Individual Details
William ENGLISH
(Bet 2 Sep 1805 and 1807 - 13 Dec 1879)
Newberry Twp., Miami Co., OH, William English, head. 3 doors from Luke McDowell.
1 m 30-40 (1800-1810) Luke
1 f 30-40 Anna
1 m 5-10 (1830-1835) Jerome
1 m under 5 (1835-40) John
1 f under 5 Nancy
In 1860, Ellen English, 21, was in the family and listed just above Nancy, but the same age. She appears to be John's wife, since in the next census his wife was named Ellen.
Gedcom by Roger Saunders posted in 2006 has this:
Name: William M. ENGLISH
Sex: M
Birth: 2 SEP 1805 in Perry Co. PA
Death: 13 DEC 1879 in Mahaska co.,IA.
Note:
General William M. English
Birth: 2 SEP 1805 Perry Co. PA
Death: 13 DEC 1879 in Mahaska co., IA.
Marriage 1 Anna Vincent b: 20 MAR 1807 PA
Children
John V. ENGLISH b: 1832 in Miami Ohio
Freelove Ann English b: 16 JUL 1841 in OH
William English was one of the three founders of the Sugar Creek Township in Poweshiek Co., IA in 1846. In 1848 the town gov't was first formed by election. William English on what was called section 23. William English built the first school and was one of the first teachers. He was also the first Sheriff of Poweshiek County. On July 6, 1848 he entered 40 acres on section 22 and 120 acres on section 26. He was the wealthiest man in Sugar Creek at the time. His tax in the year 1849 was $6.48. He was also the first Justice of the Peace and County Tax Assessor.
The commissions issued to Territorial militia in 1855, the year the system was organized, were: John M. Thayer, Brigadier General, First Brigade; Peter A. Sarpy, Quartermaster General, First Brigade; William English, Commissary General, First Brigade; John B. Folsom, Adjutant, First-Brigade; H. P. Downs, Inspector General.
McDOWELL, JOHN Sugar Creek Twp. pg 684. Resides on section 22, township 78 north, of range 16 west; is in truth one of the old pioneers of this township, having lived on the same farm which he now occupies since the year 1847. He was here before the county was organized, and when Indians were almost as plenty every fall and winter as white men are now. He informs the historian that at that time he knew every man in Poweshiek county; his nearest town and post-office was Oskaloosa,and his nearest mill (Whistler?s mill) thirty miles down the Skunk, through a rough and almost uninhabited country, without roads, bridges or any conveniences of the present day. The only neighbors he had in this part of the county were James McDowell and Wm. English, both of whom are now dead. He helped to located the county seat, and it was his mattock which dug the hole to mark the sport and establish the stone showing the location; he witnessed the raising of the first school-house in the township, which was situated on section twenty-two, and which served the purposes of school for the entire township. He was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1812,where he continued to live with his parents until he was about eighteen years of age, when he removed to the State of Ohio, and settled in Miami county, in which county he lived about seventeen years, and removed to the place which he now owns and occupies, which at that time was all wild land, but which is now a fine farm, well fenced and furnished with splendid buildings, horse-power, etc. He was married in the year 1840 to Lucinda Perry, by whom he had eight children, of whom seven are now living, and whose names are as follows: Levi H., Francis M., Elizabeth J., Thos. J., Margaret, Luke, John and Sarah; Margaret is dead. He was married a second time in August, 1869, to Miss Caroline Swanson, by whom he has four children living: Mary P., George A., Carrie E. and Samuel C.; besides these he has two children by his wife dead: Charles and Ralph. Mr. McDowell's farm is well stocked with horse, cattle, hogs and sheep; he has a fine orchard and abundance of small fruit; has one of the finest stock farms in this part of Iowa.
