John K. Gattenby

COREY, GATTENBY, ROWE, SHOEMAKER, WILLS, YOUNG

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 6/29/2006 at 16:03:36

J. K. Gattenby, a retired farmer residing in Macksburg, was born in Moores Hill, Indiana, on the 25th of October, 1847, a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Wills) Gattenby, both natives of the Hoosier state, born October 20, 1824, and November 16, 1828, respectively. The father passed away on the 30th of March, 1848, when not yet twenty-four years of age, but the mother survived for many years, dying near Macksburg on the 4th of April, 1905, when more than seventy-six years old. The father was a cooper by trade and was an excellent workman.

J. K. Gattenby attended school in Jennings county, Indiana, and remained at home with his mother and stepfather until February, 1865, when he enlisted at Columbus in Company G, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and mustered in at Indianapolis. He was ordered to Dalton, Georgia, where he was assigned to garrison duty, and he was also stationed at Resaca, Carlsville, Marietta, Cuthbert and Bainbridge, all in Georgia. He rejoined his regiment at Macon, that state, and was mustered out at Indianapolis in 1866.

Upon his return home he began farming. Subsequently he removed to Illinois and in 1880 came to this county, settling in Grand River township. For the last thirty-five years he has resided in Madison county continuously and he gave his attention exclusively to farming and stock-raising until he retired from active life. He owns one hundred and twenty acres of good land here and derives there from a gratifying income, although he leaves the actual work of the place to others and is living retired in Macksburg, where he removed in 1911.

In 1871 Mr. Gattenby married Miss Grace Young, a native of Indiana and a daughter of Elias and Phoebe (Shoemaker) Young, who were born in Ohio and Indiana respectively. Her father, who was a cooper by trade, removed to Illinois in 1853 and there acquired title to land. He fed and shipped stock extensively and resided in that state until called to the home beyond at the age of sixty years. He was a republican and quite active in political affairs, and- gave his religious allegiance to the Methodist Episcopal church. To him and his wife were born six children, of whom Mrs. Gattenby is the fifth in order of birth. She is a loyal and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and takes an active part in its various lines of work.

Three of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Gattenby survive, as follows: Henry E., born on the 26th of May, 1873, is farming his father's land. He is married and has five sons and three daughters. Nellie is the wife of Alien H. Rowe, a son of Martin Rowe. Lennie is now the wife of M. H. Corey, a well known farmer of Jefferson county, Iowa, whose first wife was Daisy M., also a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gattenby. He has two children, Ernest and Paul, by his second marriage.

Mr. Gattenby is a republican and has held a number of township offices. Fraternally he is connected with Grand River Lodge, No. 406, I. 0. 0. F., and wears the bronze button that indicates his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. He has at all times lived up to high standards of citizenship and is justly esteemed in Macksburg and its vicinity, where he is well known and has many warm friends.

Taken from the book, “The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1915,” by Herman Mueller.