Leota Boston Gwinn Dies

Leota Boston Gwinn was my Grandmother on my father's side.  I was 15 when she passed away.  Many of my cousins weren't old enough to ever really know her.  As it was, I never got to know her as an adult.  RIP Grandma!

Charlene and Andy Gwinn Like AE Milk

Anderson Erickson Dairy used to run these cute ads featuring local children and the children's testimony that they like AE Milk and Dairy Products.  Lots of us have been on these ads.  Charlene and Andy are my first cousins, once removed.  Their father was my grandfather's brother, Andrew Gwinn.  This was there time in the barrell.

Derby Events of Last Week

The original family settled about mid-way between Derby Iowa in Lucas County and Humeston Iowa in Wayne County.  While my branch migrated north about 30 miles, many stayed in the Humeston/Derby area.  Plus, my wife's family hails from north of Derby.  For these and other reasons, I like to check out the Humeton & Derby items in the local newspapers.

In the upper left, Genevieve D'Attilio is visiting her mother, Florence (Gwinn) D'Attilio and they have supper at the home of Mr & Mrs C.C. Gwinn.  CC Gwinn is Florence's fathter, Cyril Chatt, or Chat, Gwinn, who we learned in the previous article did not survive the week.

Midway, we have Mrs Leland Lowe spending the day with her daughter.  Leland Lowe is the son of Irene (Gwinn) Lowe, a sister to my Great Great Grandfather, Andrew J. Gwinn.

Then we have the birth of Diane Rochelle Exley.  Diane is a 3rd cousin to my wife.

LUCAS EVENTS REPORTED - November 1955:  Much of my family's history revolves around the coal mining town of Lucas, in Lucas County, Iowa.  This 1955 note reflects the passing of Cyril Chatt Gwinn, known simply as Chat, after a long bought with heart trouble.  He was 82.  Chat was my Great Grandfather's brother.
Also of note in the same article is the travels of my 2nd cousin, Bruce Taylor.  Bruce's Grandmother, Mrs. Ambrose Taylor, was my Grandfather Johnny Gwinn's sister, Maud.

Happenings Of West Jackson

It looks like my whole family was up to something in West Jackson in April 1956.  Jackson is a township in Lucas County, Iowa, West of the town of Lucas.  Homer Boston is my maternal grandfather and of course Mr and Mrs Ray Gwinn were my folks.  I wouldn't arrive on the scene for another six months.  The Gwinn's are all cousins or aunts/uncles.  Even Margarette Williamson would become my Aunt Margie, married to Uncle Jim Gwinn.

Audrey Marie (Clayton) Gwinn

There comes a time in every genealogist research - - at least I'd like to think that others have the same problem - - that you run into something that just doesn't fit your ordered image of how things are. It's the opposite of finding the puzzle piece that makes it all fit, it's finding a puzzle piece that just doesn't look like it belongs to this puzzle.

It started with the graduation list for Johnston, a suburb of Des Moines that is not far from where I work. There was a Gwinn on the list, but I couldn't tie him into my current family tree. Oh well, there are a lot of Gwinns in Iowa and if you loose one link, you can't tie in the current generation.

Well, second came an obit for Laura Gwinn. That caught my eye because I have a niece Laura and the ages weren't are off. But, of course, this wasn't my niece, it was the sister to the Johnston graduate. Being an obit, there were a lot of names, but none were coming up in my FTM.

Third came the attached obit for Audrey Marie (Clayton) Gwinn from the Corydon (Iowa) Times. The names were matching the two young people from before, but not anybody on my tree.

I have always assumed that the Gwinns in Iowa were decendents of Samuel Gwinn Sr and Elizabeth Graham Lockridge Gwinn, through there sons Ephriam and "Squire" John Gwinn. I was wrong.

Litterally at the same time my ancester, Samuel Keller Gwinn, was emigrating from what is now West Virginia to Wayne Co Iowa, Samuel McElhoney Gwinn was emigrating from the same area of Virginia to Warren Co Iowa. The two Samuels were 2nd cousins, once removed. McElhoney's Great Grandfather, James Gwinn was a brother to Keller's Grandfather, Samuel Gwinn Sr.

With all of these Samuels, it is difficult to keep everybody straight.

I have always wondered about the 1949-1950 migration of Gwinns from what is now West Virginia. I originally thought they had come west to the coal mines that were thriving in southern Iowa at the time, but I've found no record of them working the Iowa mines.

Could it be that they forsaw the trouble to come with the civil war and West Virginia's pivital role?

Easter (Lowe) Thommen

I have been accused reaching too far to be inclusive of family members. Easter Lowe Thommen was my second cousin, twice removed. If her lineage to me were all male and her last name was Gwinn, no one would think twice about her being included in my family record.

Sorry - that was my rant for this morning.

Easter Belle Lowe was the daughter of Leland Gwinn Lowe and Daisy Fern Thockmorton. Leland was the son of Jonathan L. Lowe and Irene R. Gwinn. Irene was a sister to my great great grandfather, Andrew J. Gwinn.

Amos Keller Gwinn Obituary

Amos Keller Gwinn, known as A.K. or simply K, was my great grandfather. My uncle Gerald Gwinn's middle name, Kay, is from A.K.'s "K". He was the 4th son of nine boys belonging to Andrew and Mary (Sayers) Gwinn. Two of his older brothers, though, passed away before he was born, Omar and an unnamed infant. The other six brothers, he had no sisters, lived to become adults and all survived him: Enos, Cyril, Arthur, Everett, Lloyd and Floyd.

