Amanuensis Monday 1905 Leon Reporter Decatur County

Amanuensis Monday Leon Reporter Thursday April 6th 1905

     On Tuesday, the 26th of this month W H Colier of Decatur, gave Earl Riley a large cottonwood tree on the farm to cut down, providing he took limbs, brush and all except the stump. The tree was cut down and measured 30 inches in diameter across the stump and contained 49 circles from the heart of the log to the surface, which gives the age of 49 years.  About 7 feet up from the butt of the tree a horseshoe was found in the heart of the log hung there by Milton Board in the spring of 1860, forty five years ago when the tree was a small sapling of four years. W D Shelton of Decatur is very familiar with the circumstances being a boy at the time, 15 years of age.  Mr Shelton says Milton hung the horseshoe on the sampling, early in the spring and some time in the fall about horseshoeing time Milton wanted the shoe, but the sapling had grown so much during the summer and the shoe being so tight around the tree he left it there.
     James Milsap , John Gardner and Samuel Black remember of the horse shoe being in the tree and Milton talking about it at different times.  This tree was located on John Cole's farm south by west of Decatur half a mile and 150 yards south by west of John Coles house,standing directly on the spur of the two ravines leading west.  John Cole sold the farm to George McClain and McClain sold it to Calvin Board and is now owned by W H Colter.  Milton Board was Calvin's son. This horseshoe and the nails were hammered out by James Ownsby ( that is the supposition of the old settlers who live here Howand James Ownsley son.  The shoe, as it being around the sapling is  a block of wood just as it appeared in the tree and is a curiosity to look at.  If any of the old settlers or anybody wishes to see it call at C R Riley's office, Decatur. I am told forty nine years ago around DeCatur was mostly prairie and that the public road led from house to house all over the neighborhood. and that a man called everyone his neighbor from one to twenty miles away. How different now a man now seldom calls the man living next door a neighbor. Some of the old neighbors living in and near DeCatur that were farmers are: John Cole, James Millsap, Jessie Lloyd , William Cash, Verd Covington, Lewis Walker, James Summers, Calvin Board, George McClain, Fred Teale, Commodore Ward, Medley Shelton , John Evritt, James Woodmansee, John McLaughlin, Amos McLaughlin , John Tullis, Mat Cornett, Robert French, Al Wafford, John Zion, Henry Ellis, Thomas Black, Matthew Hauston, Peter Scott, William Akers, Spence Akers and Al Aden.
Merchants John Hall , Robert Notson, Geo Shelly, Wash McGrew and Medley Shelton. These men got their goods by wagon route from Keokur. Blacksmiths James Ownsley and William Bear. doctors J O Day, Dr McClelland , Dunn brothers and James Lane.  Preachers J C Porter, Moses Hull, Samuel French and Benjamin Springln. Carpenters John Shelton, Frank Hacker and Samuel Page. Millers John Wartenbe, Judge Absalom Black. Justice, Merchant, Mayor and a gentleman of leisure W D Moore.  A few of these old settlers live here now.  Some have moved away and a majority have passed over the river.  These old settlers wild neighbors were Indians, deer , wolves and Elk
C R Riley

NOTE Genea-blogger John Newmark (who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog) started his own Monday blog theme many months ago called Amanuensis Monday.What does "amanuensis" mean?John offers this definition:"A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another."

Death Certificate For John Henderson Zion 1831 - 1920

OBITUARY John L H Zion 1831 to 1920 Leon Iowa One My 2nd Great Grandfathers

Found this at Genealogy Bank March 7th 2019

I am always so excited when I find something new on one of my ancestors . I found a few other items on great great grandpa John and will be sharing them soon.  I see a strong kind man when I look at his eyes.

Thursday  May 06, 1920 Leon Reporter Leon Iowa page 11 

     John L H Zion was born November 28th 1831 in Rush County Indiana and departed from earthly existence on April 22, 1920 at Foster Missouri being at the time of his death of the great age of 88 years 4 months and 4 days.  He was the son of McCormick and Mary Zion, his father being a baptist minister.  When a young boy he removed with his parents to Des Moises County , Iowa , where he met and married Mary Cossell in September 1853. To this union were born four children Mary Elizabeth Creveling of near Foster Missouri, William M Zion of Smith Center, Kansas, Adam Jonathan Zion of Craig Colorado and Anna Gertrude Piercy who preceded him to the great beyond 29 years. His aged wife departed this life November 29 1919 and was laid to rest in Lillie cemetery, two miles north of Lamoni, Iowa.
     The subject of this sketch and his young wife were among the first settlers of De Catur City in 1859, where he engaged in the business of farming the virgin soil. Soon after the great civil war he purchased and removed to a fine farm three miles N W of Lamoni where he continued to reside until age compelled him to retire.
     Uncle John, as his hundreds of friends called him was large in statue, exemplary in morals and faithful husband, an indulgent father and an obliging friend.
     Funeral by Rev E C Vanderpool of Grand River, Iowa April 25th 1920. Interment in Lillie cemetery.