ROBERTSON, JOSEPH -Sugar Creek Twp. pg 690-1. Section 36, town 78, range 16 west. P.O. New Sharon. One of the oldest and best farmers in Sugar Creek township is Joseph Robertson, the subject of this sketch. When he settled here there were but three men living in the township, viz.,John and James McDowell and William English, all of whom, except John McDowell are deceased. Mr. Robertson was born in Campbell county, East Tennessee on the 28th day of May, 1822. While he was very young his parents removed to Indiana and settled in Brown county, where he continued to live with his parents, laboring on the farm, until the breaking out of the war with Mexico, when he enlisted in company E, Third Indiana volunteer infantry, Captain Adams, of Montezuma (and who, Mr. Robertson say, is one of the best men living), was his captain, and Jim. Lane, of Kansas fame, was his colonel. His regiment was made up at New Albany, Indiana, from which place it went to New Orleans, and from there to Santiago. He participated in the battle of Buena Vista, where he received a shot under the left arm from a spent-ball which, however, had not force enough to penetrate. At the close of the Mexican War he returned to his home, where he continued to live until 1850, when he removed with is young family and settled on the land where he now resides on the 18th of May, which land Uncle Samuel gave him for the services rendered in Mexico, and which is now a splendid farm in the valley of the Skunk River. He has continued, as he has been able, to purchase what joins him until his farm now contains five hundred and twenty-seven acres, all in fine cultivation and fenced with substantial fences; has fine buildings and good orchard, besides beautiful natural and ornamental tress. His farm is well stocked with horses, cattle, hogs, and sheep, and, in fact, he has everything about him which heart could desire; and there is but one thing to mar his happiness, and that is the loss of his companion, who died in August, 1865, since which time Uncle Joseph, as his neighbors call him, has continued to live single. He was married April 23d, 1848, to Miss Eliza Whitney, by which union they have nine children who are now living, whose names are: Stephen, Miranda J.,Andrew J., Pleasant, Elizabeth, Winnie W., George W., James M., Mary L., besides one who is dead: Martha A.
RIGGS, JOHN - Sugar Creek Twp. pg 691-2. Section 26, township 78, range 17, P.O. Searsboro. Was born in Belmont county, Ohio, on the 24th day of August, 1840, where he continued to live with his parents until the year 1861, when he came West and settled in Washington county, Iowa, where he engaged for one year in running an engine in a steam mill, which business he learned while quite young. At the end of the year above mentioned he went to Kansas, in the latter part of 1862. He remained in Kansas about eighteen months, engaged in running an engine in the city of Leavenworth. From Kansas he removed to Iowa and settled in Sugar Creek township, since which time he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, except a short time while he engaged in a steam mill, in Madison township, Mahaska county. He owns the farm on which he lives, consisting of eighty acres of splendid land, which is in a good state of cultivation and under good fences. He has his farm reasonably well stocked with horse, cattle, and hogs. He was married on the 16th of September, 1864, to Jane English, by whom he has four children, whose names are: Ida, Alma, Frank, and Anna, all of whom are now living.
Sugar Creek Township
Sugar Creek Township was officially organized July 3, 1848. The first settler, John Cox, built a cabin on the bank of the N. Skunk River. He later moved to Story County. The first permanent settler were James McDowell, William English and Conrad Swaney.
Searsboro was platted in 1870 and had a post office. There was a stop on the northbound Underground Railway just south of Searsboro. Coal was mined along the North Skunk. The Central Railroad was built through the township in 1870.
The churches in the township are the Friends Church in Searsboro, and the West Liberty Church of Christ. There is a cemetery next to the West Liberty Church. Other burial sites include a Sac-Fox burial ground west of Searsboro, and a Negro cemetery near the Mahaska County line. Burials were made on a hilltop overlooking the junction of Sugar Creek and the N. Skunk River in the southernmost part of the township.
First Land Entries Sugar Creek Township
TOWNSHIP 78, RANGE 16.
Walter Turner, Jr.; lot 4, sec. 6, November 18, 1847.
Conrad Swaney; nw.se.qr. sec. 21, July 5, 1848,
John McDowell; sw.qr.sw.qr. sec. 22, July 5, 1848.
William English; nw.qr.ne.qr. sec. 22, July 6, 1848.
Joseph Robertson; sw.qr.sw.qr. section 25, October 27, 1848.