Bert Gwinn Arrested

The history of the Lucas/Wayne County Gwinns is sprinkled with brushes with the law. I think any family our size must eventually have a few. This article hit the front page of the Chariton newspapper in 1928.

Bert Gwinn was one of these. Bert moved out to California and passed away in San Bernidino in 1997. I don't know much about his life. If you do, I'd love to hear from you.

Agnes Ferrick Gwinn Passes Away

Agnes Ferrick Gwinn, one of the last of the senior generation of our family in Iowa, passed away last month.

RIP Aunt Agnes

Elizabeth Gwinn Surbaugh Dies at 79

Elizabeth Catharine Gwinn Surbaugh was my great great great grandfather's sister. My working assumption was that Samuel and Mary Jane were the only children of Ephriam James Gwinn to come to Iowa, pre-civil war. But that was not the case. And Elizabeth's daughter, Mary Alice, married another line of Gwinns, spelled Guinn (as was common in the south), Robert A. Guinn, son of John D. Guinn of Tennessee. I know of the Tennessee Guinns, but not a lot. I'll have to persue this further.

A J Gwinn Visits Mother

A J GWINN VISITS MOTHER

I found this as I was looking for something else and it intrigued me. "A.J. Gwinn visited over Sunday with his mother, Mrs. Samuel Gwinn" There is no date on this copy, but the Statement of Condition for the Cambria Savings Bank is as of Sept. 7, 1918.

Mrs. Samuel Gwinn is Cynthia (or Sintha) Gwinn. Samuel had been gone about 20 years, yet Cynthia was still known as Mrs. Samuel. It wasn't necesarily bad, it was just the way of the time. It would be two more years before she could vote.

A.J. Gwinn was Andrew J Gwinn, Cynthia's eldest son, born on the trek from Virginia (the area is now part of West Virginia) to Iowa. It is interesting to me that the local paper did not feel the need completely name him. Typesetting was time consuming and anything that could reduce the number of letters needed was used. The community was small and everyone would know which of Mrs. Samuel Gwinn's sons was "A.J."

One last item: I've never heard of the Pleasant View area. The Chariton papers that I am more used to would have called this the Humeston or Leroy area, maybe Derby. I'll have to look into the term Pleasant View area. Perhaps coming from Humeston, smaller areas are defined, like Poverty Ridge or Rabbit Ridge in Lucas county.

Cynthia Gwinn Obit - Humeston New Era

MRS. GWINN DIES AT 91

Cynthia George Gwinn, daughter of John and Sarah Gwinn, was, along with her husband, Samuel Keller Gwinn, the first of our line to settle in Iowa. She lived a hard life in pioneer Wayne County, loosing six children between 1852 and 1892 and seeing one die in prison for killing her son in law.

Her headstone in the Gwinn Cemetery spells her name "Sintha" and I believe that is how she thought of herself. She lies next to her husband and near the seven children she buried in her lifetime.

I may have already published her obit from the the Chariton Leader but the Humeston New Era copy was harder for me to find so I added it, too. There is little difference between them.

Easter (Lowe) Thommen Obit

Easter Lowe was the Great Grand Daughter of my earilest Iowa ancesters, Samuel and Sintha Gwinn. Her father was Leland Gwinn Lowe, son of Irene Gwinn and Johathan Lowe. Irene was the daughter of Samuel and Sintha.

Byron D. (Deak) Gwinn Obits

Byron "Deak" Gwinn is notorious for shooting his brother-in-law, Liberty Snooks, to death for "Callin' Ma a liar." I've written about him before as I am fascinated by the story.

Here are two obits for Deak Gwinn. One is from the Humeston New Era, where Deak lived, and the other is from the Chariton Herald Patriot, the county seat where he was tried and sent to prison.

Missing from both is any mention of his wife, Ora nee Durland. I am very curious what ever happened to Ora.

Cleo Marie (Kent) Gwinn Obit

Cleo Marie Kent married Andrew Albert Gwinn on Feb 28th, 1931. Her sister, Zella Mabel Kent married Andrew's brother Willie Butch (Bill) Gwinn on June 22, 1935.

Many of thier decendents still reside in the Lucas County area.

Cynthia or Sintha Gwinn

Although she was called Cynthia Gwinn in her obit, I believe she thought of herself as Sintha. That is how her name is written on her headstone. Since her husband Samuel Keller Gwinn preceeded her in death by many years, I've always assumed she put up the headstone. Of course, it is also possible, perhaps probable, that she was also illiterate and could not spell her own name.

I'll leave the issue up in the air.

Amos Raymond Keller Gwinn

Uncle Amos was always one of my Dad's favorites. I've been told that Dad was named for Uncle Amos, the Raymond becoming simply Ray. That being the case, I, too, am named for him, being a Junior to my dad's Ray. There are at least two more of the "Ray" line in the next generation, both girls with "Rae" for a middle name, one named for me, one for my dad.

With that said, here's the obituary of Amos R. Gwinn as it appeared in the Chariton Leader in 1969. Note that all references to "Austin" are in Minnesota, not Texas.

