LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA

The Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa ran a series on old people. It started with who is the oldest and then listed the citizens of the various towns and their age (80yrs +) then over the next several weeks they did mini biographies of the people in the first list.

Transcribed by Beverly Gerdts, November 6, 2022

Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, August 26, 1909
page 1

Who is oldest?

Who is the oldest person in Louisa county? A woman in fairly good health, Mrs. Katherine Lewis, celebrated in Des Moines county last week the one hundredth anniversary of her birth, an event unique in the history of the county. We have heard the question asked frequently, who is the oldest person in the county and the Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa asks each of its correspondents in the county to send us with their letters next week the names and ages and if possible place of birth of those living in their neighborhood over eighty years of age. We will publish the names next week and have our readers join us to find who really is the oldest person living in the boundaries of Louisa county.

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Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, September 2, 1909
page 1

Who is oldest?

This question asked in the Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa last week has aroused unusual interest and we give to our readers this week the names sent us by our correspondents and also several others which have been handed us. The list is not nearly complete this week. We want the name and age of every person residing in the county over 80 years of age.

Our Spring Run correspondent writes, Mrs. Elizabeth Patten is the oldest woman in our vicinity. She will be 82 years of age next October and was born Oct. 7, 1827. Wesley Hall an old resident of our vicinity, now living in Columbus City will be 87 years old in December and was born Dec. 11, 1822.

From Fredonia we receive the following names and ages of persons who have passed the four score mile stones. Mrs. Christina Newell aged 91 years, Mrs. Charlotte Walker aged 89, Mrs. Mary Whistler aged 88 and Mrs. Mary Jones aged 81.

Columbus City sends the name of Mrs. James Manley. She was born in Frederick county, Maryland, May, 1812 and was 97 years of age last May. She and a crippled daughter live alone and she enjoys good health. Then we have the name of Mrs. W. L Doud, who lives west of town with her daughter, Mrs. L. B. Lancaster. She was born May 25th 1815 and is therefore past 94.

Mrs. A. Owens of this city, mother of W. L. and Robert Owen is also entitled to be mentioned here. She was born in Waynesboro, Kentucky, Nov. 26, 1823 and next November will be 86 years of age. She has been a resident of Iowa for just 55 years.

Warner Selmon born Oct. 10, 1818, is perhaps the oldest resident of Columbus Junction. He was born in Ohio but has lived in this state over fifty years. He is still hale and hearty and eats three good meals a day.

Correspondents and readers are requested to send or hand us the names of all persons living in their neighborhood in this county over 80 years of age. Where possible send date and birthplace and also time of coming to Iowa.

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Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, September 16, 1909
page 1

Who is oldest?

Spring Run	Age		Concord Township	Age
Mrs. Elizabeth Patten	81		Gottlieb Blankenhorn	85
			Mrs. Gottlieb Blankenhorn	85
Fredonia	Age		Mrs. N. A. McNamer	83
Mrs. Christina Newell	91		Jerry Browning	83
Mrs. Charlotte Walker	89
Mrs. Mary Whistler	88		Morning Sun	Age
Mrs. Mary Jones	81		Mrs. Hannah Wagner	86
			Jesse Hamilton	89
Columbus City	Age		Julia Ann McClurkin	89
Mrs. James Manley	97		J. C. Brown	85
Wesley Hall	87		Mary Lagle	83
G. L. Thomas	83		Trollis Wheeler	85
Mary C. Baird	82		Gavin McElhinney	87
C. D. Bent	94		Mary Graham	88
O. H. P. Linn	80		Ellen Stewart	89
			Caroline Orchard	81
Catip Ridge	Age		Anderson Orchard	88
Katy L. Yocum	84		Henry Lentz	95
Mrs. Mary Hill	80
Columbus Junction	Age
Mrs. W. L. Doud	94
Mrs. A. Owen	86
Warner Selman	91

Additional items of interest concerning those we have added to those who are over 80 years of age are Mrs. Julia Williams is the youngest daughter of Charles and Jeanneta Kellog Robinson. She was born February 14, 1822, near Oxford, Ohio. Coming west at an early age she was married December 12, 1847 at Burlington, Iowa by Rev. Dr. Salter.

