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         DANIEL McAVOY, a pioneer settler of Louisa County of 1858, residing on section 11, Columbus City Township, was born near Carlisle, Pa., in 1818, and is a son of James and Mary (McGinn) McAvoy. His parents were natives of County Down, Ireland, and emigrated to America in 1817, settling upon a farm in Pennsylvania, where they resided for a few years, and then removed to Belmont County, Ohio, where the father purchased eighty acres of raw land, from which he developed a farm.

Our subject was reared in Belmont County, and until the age of twenty-one his life was spent upon his father’s farm, but at that time he left the parental roof, going to Guernsey County, Ohio, where he worked as a farm hand. While in that county, on the 17th of March, 1840, Mr. McAvoy was united in marriage with Miss Mary Noble, who was born in Jefferson County, that State, and was a daughter of Thomas Noble, who was born in Ireland. The young couple began their domestic life upon a farm in Guernsey County, where they resided until 1844, and then removed to Belmont County, making that their home until 1855, when they emigrated to Iowa and became residents of Washington County. Three years were passed in that county, after which they removed to Louisa County, settling in Marshall Township, where Mr. McAvoy rented a farm for eighteen years. In the meantime he purchased eighty acres of land on section 11, Columbus City Township, to which they removed in 1874, though the farm now comprises 185 acres of land, which pays tribute to his care and cultivation.

The following children were born to our subject and his estimable wife: James, who is now County Recorder of Fremont County, Wyo.; Thomas, a soldier of the late war, is now a teacher in the public schools of Washington, Iowa; William died in 1881; Enoch, a locomotive engineer, living in Kansas City, Mo.; Joseph, who is engaged in mining in Montana; Mary, wife of George Smith, of Crawford County, Iowa; Daniel, who is living in the city of Chicago; Douglas, a United States official, residing in Wyoming; and Robert, who is still at home. The mother of these children, who was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was called to her final rest April 4, 1886, at the age of seventy years. Mr. McAvoy, in his political sentiments, is a Democrat, and in his township has held various offices. He is a worthy citizen, a highly esteemed gentleman, and has reared a family of children of whom he may well be proud.