Chariton Leader
Tuesday, Dec. 23, 1969
Page Three
Obituaries
GWINN – Amos R. Gwinn was born may 30, 1911 in Lucas, Iowa, the son of Amos K. and Lulu Gwinn.
He attended school in Lucas where he resided until March 1936, when he moved to Austin. He was united in marriage with Winnifred A. Smith April 25, 1938 in Austin. Mr. Gwinn was an employee of George A. Hormel Co. 27 years and an active member of the Moose Lodge.
Amos Gwinn died of a heart attack en route to St. Olaf Hospital Dec 2, 1969.
Funeral services were at 1:30 p.m. Dec 6 at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Rev. Harvey Johnson officiating. Interment was in Grand View Memorial Gardens with Worlein Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements. Pallbearers were Leslie Hansen, Charles Dockham, Frank Larweek, John Cahill, Sidney Heiny, Jack Green.
Relatives attending the funeral came from Lucas, Chariton, Des Moines, Derby, Woodburn, Iowa, Napa Calif., Blooming Prairie, Brownsdale, Fairmont, Lansing, Albert Lea, Minneapolis.
Mr. Gwinn is survived by his widow, two sons, Raymond Gwinn, Napa, and Michael Gwinn, Austin; two daughters, Mrs. Phillip (Mercedes) Nordstrom, Austin, Miss Sandra Gwinn of Owatonna; seven grandchildren; four sisters, Mrs. Frank Robins, Hot Springs, Calif., Mrs. Ambrose Taylor, Lucas, Mrs Ellen Gray, Chariton, Mrs. Phillip Roberts, Derby; three brothers, John Gwinn, Chariton, Andrew Gwinn, Osceola, Floyd Gwinn, Lucas.
He was a kind and devoted father and he will be missed.

Andrew Albert Gwinn Obituary

It's been a while since I posted. I ran across this yesterday along with some other older obits and thought it would be a great start to get back at it. Uncle Andrew was my Grandfather's brother. - Ray

Chariton Leader
September 24, 1985
Page 12
Obituaries
­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­
Gwinn
Andrew Albert Gwinn, son of Amos Keller Gwinn and Lulu Randolph Gwinn was born Feb. 21, 1909 in Lucas County, and passed away at the Mercy Hospital in Des Moines on Sept. 15, 1985, at the age of 76 years, 6 months and 25 days.
Andrew was united in marriage to Cleo Kent on Feb. 28, 1931 at Chariton, and to this union three daughters and two sons were born.
Andrew attended Chicquipin and Spring Hill schools. He was baptized into the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in 1933. He has been a loyal member, and served faithfully in the priesthood office of Elder for many years.
Andrew farmed until 1944, when he and his wife bought the Ottawa Store. In 1947, he was employed by the Chariton Wholesale as a warehouse worker and then as a truck driver, until 1956. Andrew and Cleo operated the Ottawa Café and several cafes in Osceola, then moved to Chariton in 1972.
Andrew leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Cleo; daughter, Marilyn and husband Sonny Slack of Des Moines, daughter, Donna and husband Don Hall of Lucas, son, Alvin and wife Daisy of Independence, Mo., daughter, Charlene and husband Jim Morrison of Lucas, and son, Andy and wife Kay also of Lucas; 23 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are one brother, Floydie of Lucas; two sisters, Maude Taylor of Chariton and Maymie Roberts of Derby; a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, John, Amos and Bill; and three sisters, May, Ellen and Laura.
Services were held Wed., Sept 18 at the Fielding Funeral Home in Chariton with Evangelist John W. Blackstock officiating. Burial was in the Chariton Cemetery. Pall bearers were Ellsworth Johnson, Herman Johnson, Wayne Watkins, Joe Smith, Neil Alexander and Trefor Jones.

Looking for Mrs. Gladys Agan

When Ralph Snook (son of Liberty Snook who was killed by his brother in law, Deak Gwinn)passed away, he was married to a Mrs. Gladys Agan.

I'd like to know who she was. What's here maiden name, who was 'Mr' Gladys Agan, and did she have any children.

Loose Stones in Gwinn Cemetery

I was out to the Gwinn Cemetery this week end to see how bad the storm damage had been from recent bad weather. The good news is that either we had little damage or someone beat me out there. The grass was very well cut and all this rain has finally got the grass growing over Dad's grave. We've laughed for years (Dad died in '94) that the reason grass wouldn't grow there is that the deer population has been coming by to urinate on it in revenged for all the deer Ray harvested over the years. I guess all this rain finally washed the urine out.

The bad news was that three US flags (leftover from Memorial Day or Flag Day, I assume) were damaged and on the ground. Two were salvageable and I will repair them and put them back out, probably in the spring. The 3rd was unrepairable. I will keep it until the opportunity arises to dispose of it properly, thru either the Boy Scouts or the American Legion.

There was also some damage to decorations arounds Uncle Jim's headstone. I repaired it as best I could, but some of the decorations weren't designed to stand the rigors of being left unattended in the 'wilderness'.

But that's not what I came to talk about today.

I was talking pictures, as I usually do. I know little or nothing has changed, but digital photography is free and I end up with different times of day, weather conditions, etc.

I came across the loose headstones stacked at the back (east end) of the cemetery. They're not new, we all know they're there. They've been there as long as I've been going to the Gwinn Cemetery.