William English; w.hf.nw.qr., se.qr.nw.qr., sw.qr.ne.qr. sec. 26, July 6, 1848.
Poweshiek, IA 1850 Federal Census
1 20 English Ann 42 PA
1 25 English Freedlove 9 OH
1 21 English Jerome 16 PA
1 22 English John 14 OH
1 24 English June 9 OH
1 23 English Nancy 11 OH
1 19 English William 44 PA
STATE CENSUS: POWESHIEK CO IA - 1856 - SUGAR CREEK TOWNSHIP
MALES 331 - FEMALES 275
Surname Given Name Age Sex Born Occupation No/TOWNSHIP
English Anna 48 F PA 94/95 SUGR
English Freelove Ann 14 F OH 94/95 SUGR
English Jerome 22 M OH 94/95 SUGR
English John 20 M OH 94/95 SUGR
English Lydia J. 14 F OH 94/95 SUGR
English Nancy 17 F OH 94/95 SUGR
ENGLISH William 50 M PA farmer 94/95 SUGR
1 m 30-40 (1800-1810) Luke
1 f 30-40 Anna
1 m 5-10 (1830-1835) Jerome
1 m under 5 (1835-40) John
1 f under 5 Nancy
In 1860, Ellen English, 21, was in the family and listed just above Nancy, but the same age. She appears to be John's wife, since in the next census his wife was named Ellen.
Gedcom by Roger Saunders posted in 2006 has this:
Name: William M. ENGLISH
Sex: M
Birth: 2 SEP 1805 in Perry Co. PA
Death: 13 DEC 1879 in Mahaska co.,IA.
Note:
General William M. English
Birth: 2 SEP 1805 Perry Co. PA
Death: 13 DEC 1879 in Mahaska co., IA.
Marriage 1 Anna Vincent b: 20 MAR 1807 PA
Children
John V. ENGLISH b: 1832 in Miami Ohio
Freelove Ann English b: 16 JUL 1841 in OH
William English was one of the three founders of the Sugar Creek Township in Poweshiek Co., IA in 1846. In 1848 the town gov't was first formed by election. William English on what was called section 23. William English built the first school and was one of the first teachers. He was also the first Sheriff of Poweshiek County. On July 6, 1848 he entered 40 acres on section 22 and 120 acres on section 26. He was the wealthiest man in Sugar Creek at the time. His tax in the year 1849 was $6.48. He was also the first Justice of the Peace and County Tax Assessor.
The commissions issued to Territorial militia in 1855, the year the system was organized, were: John M. Thayer, Brigadier General, First Brigade; Peter A. Sarpy, Quartermaster General, First Brigade; William English, Commissary General, First Brigade; John B. Folsom, Adjutant, First-Brigade; H. P. Downs, Inspector General.
McDOWELL, JOHN Sugar Creek Twp. pg 684. Resides on section 22, township 78 north, of range 16 west; is in truth one of the old pioneers of this township, having lived on the same farm which he now occupies since the year 1847. He was here before the county was organized, and when Indians were almost as plenty every fall and winter as white men are now. He informs the historian that at that time he knew every man in Poweshiek county; his nearest town and post-office was Oskaloosa,and his nearest mill (Whistler?s mill) thirty miles down the Skunk, through a rough and almost uninhabited country, without roads, bridges or any conveniences of the present day. The only neighbors he had in this part of the county were James McDowell and Wm. English, both of whom are now dead. He helped to located the county seat, and it was his mattock which dug the hole to mark the sport and establish the stone showing the location; he witnessed the raising of the first school-house in the township, which was situated on section twenty-two, and which served the purposes of school for the entire township. He was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1812,where he continued to live with his parents until he was about eighteen years of age, when he removed to the State of Ohio, and settled in Miami county, in which county he lived about seventeen years, and removed to the place which he now owns and occupies, which at that time was all wild land, but which is now a fine farm, well fenced and furnished with splendid buildings, horse-power, etc. He was married in the year 1840 to Lucinda Perry, by whom he had eight children, of whom seven are now living, and whose names are as follows: Levi H., Francis M., Elizabeth J., Thos. J., Margaret, Luke, John and Sarah; Margaret is dead. He was married a second time in August, 1869, to Miss Caroline Swanson, by whom he has four children living: Mary P., George A., Carrie E. and Samuel C.; besides these he has two children by his wife dead: Charles and Ralph. Mr. McDowell's farm is well stocked with horse, cattle, hogs and sheep; he has a fine orchard and abundance of small fruit; has one of the finest stock farms in this part of Iowa.
