Martin K. Neiswanger

NEISWANGER, MANNING, MCCAUSLAND

Posted By: Melissa Johnson (email)
Date: 3/31/2015 at 14:28:54

Martin K. Neiswanger
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(The following biographical sketch was prepared for this paper by the historical committee of the Centennial celebration.)
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Martin K. Neiswanger born in Pennsylvania Oct. 22, 1821, and Rebecca Manning born in Lisbon, Ohio, March 3, 1824, were married in Lisbon, Ohio, April 28, 1845. The following day they left Lisbon for Iowa Territory - going by boat down the Ohio river. Two days later they reached Cincinnati where they visited with Rebecca’s sister for a few days, then went up to St. Louis, MO., and from there up the Mississippi river to the mouth of the Des Moines river. From Keokuk they went out the Plank Road to Bonaparte and from there to Keosauqua where they visited for a few days with Pennsylvania friends while Martin looked over the county for a location. In 1845, Bonaparte was considered a great business center. The flour mill, built in 1844, was as large as any Martin had seen in the east and steamboats navigated the Des Moines River three months of the year. Building lots were plentiful and cheap.

After looking around he decided to locate in Bonaparte and open his tailor shop. He and his wife lived in a little house where the W. S. Lane house now stands.

Although the country was wilder than where they had lived they liked it and in a letter written to his brother, David, in Mechanicsburg, Penn., Martin described the country as wonderful, the prospects of crops great and told the prices of food, clothing and grain. He invited his brother to visit them as the trip could be made so quickly - from 12 to 13 days and so cheaply, $18 to $20 per person.

Two sons were born, Manning Neiswanger, Feb. 5, 1846, and Martin Azem Neiswanger, April 11, 1847. Manning died in infancy. In the fall of 1847 Martin K. Neiswanger took a business trip to Pennsylvania, leaving his wife and baby in Bonaparte. While away, he caught a severe cold which developed into pneumonia and caused his death September 15, 1847, aged 25 years, 11 months and 23 days.

Rebecca Manning Neiswanger and Robert McCausland were married Dec. 27, 1850. There were four children: George and Kate died in infancy. Olive, who married Thos. Pender, died in 1910. William S. McCausland is the only surviving child.

William S. McCausland still lives in the old home on Washington Street where he lived with his mother until her death April 7, 1907. For years he worked in the old Meek Woolen Mill. When the ill closed, he opened his shoe store.

[Source: Local History Binder at the Bonaparte, IA Library. Date not noted. William S. McCausland died in Dec. 18, 1839.][HS]