Perhaps they caught my eye because there was one along the south fence that I hadn't seen before (see left side of photo, above). From the grass stains, I'd say it only recently became dislodged. Since I hadn't planned this cemetery trip, I had no tools nor did I have a listing to know where the headstone belongs. I set it back along the fence and will come prepared to look into it at a later date.

But I digress.

I am curious about the loose stones. According to the Wayne County Cemetery Book, dated 1978, supplemented in 1991, the loose stones belong to two families.

Mary J. CHERRYHOLMES, daug of J. & H.J. Cherryholmes Died June 15, 1874 age 10m 2d.

Asahel O. CULVER, son of O.V. & M.M. Culver Died Sept. 1, 1859 age 14m 15d

Lovina M. CULVER, daug of O.V. & M.M. Culver Died June 1, 1860 age 5m 28d.

Maria M. CULVER, wife of Orange Culver Died Jan 17, 1860. (the 1991 update shows this marker between rows 4 and 5 with the additional writing 'age 20 yr 2m 10d)

It is a pretty safe assumption that Maria and Orange Culver are the O.V. & M.M. parents of Asahel and Lovina. Can you imagine? Five or Six month pregnant Maria, looses her 14 month old son in September, gives birth to a daughter in December and passes away in January, then the daughter doesn't live to see summer.

I have not Culvers listed in the Gwinn family history and few others were buried in Wayne county. I wonder if this family was just passing through, close neighbors, who knows. Did Orange give up after this and leave, go defend Ft Sumpter, ...

Been A While

It's been a while since I posted. There've been two local family reunions: The Memorial Day reunion in Russell, IA and the 4th of July reunion in Williamson, IA.

Williamson is like our Christmas reunion in Lucas. For the older family members, it survives as a reenactment of what came natural in the "old days".

There used to be a 3-4 day celebration on the town square in Chariton, where my grandparents lived and most of the family, me included, grew up. The celebration is still there, but it is a shadow of its former self. Less the half the carneys show up and the equipment is old, unpainted, and worn out. The family atmosphere has been replaced by a bingo tent and a beer tent. Author Thomas Wolfe said it, "You can't go home, again." But I digress.

The family from near and far came the to fair. And when you got tired, or the kids got cranky, you'd end up out a Grandma's on the edge of town. Grandma always had a treat on the table for the kids and ice tea for the adults. She'd watch the grand-youngin's while the adults went back to the celebration. Actually, I think the older kids ended up watching the younger ones and reporting back to whatever adults were on hand in an unofficial supervisory hiearchy.

By the time the day was over, you've run into all the family that made to the fair, caught up on old news, and created some new. About dark, there was a fireworks display at East Park - They call it Yocum Park now - and most of the family went straight home from there. The out of towners might rack out on an in-towner's sofa and take off the next morning.

There was nothing formal about it in those days. Everybody just kind of showed up then they just trickled off and everything was back to normal.

It's not the same in Williamson. Williamson is close enough to Chariton to go see what is left of the fair, but it's too far away base out of it and come and go all day. We used to go to Red Haw or East/Yocum Park which are closer, but Williamson has the air conditioning!

Still, it's great to get together, albeit far more formal that before. Someone has to reserve the building and pay for it. I don't remember if anybody stuck around to help Grandma clean up after the festivities, but someone has to do it in Williamson. And the cooking is a shared function - pot luck, some times a theme, but not Grandma's cooking. It is great to watch as the younger family members grow and to listen to the older members.

We've lost four of the aunts and uncles, Betty, Rose, Ray and Jim, and one spouse, Evelyn. Of the other eight, you can count on six or seven to be able to make it. And there's 30 or so cousins (depending upon how you count us) ranging in age from 55 to 25 and who knows how many children and grandchildren we have. We now stretch across the continent. It's going to be things like our 4th of July tradition that keeps us together.

Sorry, this was meant to be a short note contrasting the Memorial Day and 4th of July reunions and I got to rattling on so much a the the latter that I forgot the former. Perhaps I'll discuss it in a short note, soon. This year's was particulary eventful.

Ray jr

Andrew Gwinn Obituary

Herald-Patriot, Chariton Ia, Thurs., Feb. 44, 1926

Andrew J. Gwinn

Andrew J. Gwinn was born in Greenbrier county, West Virginia on Aug 6, 1848 and departed this life at his home in Jackson township, Lucas County, Iowa, on February 8, 1926 at the advanced age of 77 years, 8 months and 1 day. In 18?? He came with his parents to Wayne county, Iowa, where he grew to manhood. On March 5, 1876, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Sayers, who preceded him in death in May, 1917. To their union nine children were born, all sons, two of whom passed away in infancy. The seven sons who remain were all present to pay tribute to their father in bearing him to his last resting place.
About the time of his marriage he located on a farm in Union township, Lucas county, and spent the remainder of his life and reared his family in this county. He was among the first white children who roved the prairies of Wayne county, coming to said county in 1855. Thus we can truly say that another early pioneer has gone from his native land to the country beyond.
On June 23 1918, he made a profession of his faith in Jesus Christ and identified himself with the Baptist church at White Oak school house, and was baptized by Rev. G. W. Smith. He has since been a loyal advocate of the principles of the gospel of Christ, until he was released from this prison of mortality. His last illness was of five weeks duration and he bore his afflictions with such fortitude that he said he was ready and willing to go, without murmuring or complaining of his lot.
He leaves to mourn his departure besides his seven sons, three sisters, Mrs. Mada Davidson and Mrs. Irene Lowe, of Wayne county, and Mrs. Rachel Snook, of Derby, besides a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services, conducted by Rev. M. S. Clark, were held at the family home on Tuesday, followed by interment in the Gwinn cemetery in Wayne county. The bereaved one have the sympathy of a large circle of friends.