ROBERTSON, JOSEPH -Sugar Creek Twp. pg 690-1. Section 36, town 78, range 16 west. P.O. New Sharon. One of the oldest and best farmers in Sugar Creek township is Joseph Robertson, the subject of this sketch. When he settled here there were but three men living in the township, viz.,John and James McDowell and William English, all of whom, except John McDowell are deceased. Mr. Robertson was born in Campbell county, East Tennessee on the 28th day of May, 1822. While he was very young his parents removed to Indiana and settled in Brown county, where he continued to live with his parents, laboring on the farm, until the breaking out of the war with Mexico, when he enlisted in company E, Third Indiana volunteer infantry, Captain Adams, of Montezuma (and who, Mr. Robertson say, is one of the best men living), was his captain, and Jim. Lane, of Kansas fame, was his colonel. His regiment was made up at New Albany, Indiana, from which place it went to New Orleans, and from there to Santiago. He participated in the battle of Buena Vista, where he received a shot under the left arm from a spent-ball which, however, had not force enough to penetrate. At the close of the Mexican War he returned to his home, where he continued to live until 1850, when he removed with is young family and settled on the land where he now resides on the 18th of May, which land Uncle Samuel gave him for the services rendered in Mexico, and which is now a splendid farm in the valley of the Skunk River. He has continued, as he has been able, to purchase what joins him until his farm now contains five hundred and twenty-seven acres, all in fine cultivation and fenced with substantial fences; has fine buildings and good orchard, besides beautiful natural and ornamental tress. His farm is well stocked with horses, cattle, hogs, and sheep, and, in fact, he has everything about him which heart could desire; and there is but one thing to mar his happiness, and that is the loss of his companion, who died in August, 1865, since which time Uncle Joseph, as his neighbors call him, has continued to live single. He was married April 23d, 1848, to Miss Eliza Whitney, by which union they have nine children who are now living, whose names are: Stephen, Miranda J.,Andrew J., Pleasant, Elizabeth, Winnie W., George W., James M., Mary L., besides one who is dead: Martha A.
RIGGS, JOHN - Sugar Creek Twp. pg 691-2. Section 26, township 78, range 17, P.O. Searsboro. Was born in Belmont county, Ohio, on the 24th day of August, 1840, where he continued to live with his parents until the year 1861, when he came West and settled in Washington county, Iowa, where he engaged for one year in running an engine in a steam mill, which business he learned while quite young. At the end of the year above mentioned he went to Kansas, in the latter part of 1862. He remained in Kansas about eighteen months, engaged in running an engine in the city of Leavenworth. From Kansas he removed to Iowa and settled in Sugar Creek township, since which time he has been engaged in agricultural pursuits, except a short time while he engaged in a steam mill, in Madison township, Mahaska county. He owns the farm on which he lives, consisting of eighty acres of splendid land, which is in a good state of cultivation and under good fences. He has his farm reasonably well stocked with horse, cattle, and hogs. He was married on the 16th of September, 1864, to Jane English, by whom he has four children, whose names are: Ida, Alma, Frank, and Anna, all of whom are now living.
Sugar Creek Township
Sugar Creek Township was officially organized July 3, 1848. The first settler, John Cox, built a cabin on the bank of the N. Skunk River. He later moved to Story County. The first permanent settler were James McDowell, William English and Conrad Swaney.
Searsboro was platted in 1870 and had a post office. There was a stop on the northbound Underground Railway just south of Searsboro. Coal was mined along the North Skunk. The Central Railroad was built through the township in 1870.