Jesse Hamilton was born February 6th, 1820 and came to Iowa in 1842. The first house he built in 1844 he lived in until twenty years ago. He now lives one half mile from the old homestead and has lived in Iowa 67 years. He will be 90 years old his next birthday.

Annie Rooney writes. Mrs. Mary Hill was 80 last New Year's day. She was born in New York City. Mrs. Katy L. Yocum, born in Pottstown, Penna., June 6th, 1825. Both of these elderly ladies make their homes with their married children and are well and hearty and enjoying the health the grace of God has given them. While they have passed three score and ten they are young a heart and enjoy the hospitality of young folks as well as those near their own age. Their husbands preceded them to the better home years ago.

Concord writes as follows:

Mr. Gottlieb Blankenhorn was born in Dettingen, Wurttenberg, December 13, 1823. He left in 1854 for New York, where he lived for three years, coming to Iowa in 1857. He will be 86 years old December 13, 1909.

Mrs. Gottlieb Blankenhorn was born in Dettingen, Wurttenberg, July 23, 1824. She left in 1854 for New York, where she lived for three years, coming to Iowa in 1857. She will be 86 years old July 23, 1909.

Mrs. N. A. McNamer was born in Ohio, December, 1826 and came to Iowa in 1838. She is 83 years old.

Mr. Robert Edmondson born October 8, 1829; will be 8- October 8, 1909.

Mrs. Hannah Wagner was born in Dallas township, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania., August 17, 1823 and came to Iowa December 5th, 1854 and moved to her present home in Virginia Grove December 11, 1865.

Mrs. Eliza Guinn writes from Hebron, Indiana as follows, " In your paper of the second of September 1 read the question, "Who is Oldest?" and as I am acquainted with several of the ones mentioned I will say we came to Columbus City, November 1, 1854, after a six weeks drive overland from Green county, Tennessee. I was born June 9, 1823, and am enjoying good health, attend church every day when the weather permits and I will be 87 June, 1910. I am making my home now with my daughter, Mrs. Mary A. Gibbs."

Additional items of interest concerning many of the above especially of those from Morning Sun will be given next week.

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Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, September 23, 1909
page 1

Who is oldest?

Question is still undecided.

Unusual war record of John Welsh at Columbus City.

Gavin McElhinney was born in Ireland, March 6, 1821. Came here in 1822.

Mary Graham was born in Preble county, Ohio, December 1821. Came to Iowa 1851.

Ellen Stewart was born in Pen, September 1820.

Caroline Orchard was born August 12, 1828, Meade county, Kentucky.

Anderson Orchard was born October 15, 1821 in Madison county Kentucky. Anderson Orchard and wife were married in 1843 and came to Iowa in 1833. They celebrated their 66 anniversary, February 9, 1909.

Henry Leuty was born in Yorkshire, England November 16, 1813 and came to this country 1868.

Julia Ann McClurkin was born August 3, 1820 in Union county, Indiana. Came to Iowa in 1843.

J. C. Brown was born in Madison co. Ohio, in 1825. Came to Iowa in 1840.

Mary Lagle was born in Hardin county, Kentucky, July 5, 1827. Came here 1878.

Trollis Wheeler was born in Pen, April 16, 1824 Came to Iowa 1866.

Thomas Marshall was born in Berry county, Ireland November 17, 1817, moved to this country in 1850.

Mr. G. L. Thomas was born in Birmington N. Y. state in 1825 and came to Iowa in 1863 and has lived in Columbus City since. Age 84.

Mrs. G. L. Thomas was born in Holton, Maine, in 1825. She came to Iowa in 1863 and has lived in Columbus City ever since. She will be 85 in November can work without the aid of glasses and made a cushion for the fair receiving 1st premium and also a spool rack.

Mr. John Welsh of Columbus City has a remarkable record. He was born in London, England, June 24th, 1827. He was in the British navy and served in the Crimea war and took part in the capture of Sevastapool. The Crimea war closed in 1855. He came to the country in January 1856 and came to Iowa in July of the following year. On Feb. 28th, 1862, he enlisted in the Union army and served 3 years and 1 month, returning home when the war was over. Will be 83 years of age if he lives until next June. he is enjoying good health now and has lived in Columbus City township 51 years last July.