TRANSCRIPTION NOTE: I have transcribed this obituary as faithfully as possible. There are discrepancies between this writing and my records. 1) I have Andrew born on July 6, 1849 in Eddyville, Wapello County, Iowa and moving to Wayne County later that summer. By 1955, the date indicated for him to move to Wayne County, two of his siblings, John H. and Virginia, had been buried in the Gwinn Cemetery in Wayne County. 2) I show his wife, Mary, as passing in April 1917, not May. I will check her headstone on my next trip to the cemetery. – Ray Gwinn Jr. GGGrandson.

I'm Looking for Some Pictures

I am putting out the call! I'd like to get a picture of the original Gwinn homestead that stood near the Gwinn Cemetery. I am told that it stood there until just a few years ago, so I am hoping somebody has a shot of it.

I am also looking for military photos of family members. Any military shot will do, but I am especially interested in that first picture every body gets in boot camp. The first shot of the young GI.

This is a good time to explain my standing offer on pictures. If you have family photos, slides, negatives and/or newspaper articles, I will:
1) Scan them on a good quality scanner - yes, I can scan the negatives and slides.
2) Give you the originals back.
3) Give you a CD with all your pictures one it. I can do several copies, as long as we don't get rediculous. I can also add some of my pictures to your CD, to fill it up.
4) I share whatever pictures I get, but if you have any you don't want shared, I will honor your desire and secure them in a "do not share" storage location.
5) I will clean up and print on photo paper a few pictures for you. Pictures of your choice, quantity, again, within reason.

The photos don't all have to be ones I am interested in, as long as some of the them interest me. I've done some work with oversize items and restorations with limited success. We can talk about that if you have something in mind.

I don't do this for money. My reward is in the copy of the photos that I keep for myself and preserve for the next generations.

L8R
Ray

Johnny & Leota's 40th Wedding Anniversary

A cousin asked me for a copy of this picture. I gave him what I had with me and a promise of a nicer copy when we meet again (see you in Lucas). This is a cleaned up copy from 40th wedding anniversary of my grandparents, Johnny Lloyd and Leota Francis (Boston) Gwinn. It was taken at the American Legion Hall in Chariton in 1970.

The descendents of John and Leota get together every year at Christmas in the Community Building in Lucas Iowa. This year's get-together will be on the 22nd of December. Though it is primarily for the descendents, all Gwinns within traveling distance are welcome to come and many do. Some just drop in to say, "Hi!". Others stay for (pot luck) lunch. Santa, I am told, will be arriving a little after 1:00 for the kids. So, y'all come!

Squire John Gwinn

Several of Squire John Gwinn's children eventually settled in southern Iowa, including Cynthia Gwinn, my ancester and, along with husband Samuel, was the first Gwinns to settle Wayne County.

The following is an excerp from The Gwinns of Round Bottom, By Leona Gwinn Brown. The entire document is at www.gwinnreunion.org/book/ . It's good reading.

Quote:

John Gwinn, followed in his father’s footsteps and acquired many acres of land in what would be Summers and Fayette Counties. One of these was "one certain tract of land in the county of Fayette containing 230 acres, lying on New River and known as the round bottom tract," which he bought from Isaac and Elizabeth Sanner in April of 1855. This was the tract of land to which his son, Laban, would later bring his bride, Mary Jane Burdette.

When John Gwinn was twenty-four years old, in 1812, he married Sarah George, daughter of Thomas and Catherine George. Twelve years later he bought his first tract of land, in what was then wilderness, near the present town of Meadow Bridge. The land was well-timbered. He cleared a large section of it and used it to raise grain, cattle, sheep, and hogs.

Fayette County was formed by an act of the General Assembly of the state of Virginia in 1831. In the new county government, John Gwinn was commissioned a justice of the peace. In 1844, he received a commission from the Governor of Virginia to execute the office of Sheriff. He was the seventh Sheriff of Fayette County. He served in this office until 1846, receiving a salary of eighty-five dollars a year.

Frederick Long writes:
At the June term of the County Court, 1840, John Gwinn was granted a license to keep a "house of private entertainment", a tax of $2.00 being imposed. This was a market place where all kinds of foods were kept and exchanged. The early hunters sold their venison, bear meat, beef, pork, hides, pelts and wild ginseng. The farmers traded their products for coffee, lead, powder, caps, tobacco, cotton cloth, etc. At that time it was all a barter business, with little money handled. It was also a stopping place for the traveling public, an Inn or hotel. Every month or so John and one of his sons would load a wagon with the surplus of grains or hides and make the two-day journey to Lewisburg where he would sell them. In this manner John was able to save a large amount of money.