The churches in the township are the Friends Church in Searsboro, and the West Liberty Church of Christ. There is a cemetery next to the West Liberty Church. Other burial sites include a Sac-Fox burial ground west of Searsboro, and a Negro cemetery near the Mahaska County line. Burials were made on a hilltop overlooking the junction of Sugar Creek and the N. Skunk River in the southernmost part of the township.
First Land Entries Sugar Creek Township
TOWNSHIP 78, RANGE 16.
Walter Turner, Jr.; lot 4, sec. 6, November 18, 1847.
Conrad Swaney; nw.se.qr. sec. 21, July 5, 1848,
John McDowell; sw.qr.sw.qr. sec. 22, July 5, 1848.
William English; nw.qr.ne.qr. sec. 22, July 6, 1848.
Joseph Robertson; sw.qr.sw.qr. section 25, October 27, 1848.
William English; w.hf.nw.qr., se.qr.nw.qr., sw.qr.ne.qr. sec. 26, July 6, 1848.
Poweshiek, IA 1850 Federal Census
1 20 English Ann 42 PA
1 25 English Freedlove 9 OH
1 21 English Jerome 16 PA
1 22 English John 14 OH
1 24 English June 9 OH
1 23 English Nancy 11 OH
1 19 English William 44 PA
STATE CENSUS: POWESHIEK CO IA - 1856 - SUGAR CREEK TOWNSHIP
MALES 331 - FEMALES 275
Surname Given Name Age Sex Born Occupation No/TOWNSHIP
English Anna 48 F PA 94/95 SUGR
English Freelove Ann 14 F OH 94/95 SUGR
English Jerome 22 M OH 94/95 SUGR
English John 20 M OH 94/95 SUGR
English Lydia J. 14 F OH 94/95 SUGR
English Nancy 17 F OH 94/95 SUGR
ENGLISH William 50 M PA farmer 94/95 SUGR
Events
| Birth | Bet 2 Sep 1805 and 1807 | Newport, Perry Co., Pennsylvania | |||
| Census | 1840 | Newberry Twp., Miami Co., OH. See Notes for detail. 3 doors from Luke McDowell. | |||
| Census | 1849 | Iowa State Census for Poweshiek Co., IA. William English, witih 7 in family. | |||
| Census | 1 Jun 1850 | District 16, Poweshiekk Co., IA, pg. 315; William English, head, 44 (1805-06), born PA, farmer, real estate of $1, 000. Next door to John McDowell. | |||
| Census | 1852 | Iowa State Census for Poweshiek Co., IA. William English, 3 males, 4 females, 1 voter, 1 militia, 7 total. | |||
| Census | 1 Jun 1860 | Sugar Creek Twp., Poweshiek Co., IA, pg. 42; William English, head, 55 (1804-05), born PA, farmer, real estate of $2880, personal of $984. | |||
| Census | 1 Jun 1870 | Sugar Creek Twp., Poweshiek Co., IA, pg. 15; William English, head, 64 (1805-06), born PA, farmer, real estate of $7, 000, personal of $1500, cannot read or write, male citizen upwards of 21. Few families from Joshua Vincent family. | |||
| Death | 13 Dec 1879 | Poweshiek Co., Iowa |  | ||
| Burial | Aft 13 Dec 1879 | Stewart Cemetery, Prairie Twp., Mahaska Co., IA | | ||
| Title (Nobility) | II | ||||
| Reference No | 577 |
Families
| Spouse | Anna VINCENT (1807 - 1890) |
| Child | Jerome ENGLISH (1833 - 1860) |
| Child | John Vincent ENGLISH (1834 - 1917) |
| Child | Nancy ENGLISH (1838 - 1860) |
| Child | Freelove Ann ENGLISH (1841 - 1917) |
| Child | Lydia Jane ENGLISH (1841 - 1924) |
| Father | William ENGLISH (1770 - 1832) |
| Mother | Lydia WORLEY ( - ) |
Endnotes
1. Cemetery Transcription, At USGENWEB, WPA survey.
2. Cemetery Transcription, at USGENWEB, WPA Grave Survey.