Joshua Whitney Hillman Lounsberry

  General Notes:

Rea
Here is a little info on Joshua from the book 'History of Hardin County,
Iowa' Union Publishing Co. 1883.
Joshua W. Lounsberry born in Broome Co. NY on the 18th of Feb. 1809. In 1831
he married Ruth Guernsey. She was born in the county. By this union there
were 3 children, Mary, Joel G. and Nathaniel L. In 1835 he emigrated to
Trumbull Co. OH, moving with teams. He there remained a short time, and
finally settled in Loraine, Richland Co. Oh. where he became personally
acquainted with Bovernor Kirkwood and Clark, a brothe-in-law. Mr. Lounsberry
by trade is a millwright. He built some of the large steam saw and grist
mills in Ohio, and followed the business up to 1852, when he was employed by
Hall & Allen of Mansfield, Ohio, as general agent for protable engines and
mill gearing. In 1854, he came West, traveling through the different States
looking at the land, and finally selecting the place where he now resides.
In the spring of 1855 he went to Iowa City, where he built a mill for
Kirkwood & Clark. In the following fall he moved his family and resided
there until 1856, when he came to Eldora, Hardin Co. Iowa, remaining one
year, when he built his present home, into which they moved and have lived
for 26 years. Mrs Lounsberry died in Trumbull Co. Ohio, February 1836. He
subsequently married Priscilla Gayer (Gager). By this union there were 7
children. She died January 1, 1855 and he afterwards married Sarah Bird.
One child blessed this marriage, Ella. Mr. Lounsberry has been identified
with the county for many years and has lived to see the broad prairies
transformed into beautiful farms. Coming to the county a poor man by
judicious management he has accumulated a competency. Mr. and Mrs.
Lounsberry are member of the Congregational Church.
From the same book some info on Joel Guernsey Lounsberry, son of Joshua and
Ruth:
Joel B. Lounsberry was born in Windsor, Broome Co.NY, Sept.12,1833. Son of
J.W. Lounsberry and Ruth (Esther) Guernsey, the latter dying when he was but
2 years old. In early life Joel learned the trade of millwright with his
father and afterwards took up the carpenter trade. In 1859 he came to Hardin
Co. IA locating in Eldora, where he subsequently embarked in the carpenter
trade, employing as high as 6 men. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted in the
1st Iowa Cavalry, Co. G, and was mustered in at Burlington. He participated
in the battles of Prairie Grove, Little Rock, Black River Bridge and others,
serving 3 years and 2 months. He was injured at Prairie Grove. He was
promoted sergeant of the company, and in 1856 he married Miss Martha E.
Edgington, a sister of Colonel Edgington, of Eldora. She was born March 18,
1835. By this union there was one child, which died in infancy. Mrs.
Lounsberry died in 1860. His second wife was Jane Whitney, daughter of
George Whitney. She was born in Stephenson Co. Ill. They are the parents of
4 children, 3 of whom are living, William G., George W, and J. Clement. Mr
Lounsberry has a beautiful farm of 210 acres under cultivation, and valued at
$40 per acre.
In the same book: Alexander A. Lounsberry was born in Richland Co. Ohio
October 5, 1841. He is son of J.W. and Priscilla Gayer Lounsberry, and was
13 when his parents emigrated to Iowa City, where they lived until 1856, when
they removed to Eldora, Hardin Co. IA. Mr. A.A. Lounsberry worked on the
farm until he was of age, when he saw the necessity of a more thorough
education and therefore attended Albion Seminary two terms. He married
Martha Whitney daughter of George Whitney, by whom he has five children, Emma
May, Rose, Rufus and an infant. Mr. Lounsberry has 150 acres of land valued
at $40 per acre.
Alexander and Martha's children:
1. Emma May b. 5-5-1866
2. Rose Pearl b. 6-26-1872
3. Ruth A (twin) b.2-17-1875 d. 4-2-1875
4. Rupert b. 2-17-1875 d. 4-2-1875
5. Rufus Choate b. 5-2-1880
6. Fredrick Rowe b. 8-26-1882, d. 12-15-1949 San Bernadino, CA, married Anna
McDonald
7. Myrtis M. (our Line) b. 6-2-1865 Hardin Co. Iowa near Union d. 4-4-1924
Florida, marreid Woodward Dennis Melick on 9-18-1886 in Iowa. Woodward son
of Robert Wilson Melick and Sabina Dennis was born 12-12-1865 Liscomb,
Marshall Co. IA, d. 10-3-1931 Liscomb, IA. Woodward and Myrtis had been on a
trip to Florida for her health, when she died there. Their children;
1. Robert b. 10-21-1887 he left home around 1918 and was never heard from
again.
2. Elsie May b. 8-2-1889Liscomb, Marshall Co. IA, d. 12-19-1953 Minnesota,
married Albert lee Arney on 3-18-1914 Iowa
3. Carl Emerson b. 9-23-1896 Liscomb, Marshall Co. IA married Pearl
4. Lawrence Lounsberry Melick, b.4-13-1898 Liscomb, Marshall Co. IA, d. May
1918 Liscomb, IA
5. George Dennis b. 12-15-1900, d. 1-20-1971, married Eva Jaunita
6. Ernest Fredrick b. 9-2-1902, married Louise
7. Grace M. (our line) b. 5-23-1892 Liscomb, Ia, d. 5-12-1971 Waterloo, Black
Hawk Co. IA. married Clarence M. Albright on 10-4-1917 Liscomb, IA Grace was
a school teacher, she taught in a one room school in Dunkerton, Black Hawk
Co. Iowa. Clarence was son of Fred Gustav Albright and Julia Miller, he was
born 7-17-1895 Box Elder, SD, d. 10-24-1976 Waterloo, IA.
Here is a little more info on Joshua's wife Ruth, she was b. 3-7-1809 and d.
2-13-1836 just a few days after birth of her 4th child. Her children are:
William b. 1832, d. 1832, Mary Hannah b. 3-11-1831, d. 2-16-1891 NY married
William C. Cummings, Joel Guernsey b. 9-12-1833, d. 1856, and Nathaniel
Lattin b.2-2-1836 married Sarah Jane Kinzer.
Regards, Chris

Joshua married Ruth Minerva Guernsey on 25 Feb 1830 in Windsor, Broome, New York, USA. (Ruth Minerva Guernsey died in 1836 in Trumbull, Ohio, USA.)

Joshua next married Priscilla Minerva Gager, daughter of Thomas Gager and Hannah Underhill, on 6 Aug 1836 in Camden, Preble, Ohio, USA. (Priscilla Minerva Gager was born on 18 Nov 1816 in Pleasant Valley, Dutchess, New York, USA and died on 1 Jan 1855 in Oberlin, Lorain, Ohio, USA.)

Joshua next married Sarah Bird on 3 Sep 1855. (Sarah Bird was born on 31 May 1811 and died about 1902.)