John Gwinn and his wife are buried in the Wickline cemetery near Meadow Bridge next to their daughter, Achsah, who was killed when she was eight years old in a freak accident when a tree limb fell on her. John’s tombstone, which was not erected until the 1930’s, gives the date of his death as 1870, but this is incorrect. An old bill now in the possession of Nelson Gwinn is headed: "February 1871 John Gwinn moved to Lavin (sic) Gwinn on Newriver." The bill is for materials and labor for building a cabin, and totals $141.95, with $7.95 deducted (perhaps a down payment), leaving a balance of $134.00. The chimney of this cabin was still standing when I was a child in the 1930’s, and I remember its being pointed out to me as the chimney of "Pappy John’s" cabin.

Unquote

Winter is here, I hope to write more than I did this summer. - Ray

Haven't Posted in a While

It's been a short summer with little time for the computer. I've run into a few things I need to post and I've had two distant Iowa Gwinns contact me, both decendents of Ephriam.

As winter approaches I hope to get more indoor time and get some of this stuff posted.

I'll leave you with this Obit for Cynthia Gwinn (sometimes spelled Cintha or Sintha):

Cynthia Gwinn was born in West Va., October 11th, 1827, and died at her late home here August 7, 1921, making her age 93 years, 9 months, and 26 days. She was the daughter of John and Sarah Gwinn and was of a family of thirteen children. On October 10th, 1848, she was united in marriage to Samuel Gwinn and to this union were born eleven children, four of whom are still living, namely A. J. Gwinn of Lucas , Iowa, Mrs. Rachel J. Snook of Derby, Mrs. Irene Lowe and Mrs. Mado Davidson, of Humeston, Iowa. Mrs. Qwinn and her husband came to this country in 1849 and lived here ever since that time with the exception of a few months they spent in Wapalo county. Mr. Samuel Gwinn died about 33 years ago.

Andrew J. Gwinn

Andrew J. Gwinn was my great great grandfather, the oldest son of Samual Keller and Cintha Gwinn. You will seen Cintha or Cinthia; her headstone says, "Sintha".

The following article is from the Past and Present of Lucas and Wayne Counties, published around the turn of the 20th century (I'll the get the date, and repost it here!) There are some errors, mostly minor (I suspect to save the feelings of the living relatives). It does state that Andrew is the 3rd generation to settle in Iowa. Although I've found record that his father's father, Ephriam Gwinn visited Iowa, I've yet to find where Ephriam, or Andrew's mother's father, Squire John Gwinn, settled down in our fair state.

Without further ado, here's the article:


ANDREW J. GWINN
No history of the pioneer settlement of Iowa would be complete without mention of Andrew J. Gwinn, who is the first settler of Wayne County, now living, dating his residence in that section of the state from 1850, but he now makes his home in Lucas. Throughout the intervening years he has seen the prairies transformed into fertile farms, cities established, business institutions founded and a frontier wilderness transformed into a prosperous and populous state. He has not only been a witness of this growth and development but has also contributed in a large measure to the work of upbuilding and is so familiar with pioneer conditions, having in his possession all of the data pertaining to the earlier settlements, that he has made some valuable contributions to the Lucas county historical records.

Andrew J. Gwinn was born near Eddyville, Wapello county, Iowa, July 6, 1849, and is the son of Samuel K. and Cynthia Gwinn, the former of whom was born in Greenbrier county, West Virginia, in 1827, and the latter in Fayette county, that state, in the same year. The father passed away in Wayne county, Iowa, in 1891, and is survived by his wife, who makes her home in Wayne county, where she was the first settler who is still living. Andrew J. Gwinn represents the third generation of his family in this section of the state, his father and grandfather having been early settlers. They came to what is now section 5, Richman township, Wayne county, in the fall of 1850. Pioneer conditions prevailed every at the time. Wild deer roamed in the forests, the howling of wolves could be heard by night and all kinds of wild game abounded everywhere. Raw prairies stretched for miles in all directions, broken only by sparse settlements, the trading points being Eddyville, Ottumwa and Burlington. There were no railroads and the Indians were numerous on the plains and prairies and at times dangerous, although they always evidenced warm friendships for the members of the Gwinn Family. The overland western trail was near the place where the father and grandfather settled and thousands of emigrant wagons passed near their home, westward bound, during their earlier years. Both became prominent and successful farmers and the father lived to see a great deal of the state development, being at the time of his death a representative of substantial citizen. In the Gwinn family were eleven children: Andrew J. of this review; John H., who died in 1853; Virginia C., who passed away in Richman township in 1853; Mary E., who died at the age of eleven years; James M. and Sara E., both of whom passed away in 1860; Byron, whose death occurred in 1910; Mrs. Rachel Snook, residing in Derby, Iowa; Mrs. Irene Lowe, whose home is in Union township; Mrs. M. Davidson, of Richman township; and Samuel K., who died in 1859.

Amid the pioneer conditions above described Andrew J. Gwinn grew to manhood, having been only one year of age when he was brought to Iowa. He attended the Garden Grove public schools at a time when most of the school houses were build of logs. His childhood was spent upon his father’s farm and after he grew to maturity he began farming for himself, ,following this occupation since that time. In 1880 he took up his residence in Jackson township Lucas county, and here he has since resided. Success and prosperity have rewarded his laudable ambition and well direct labor and he now has a comfortable home on section 28, wherein he is passing his declining years. He has traveled over practically all of Lucas county and southern Iowa and is well known throughout the state to which he came as a pioneer.

