Illian, Henry

ILLIAN, TISSIN, MCKEAG

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 12/1/2012 at 16:44:30

In 1853, when a lad of fifteen, Henry Illian left his native country and came to the new world. After arriving in Iowa he gave his father the benefit of his assistance upon the home farm until July 25, 1862, when, in response to the call of the Union for more troops, he enlisted at Davenport as a member of the Company G, Twentieth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served for three years. He participated in all of the engagements of his regiment, including the siege of Vicksburg, the battles of Forts Morgan and Blakely, and various minor skirmishes, and bears the scars of three flesh wounds received during his term of service, one a bullet wound in the breast, another in the back and the third in the arm. He was mustered out at Clinton, Iowa, in August, 1865, after a most honorable and creditable military career.
Returning to Scott county, Iowa, Mr. Illian there engaged independently in farming for a number of years, and in the spring of 1883 came to Poweshiek county, purchasing his present home of eighty acres on section 23, Malcom township. It is a well improved farm, its neat and thrifty appearance indicated the supervision of a practical owner, and he is widely recognized as one of the enterprising and prosperous agriculturists of the community.
In 1870 Mr. Illian was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Tissin, who was born in Holstein, Germany, and in 1847, and in 1854 came with her parents to Iowa, the family establishing their home in Davenport. On the 4th of March, 1894, Mr. Illian was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, and eight children have also passed away, as follows: Henry, William, Fred and Tillie all of whom died in Cleona township, Scott county, inside of three weeks, their deaths resulting from diphtheria; Lulu, who passed away at the age of four years; Barnard, at the age of two and a half years, Adam, at the age of four years; and Ellen, at the age of five years. One daughter, Genevieve, survives, and is now the wife of James B. McKeag. She has a daughter, Irma Marguerite, and a son, Kenneth Henry, and with her husband resides with her father on the old home farm.
Mr. Illian holds membership in the Lutheran church and also belongs to John T. Drake Post, G. A. R. at Brooklyn. He gives his support to the republican party and although not a politician in the sense of office-seeking, it is a public spirited citizen, deeply interested in the substantial improvement of his home locality. He served, however, as road supervisor two years and as school director the same length of time. He is honorable and straightforward in his business dealings and is highly esteemed wherever known.