Frank McHenry
Frank McHenry, a prominent and well known agriculturist who has been identified with the farming interests of Crawford county for forty-four years, was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, April 9, 18S6, a son of Vincent and Dency (Nefft) McHenry.
The mother's birth occurred in Rhode Island, but the father was a native of Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, where their marriage occurred. In 1855 he went to Wisconsin, locating near the town of Milton, and remained there ten years. He then came to Iowa and took up his residence at Boonesboro. After a twelve months' sojourn here he removed to Janesville, Minnesota, and a year later again came to Iowa and rented land on section 18, Union township, Crawford county. For three years he operated this farm and then purchased land on the same section and upon which his son Frank is now living. In the course of time he brought it to a high state of cultivation.
Here he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1891. In politics he was an old line whig and later supported the republican party. His wife died in Crawford county in 1903. They were the parents of four children, two of whom survive, namely: Helen, who is the wife of C. F. Cassidy and lives in Denison; Frank, of this review.
Frank McHenry in early youth attended the district schools of Wisconsin and later those of Crawford county. He then took up his life work on the home farm and has since given his entire time and attention to the pursuit of agriculture, bringing to his labors a well trained mind and a knowledge bom in the school of experience. Aside from his farm of eighty acres on section 18, Union township, he owns an additional eighty acres on section 20, all of which is well improved and valuable land.
On March 21, 1883, Mr. McHenry was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Gibson, who was born in Huron county, Ontario, Canada, August 12, 1858, a daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Shillington) Gibson. Her father was born in Canada, of Scotch-Irish parentage, and came to Crawford county in 1871, locating in Union township, where he lived until 1883. In that year he removed to Charter Oak and later to Dunlap, where he remained but a short time and then went to Missouri. He subsequently returned to Crawford county and resided with his children until his death, which took place in 1910. His wife was a native of the north of Ireland and her death occurred in Crawford county in 1877. Three children were born to this couple: Robert Henry, living in Hugo, Colorado; Margaret; and Lydia, the wife of C. W. Pierce, a resident of Denison.
Mrs. McHenry was educated at Cornell College, Mt, Vernon, and for eight years taught school in Crawford county.
Mr. and Mrs. McHenry have one child, Ruth, who is the wife of E. R. Morrison. They are residing on the home place and are the parents of one child, Raymond McHenry.
In his political views Mr. McHenry supports the republican party, and in religion both be and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is one of the trustees. His wife joined the church when but eight years old. Mr. McHenry is an excellent type of those who go to make the best farm element of the county, where he is recognized as one of the substantial and representative citizens.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.