On march 6, 1870, Mr. Gwinn married Miss Mary E. Sayres, who was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, February 28, 1850. She is the daughter of Amos and Jane (Norris) Sayres, the former of whom was born in New York in 1827 and the latter in Coshocton county. They came to Union township, Lucas county, in 1854, and here both passed away, the mother dying in 1900 and the father in 1912. In their family were the following children: Mary E., the wife of the subject of this review; John, whose home is in Union township; William, a resident of Harrisburg, Illinios; Zim, who lives upon the old home farm in Union township; Ida, deceased; and Mrs. Snook, residing south of Derby. To Mr. And Mrs. Gwinn were born nine sons, of whom the second and third sons, Luther and Omar, died in infancy. Those who survive are: Enos, whose home is in Richman township; Amos K., C. C., Arthur, Everett, and Floyd and Lloyd, twins, all of whom reside in Jackson township. Of these children C.C. was born in Richman township and all of the others in Union township.

Mr. Gwinn formerly gave his allegiance to the republican party but for a number of years past has voted independently. He has ever taken an active part in public affairs, being especially interested in the history of the county, and his labors have done much of promote public progress as well as individual prosperity. Throughout the long years of his residence in this prt of the state he has enjoyed to the fullest extent the good will and trust of those with whom he has come in contact. Strong in his honor and in his good name, he has long been a prominent and influential citizen here, his labors being of practical benefit in the upbuilding and development of this county. His name is inseparable associated with its history and his example is one well worthy of emulation.

Gwinn Roadable Airplane

I ran across a postcard of the Gwinn Aircar on ebay a while back and decided to investigate. I know it's off subject a bit, having nothing to do with the Iowa family, but I enjoyed it and hope you will to. Follow the link to: http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/AC/aircraft/Gwinn-Aircar/Gwinn.php

The Gate is UP!

After several years of planning and over six weeks of work, and just in time for the annual Memorial Day Gwinn Reunion, there is a new gate at the entrance to the Gwinn Cemetery.

The gate was constructed by Troy Williams of Williams Machine Shop in Lacona, IA. It was paid for by donations from family members. Installation was accomplished over 6 weekends by volunteers.

The cemetery, located north of Humeston Iowa, was first used in 1851 to bury Virginia K. Gwinn, age 1 year, 3 months, and 9 days. The first settlers to Richman township (Humeston), Marshall H. and Mary J. (Gwinn) Richman and Samuel K. and Sintha G. Gwinn, are also buried here. The most recent burial is James K. Gwinn, who returned to his Maker, May 6th, 2006.

Future plans for the cemetery include a memorial plaque for the new gate and fence work on the north and west sides.

EPHRIAM GWINN was the father of Samuel Keller Gwinn and Mary Jane Gwinn, who along with their spouses, Marshall Richmond (it had not yet been changed to Richman) and Cynthia George Gwinn were early settlers north of Humeston Iowa.

I found this write-up on Ephriam. It is undated and uncited, but apears to be accurate in most details.

Ephriam James Gwinn was born June 14, 1799. When he was only a few months old his family moved from the settlement of Lowell to the Green Sulphur Springs. It is presumed that he received his education in Lewisburg. The Lewisburg Academy according to tradition began in 1810 in the home of Rev. Dr. John McElhenney who came to Lewisburg in the Year of 1808 from Lexington, Virginia where he had been a student at Washington College. The Academy was built prior to 1812 and was the first brick structure in Lewisburg. No doubt Ephraim, like other students, boarded at the McElhenney home while attending the school

On April 11, 1822 he married, in Monroe Co., Rachel Keller, the daughter of Conrad Keller. On December 20, 1823, Samuel Gwinn, his father, gave them over 400 acres of land on Lick Creek, "for and inconsideration of the love and affection which he has for his son." After the death of his father, Ephraim was given the Green Sulphur tract. He soon contracted with Capt. Silas Taylor to build his home near the spring. It was paid for with four tracts of land given by Ephriam and his wife; one tract to each, the carpenter, the stone mason, the timbercutter, and the brick mason, Mr. Taylor. The house is well over 130 years old and was the first brick home in the Green Sulphur District. The originial building was seven rooms, nine fireplaces and walls thirteen inches thick of bricks made by hand near the Sulphur Springs. In later years six more rooms were added. Today a large and impressive house overlooking route twenty. It is sad to say that the home stands in the path of Interstate 64. It is hoped that the home can be moved to another location; if not it will be another page of our past removed by so called "progress."

In 1848 Mr. Gwinn built the first school in Green Sulphur Springs. It was a one room, split log building. It had a dirt floor only one door and no windows. That same year in June Ephraim became clerk of the Lick Creek Baptist Church holding that position for twenty years. On April 24, 1852, Mr. E.J. Gwinn and Rachel his wife due to his deep religious beliefs did give grant and donate to the trusties of the Baptist Church half acre of land upon which the New Meeting house now stands. This was the first church building erected in Green Sulphur District. A one story log house about 30x50 feet, with an aisle down the center. Women sat one side and men on the other side during service. In 1855 //Ray's note: This date needs to be reconciled. Samuel's firstborn, Andrew, was born 1849 in Iowa.// Ephraim Gwinn went to Iowa and bought over 1,700acres of land in Wayne Co., Iowa. He divided the land and gave six of his children a large tract by deed dated November 10, 1855. Two of his children, Samuel and James, then moved to the new land and settled there. They worked and developed the land their farms having remarkably fertile soil. When Ephraim wrote his will he ordered his son Marion to pay James $170.16 so that all his children would receive an equal share in his estate. Later an amendment was added which stated; "having visited the State of Iowa in 1874 and veiwed the lands given to my several children in that state I am of opinion that one hundred and twenty dollars is as much as said James M. Gwinn is entitled to." Iowa is one of the foremost agricultural and stock-raising states in the United States. Ephraim could not have choose better land to give his children then that in Iowa.