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Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, September 30, 1909
page 1

Who is oldest?

Mrs. Manley at Columbus City Seems to be first. Sixty-seven names now in the list.

Spring Run	Came to Iowa	Age
Mrs. Elizabeth Patten		81
Catnip Ridge	Came to Iowa	Age
Katy L Yocum		84
Mrs. Mary Hill		80
Columbus Junction	Came to Iowa	Age
Mrs. W. L. Doud		94
Mrs. A. Owen	1854	86
Warner Selman	1859	91
Concord Township	Came to Iowa	Age
Jerry Browning		83
Gottlieb Blankenhorn	1857	85
Mrs. G. Blankenhorn	1857	85
Mrs. N. A. McNamer	1838	83
Wapello	Came to Iowa	Age
Dr. H. Howey	1840	93
Zibi Kremer	1860	91
Rev. W. R. Woodruff	1851	90
Mrs. W. R. Woodruff	1851	89
Fredonia	Came to Iowa	Age
Mrs. Christina Newell		91
Mrs. Charlotte Walker		89
Mrs. Mary Whistler		88
Mrs. Mary Jones		81
Columbus City	Came to Iowa	Age
Mrs. James Manley		97
Wesley Hall		87
Mary C. Baird		82
C. D. Bent		94
O. H. P. Linn		80
G. L. Thomas	1863	84
Mrs. G. L. Thomas	1863	84
John Welsh	1857	82
Letts	Came to Iowa	Age
Charles Furnas	1853	80
Wilkinsin Furnas	1857	82
Mrs. W. Furnas	1857	82
Thomas Dawson	1853	87
J. L. Brown	1851	80
G. W. Gipple	1852	82
Mrs. G. W. Gipple	1852	83
J. S. Gipple	1852	86
Barton Garrett	1853	81
John Weaver	1854	81
Stephen J. Cook	1860	82
James R. Letts	1855	89
Mrs. Cynthia Huff	1852	81
Morning Sun	Came to Iowa	Age
Julia Ann McClurkin		89
Mary Lagle		83
Gavin McElhinney		87
Ellen Stewart		89
Caroline Orchard		81
Anderson Orchard		88
Mrs. E. J. Minchr	1837	85
Mrs. Hannah Wagner	1854	86
Jesse Hamilton	1842	89
J. C. Brown	1840	85
Trollis Wheeler	1866	85
Mary Graham	1851	88
Henry Leuty	1868	95
Mrs. Julia Williams	1847	87
Grandview	Came to Iowa	Age
Henry Long		87
Amos Hammond		86
Mrs. Carrolin Reed	1841	89
Mrs. Cathryn Wagner	1855	87
Rueben Cocklin	1853	86
Mrs. Rueben Cocklin	1853	82
J. P. Walker	1844	86
Mrs. Francis Jackson	1850	83
Conrad Deitrick	1843	84
Mrs. Wm. McGill	1859	83
Mrs. Mary Kellenbarger	1847	83
Michael Ryan	1853	88
Mrs. Harriet Gradey	1847	83
Wm. B. Robison	1851	81

If the readers of the Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa know of any one in Louisa county past 80 years of age whose name is not in the above list we hope they will send or telephone the name and age to this office.

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Columbus Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Thursday, October 7, 1909
page 1

Who is oldest?

Samuel Paisley was born in Londonderry, Ohio, in 1822. Came to Iowa in 1856. James Wilson was born in 1823, came to Iowa in 1851. Henry Johnston was born in Pennsylvania in 1820. Came to Iowa in 1857. James Glasgow is 81.

Owen Devine is on of Louisa county's oldest citizens, being 82 years of age. He was born in Ireland, county Longford,and came to America when quite young and to Iowa 53 years ago. He lived in Columbus City township, all of the 53 years except 3 years while in the army. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. F. 25 Iowa, under Capt. Allen.

If the readers of the Gazette, Columbus Junction, Iowa know of any one in Louisa county past 80 years of age whose name is not in the above list we hope they will send or telephone the name and age to this office.