Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 741
JOHN G. REDINBAUGH

JOHN G. REDINBAUGH, a farmer of section 20, Union Township came to Harrison County in the spring of 1868. He was a poor man at the time, and rented land of E. ERVIN in Jefferson Township for four years. Then he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land upon which he now lives, paying $7.50 (per acre) for the same. He built a house 18x26 feet two stories high, and a barn 20x30 feet, also a granary 14x20 feet and provided his premises with three good wells, employing wind-power for pumping water. He also set out a one hundred and fifty tree orchard as well as a nice line of shade trees. He has added to his landed estate until now he possesses three hundred and eighty-five acres, one hundred acres of which are under cultivation, and the balance in pasture and hay land, except twenty-five acres of a timber lot in Harris Grove.

Mr. REDINBAUGH was originally from the Buckeye State, born in Miami County, Ohio, January 12, 1836. He is the son of Joseph and Nancy (GRAHAM) REDINBAUGH, who were the parents of the following children -- Joseph, deceased; Margaret, deceased; John G., Henry C., and Mary (twins) of whom Henry is deceased; and William M. deceased.

Our subject stayed at home until he was of age after which he went to Illinois, and worked on the farm by the month for three years, then bought a team and rented land, remaining in Illinois twelve years. In 1864 he enlisted at Rock Island as a member of Company K, 58th Illinois Infantry, and was sent to Cairo, Memphis, Vicksburg, New Orleans being in the 16th Army Corps, under Gen. A. J. SMITH. After being in the service of his country one year he was honorably discharged. The next three years he spent in Illinois and then came Harrison County, making the trip over land in a covered wagon, camping out nights.

He was here during the grasshopper seasons, got discouraged and started for Marshall County, to run a threshing machine. While enroute with his covered wagon headed for the East, and as he was passing through Adel, Dallas County, a stranger asked to ride with him, to Des Moines, where he got out after which our subject drove four miles east, and camped for the night on Four-Mile Creek, and while asleep in his wagon was shot from the end of the wagon through the mouth, the ball passing out under his jaw, breaking the same and removing five teeth. This was in August 1868. Upon coming to his senses he seized a hatchet and climbed out of his wagon whereupon he saw his assailant near by, and gave him chase, but failed at the time to secure him. Subsequently through a chain of circumstances, the depraved villian was arrested, tried and sent to State prison, for ten years. Our subject relates how that while riding together, in the afternoon of that fateful day, his stranger passenger feigned to be sleepy, and dropped down on the couch in the rear of the wagon. Upon one occasion our subject observed that he had the hatchet laying beside him, but doubtless his heart failed him, until the curtain of night had been drawn over the tragic scene he was about to enact.

Our subject was married January 1, 1871 to Mary E. ERVIN, daughter of Edward E. and Catherine ERWIN (sp), born in Indiana and Ohio respectively. They had three children -- Mary E., being the oldest, and two who are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. REDINBAUGH are the parents of five children - William E., born October 30, 1871; Henry C., born June 19, 1874; Katie (deceased) born September 27, 1876; Charles born April 26, 1880; John (deceased) born June 1, 1886.

Our subject is a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows' fraternities at Logan, Iowa.

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