Mr. Ephraim Gwinn had one of the largest libraries in Summers Co. his love for books exceeding only his desire to do good and help others. In his will he wrote: "Be it remembered too, that I have divided my library among my seven children by writing each ones name in the book that I intend for him or her."

Gwinn Cemetery Restoration Project

I am told that we are "go" for the new gate on the Gwinn Cemetery. If all goes well, I hope to document the process in both pictures and words. Perhaps the Chariton and/or Humeston papers will be interested.

This view is about centered in the cemetery, looking towards the southeast corner. The gate being replaced is almost directly behind the photographer.

Castles in the Air

I just finished reading Castles in the Air, about the renovation of Gwydir Castle, the ancestral home of the Wynne family, Sir John and Sir Richard being the two that come immediately to mind.

It occurs to me that although I've always claimed Gwydir as our ancestral home, I've never tied us to it in a true genealogic sence.

Sounds like a new mission to me!!!

L8R
Ray

Gwinn Cemetery and the Geographical Society

As we discuss putting a gate up at the Gwinn Cemetery, the question comes up, "Do we know for sure that the cemetery is really named Gwinn Cemetery?" There are no signs after all. It's located about a half mile off County Line Road, through what used to be a corn field, but looks now like it may be in CRP. The fence is old farm fencing, with a farm vehicle gate (metal type). There are no signs.

As I researched it on the internet, I learned that the US Geological Society, the folks responsible for maps, not only have called it the "Gwinn Cemetery", they named that map square for it. You GI's will recall that worldwide, map squares, approximately 1Km X 1KM are named for a major geographical featcher in that area. The attempt to name them for something that won't "go away" later. I.E. If you had a map named for London Bridge, it would not be in England anymore, it would be in Arizona.

File it under cool but useless information.

L3R
Ray jr

Castles in the Air & A Gate for the Gwinn Cemetery

I've been reading Castles in the Air. I don't have the book in front of me, so I can't tell you the author. It is written by the she side of the he-she that bought Gwydir Castle in Wales and is restoring it.

It is an interesting story, though not extremely well written. The subject matter is interesting enough to keep me reading. It's not that is is poorly written, but that it is more on the level of a 7th grader's English paper.

I also just got a copy of The History of the Gwydir Family by Sir John Wynne. Sir John wrote the book in his study in the Gwydir Castle gatehouse. When that study was destroyed (it was on the 2nd floor, which was removed), a "dove-dropping encrusted" copy of the family history was found there.

At the Christmas reunion of the descendents of John & Leota Gwinn, two possibilities where displayed for a new gate for the Gwinn Cemetary in Wayne County. This is an idea that has been kicking around for several years, but has gained more momentum with my Dad being buried there in '94 and then his brother, Jim, last year. Jim's widow kicked off the fund raising at the 4th of July get-together last year by kicking in the first $100 as a memorial to Jim. We plan to introduce the plan at the Memorial Day reunion which attracts Gwinns from all over Iowa.

See you there!
Ray

Earliest Settlers Richman Township, Wayne Co, IA

The first settlers in what is now Richman Township, Wayne County, Iowa were Marshall Richmond and his wife, Mary Jane Gwinn.

When Marshall registered his land, they misspelled his name, making it Richman instead of Richmond. He decided it was easier to change his name than it would be to correct the land records.

The Marshalls traveled west with Mary Jane's brother, Samuel Keller Gwinn and his wife, Cynthia George Gwinn. Samuel (and Mary Jane) is the son of Ephriam James and Racheal (Keller) Gwinn. Cynthia is the daughter of Ephram's brother John Gwinn and his wife, Sarah George. Cynthia was a first cousin to both Samuel Keller and Mary Jane.

Samuel and Cynthia would have arrived in Wayne County along with the Richmonds, but they were delayed in Eddyville Iowa by illness and arrived later.

The frontier was not kind to the Gwinn's children. Their oldest, Andrew, was born in Eddyville and survived to be my ancester. The next 6 children never saw their 3rd birthday. Four more were then born who lived to become adults: Rachel, Irene, Byron, & Mado.

There are more stories and a proper genealogical family tree to come, but I write this at my lunch break and must watch my time.

BTW - I am working on a write-up, possibly a book, of the Gwinn Cemetery on the northern border of Wayne County.

Please give me your thoughts.
Ray

BTW - I have a picture of Marshall and Mary Jane Richman that I will try to scan and display.

Check out the Gwydir Castle Web Site

http://www.gwydircastle.co.uk/

My Picture

Hi.

This is a test to see if there's any interest. This blog will discuss issues and background of the decendents of Samuel Keller and Racheal George Gwinn.

I'll post more later.

Ray Gwinn (5th Generation)