Lavender, Robert

LAVENDER, MCILMRATH, BOOTH, PARKER, SOMERWINE

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 2/11/2013 at 07:43:34

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

LAVENDER, ROBERT—Jefferson Twp—pg 967-8. Farmer and stock-raiser, section 28, P.O. Brooklyn. Was born in County Antrim, Ireland, August 5, 1820, where, after finishing his education, he engaged in the manufacture of linen until 1848, when he came to the United States and settled in New Hampshire. Here he learned the miller’s trade and worked at the same till 1860, when he commenced to work in the woolen mills in Rochester, New Hampshire, and continued in the same until 1863 when he came to Scott county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming the most of the time till 1867; during that time he put in the machinery in Shield’s mills, and made the first woolen goods made in Davenport. Then in 1867 he came to this county and located where he now lives and owns eighty-three acres of well-improved land, with abundance of fruit on the same. Mr. Lavender being a thorough business man, an active, conscientious Christian, a kind and loving husband and father, has won the respect and confidence of all who know him, and has been repeatedly elected to positions of trust; which he has always filled with satisfaction to his neighbors, and credit to himself. He was married, September 1, 1842, in Ireland, to Miss Ann McIlmrath, a resident and native of Ireland, she being of Scotch parentage. From this union there are now living eight children: William John (aged thirty-five; married, and lives in Davenport), Robert F. (aged thirty-four; married, and lives in this county), Elizabeth (aged thirty-two; now the widow of Charles Booth), James F. (aged twenty-nine; married, and lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota), Hannah J. (aged twenty-seven; now the wife of Wm. Parker of Jasper county, Iowa), Martha A. (aged twenty-five; now the wife of John Somerwine of this county), Alexander (aged twenty-three), Thomas H. (aged thirteen); have buried three: Mary Ann, Rose Ann and Nathaniel.