantry and lost his life in the battle of Shiloh, April 6, 1862.
Mary, of Chariton
Samuel, a soldier in the 34th Iowa Infantry, and now residing in Cedar township.
Edward T., of Warren township;
F. M. living in Oregon;
Martha J. wife of John D. Moore of Cedar;
Isaac N. one of the well known men of Lincoln township, who lived at home and managed his mother’s farm;
William A. of Ottumwa;
Margaret Ann, deceased, wife of Lindsey Wilson;
Phoebe, wife of Noah Moore.
The husband, Ebenezer Badger, died February, 1880, and was laid to rest in Chariton cemetery. Now the wife and nother mourned by her children and friends sleeps the last sleep beside her husband and venerated mother. The Patriot writes with sadness of the passing away of the noble old pioneer whose memory should always be held in grateful remembrance and whose lives form, in large part, the most interesting events in the history of Lucas County.”