Sargood, John

SARGOOD, DAVIS, LANDERS

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 1/7/2013 at 07:51:40

The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa
Des Moines: Union Hist. Co., 1880.

SARGOOD, JOHN—Deep River Twp—pg 743-4. Section 10, P.O. Deep River. His father was born in Wolenford, Yorkshire, England, in 1757. He was a tinner, and learned his trade in London, and when 18 years of age, took passage for this country, and crossed the ocean with the tea which incensed Americans threw overboard. The fall after his arrival, he joined our fathers in the Revolutionary conflict and fought three years for the liberty his descendants now enjoy. He was with Washington during his attempted surprise of the British in the night on Staten Island, and engaged in many skirmishes, especially the battle of Monmouth. After his discharge from the army, he hired out to a farmer. He married Miss Margaret Davis, and some years after his marriage attempted to emigrate with his wife and two children to Kentucky, but was prevented from reaching his destination by the hostility of the Indians. He consequently settled in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where John was born on the 22d of February, 1799. He learned his father’s trade, in which he attained uncommon proficiency. There being few or no opportunities for educational attainments in those days, and his father being poor, with a large family to support, John was obliged to struggle hard to learn to read and write. He remained with his father until he was twenty-three years old, and, indeed, for many years after leaving his roof he contributed largely to lighten the burden of his father’s declining years. In 1820 the family moved into Ohio, where John lived with them until the spring of 1848, when he emigrated to Iowa, stopping in Wapello county until the following fall, when he moved to his present farm, having taken up the first land ever entered from the government in this county, consisting of 120 acres. Here he lived and worked for thirteen years, and on the 15th day of August, 1862, he led to the altar Miss Jemima Landers of Oskaloosa, Iowa, who was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on the 2d day of August, 1823. The result of this union has been two children: Pliny Malachi (born September 28, 1864) and Charlie (born June 11, 1866). Both died in infancy. Mr. Sargood owns a good farm, than which none in the county can be found in neater condition, and he takes great interest in raising grapes. Notwithstanding the fact that they were married unusually late in life, he and his wife are a happy old couple. Their cheerful home constantly smiles with the broadest and most genial hospitality, while for their excellent qualities they are loved and esteemed by everybody, and familiarly known, far and wide, as "Uncle John" and "Aunt Jemima."