March Woman's History Month Post 1 Mary Cassell Zion GG Grandmother Paternal Side

March is National Women's History Month . The theme for National Women's History Month 2019 is “Visionary Women: Champions of Peace & Nonviolence”. 

This is a perfect month to concentrate on my female ancestors. They may not of led efforts to end war, violence and injustice but I am sure they each have a story. of holding the family together. Being strong in their own right. And you never know I may find that story. 

This month I have been searching for the civil war records of my second great grandfather John Henderson Zion.  At this time I know he was drafted June 1863 into the Iowa 5th but I have nothing else as of now.  I need to research deeper into ancestry records.  As of this time I have found nothing more. I plan to call the National Archives to see if this is enough information to get his record.  I have asked for help from 
http://iagenweb.org/civilwar/books/logan.htm tonight. Hopefully they will be able to help me.  This is a wonderful site to find information and will be spending more time there. 

As my great great grandfather is drafted into the civil war my great great grandmother is left at home to take care of the family. 

Her name is Mary Cassell . She was born on the 19th of October 1834 in Coles, Illinois to Jonathan Cassell 1812 - 1845 and Elizabeth Carmicheal 1812 - 1899.

At the time John is drafted to fight in the war she is will be left home to care for three children.  They are Mary Elizabeth born 21st of September 1854, William McCormick born 12th of March 1858 and Johnathan Adam my great grandfather who was born 29th of September 1861.  John and Mary's fourth child will join the family in 1868 and be named Etta Anna Gertrude. 

John and Mary were living in Jamul, Decatur county, Iowa in 1863 and is a local farmer.  

Questions to answer 
Who was living near by to help Mary when John goes to war.?
What was life like in the area during this time? 
 I look at her eyes and I see a strong woman and I look forward to researching her more this week. 

To be Continued

Sepia Saturday Hats Of To The Man In A Hat

 Sepia Saturday this week is Hats Of To Men In A Hat 

This week I am featuring my 2nd great grandfather on my father paternal side.

When John Henderson Zion was born November 28th, 1831 in Rush Indiana, his father McCormic was 36 and his mother Mary was 35.
John was only 3 years old when his mother passed away .  His father had been married once before John's mother and again after John's mother died so he had a number of siblings.

He married Mary M Cassell on September 8th 1853.  They would have four children in 14 years.
Mary , William, Jonathan Adam who is my great grand father and his younger sister Etta.

John was a farmer and lived most of his life in Iowa.  I know little about him but I see a strong man in those eyes.

At he end of his life he was living with daughter Mary and her husband in Missouri.  He would die there but then be buried in Iowa

 He died on April 22, 1920 in Foster Missouri at the age of 88 years old and is buried in Lamoni, Iowa

Take  a moment and check out some other posts on Sepia Saturday

SEPIA SATURDAY ~ FACIAL HAIR

Facial hair is the focus of this week’s SepiaSaturday.

My father and grandfather's were clean shaven but go back a couple of generations and I have some pretty hairy relatives.

This is John W Zion my great great grandfather born on 28 November 1831 in Indiana

and died on the 22nd of April1920 in Missouri.  He married Mary Cassell  and is related to me on my fathers side of the family.

This is Flavious Millsap with his wife Anna Woodmansee. Flavious was born on the 10 November1832 in Indiania and died on the 10 of April 1910 in Syracus Kansas. He is my great great grandfather on my father's side.

On my mother's side of the family we have more hairy great great grandfather's

This is Dwight Henry Day my great grand grandfather. He was born the 7th of August 1829 in New York and died on the 30 of June 1913 in Hammond Minnesota.

One more great great grandfather is Patrick Gallagher who was born in Ireland in 1830 and died on the 3rd of January 1898 in LaCrosse Wisconsin

Hope that you have enjoyed meeting some of my great great grandfather's hairy faces. Take a peek at others on Sepia Saturday postings by clicking link at top of the page. Grace

On This Day John Henderson Zion Is Born

On this day November 28th 1831 John Henderson Zion was born in Rush Indiania to McCormic Zion and Mary Gobble Zion. On September 8th 1853 he married Mary Cassell. To this marriage five children were born. Mary 1854, William 1858, Jonathan 1861, Etta 1868 and Annie in 1869. The census reports tell me he was a farmer. John H was my great great grandfather with his son Jonathan being my great grandfather. John H passed away April 22nd 1920 in Foster Missouri. I love this picture of him. Happy birthdayt grandpa.

Tombstone Tuesday John H and Mary Cassell Zion

For today's Tombstone Tuesday I am remembering my great great grandparents John Henderson Zion and Mary Cassell Zion.
John was born 28th of November 1831 in Indiania and died 22 April 1920 in Foster Missouri. Mary was born the 19th October 1834 in Illinois and died 20 November 1919 in Iowa.
John and Mary were married 8th of September 1853 and had 5 children. Mary, William, Jonathan, Etta and Annie. Their son Jonathan is my great grandfather.

The pictures of John and Mary plus the picture of the tombstone were found on http://www.ancestry.com/. They were shared by Sue a distant cousin. They are buried in Decatur, Iowa.

Thanks for stopping by... Grace