DURBIN, Joshua

DURBIN

Posted By: Linda Walden (email)
Date: 3/6/2014 at 18:03:10

History of Mills Co., Iowa

JOSHUA DURBIN, born near Fredericktown, Knox Co., Ohio, 23 March 1838 to James and Susannah (Braddock) Durbin. At the time of the 1850 census he was the only son in the family with four daughters.

Joshua married Louisa Babbs 24 November 1859. He served in the Ohio National Guard from May 1864 to September 1864, a short time after that he moved his family to Johnson Co., Iowa, near Windham, where he bought eighty acres, paying $1800 cash, January 1865. Two children made the move from Ohio with their parents, one child Ellen, born 16 May 1862 died and is buried in Ohio; In 1870,

Joshua rode the train from Iowa City to Atlantic, Iowa and walked to the farm home of Fred White four miles south west of Emerson. Across the road north of Mr White`s farm a parcel of land was for sale by Andrew and Jane Wilson. Joshua bought the 160 acres for $11.50 an acre. The spring of 1871 Joshua, his wife and four children moved to Indian Creek Twp., Section 33, Mills Co., Iowa. They came with all their posessions by covered wagon in which they lived that summer until a house could be built. The large two story barn of hand hewn timbers and pegs was erected in 1881. Louisa did not live to see the farm prosper or her children grown. She died Sept.26 1872 and is buried in the Malvern Cemetery. The 24th of September 1874,

Joshua married Almira (Carr) Dunn, a widow with one son. To this marriage were born three children. Joshua continued to farm, buying more land as it became available. He raised draft horses which were sold through out the area. Joshua died unexpectedly 18 April 1901, being found in his buggy less than a half mile from his home.

The funeral occurred at Asbury church Sunday, April 21, at 10 o'clock a. m. and was conducted by Rev. L. B. Wickersham of Indianola who, begun his ministry at that little church. He was laid to rest in the beautiful cemetery at Malvern.