Home
Surname List
Name Index
Sources
Gedcom File
Email Us |
Seventh Generation
539. Francis McGuire
Cory1 was born on
13 Aug 1818 in New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas Co, OH. He died on 21
Oct 1865 in Sac City, Sac Co, IA. BIOGRAPHY
Francis was born and raised on the Cory farm in Crawford Co Ohio until his marriage
to Isabelle Hitchcock February 8th 1838. That same year he and his bride moved
to Hardin County Ohio, to settle down and raise their family. Francis was a justice
of peace in Harden Co in 1840. In the spring of 1854, Francis, his wife Isabelle
and seven sons pulled up stakes and started West. They had one wagon with two
yoke of oxen, they traveled in easy stages, hunting, fishing and with seven boys
much exploring. It is written that Isabelle could handle team of oxen and rough
it with the best of the pioneers. They crossed the Mississippi River at or near
Clinton Iowa on the 4th of July 1854. They camped near Anamosa Iowa and waited
for six weeks for other families who were also preparing to settle in the new
lands. On the 4th day of September 1854 the five families arrived and made camp
at the big spring east of where Sac City now stands. These families comprised
the only white residents of Sac County in the Winter of 1854 and 1855. The Sunday
following their arrival Isabelle crossed the river, (Now called the Coon River)
and climbed the hill to a site of the present Methodist Church. She knelt in
prayer and ask God to send his gospel and plant his church in this new land.
From the camp at big spring the men scattered out to stake their claims. Francis
located his claim near the present location of the Cory Grove Cemetery. They
immediately built a small log cabin; every stick and piece which went into the
construction was hewn out by hand. Much of the furniture was made by hand from
branches and boards smoothed by the adz. The first winter was very mild or the
settlers probably would not of survived. The game was plentiful, they also ate
boiled corn, wheat and the wild fruits and berries the had preserved during their
travels in the summer. The Sioux Indians were friendly at that time and hunted
with the white men. after the hunt there would always be a shooting match for
the game killed, the white men making a point always to win, thus letting the
Indians know they were good marksmen. This band of Indians was the famous band
of Sioux, headed by Inkapadoto, who later committed depredations along the Sioux
River and massacred the people at Spirit Lake Iowa. Francis was among the first
members of the Grand Jury to receive a warrant, he was elected treasure April
7, 1856. The boys grew up in an natural environment of hunting and fishing.
Beaver dams were plentiful, Deer and Elk roamed the prairies and all through
the timber there was wolf, fox, raccoons and just about any animal young boys
wanted to hunt. The Cory boys had a team of trained elk which were great pets.
The boys, during their idle moments trained the team which were sensible and
as easily driven as a team of horses. It ls recorded that the boys father sold
this team of elk to a wandering trader for one hundred dollars. Not having the
necessary cash on him he gave Francis a check for the amount on a Des Moines
bank. Francis needing the money set out at once on horseback for Des Moines to
cash the check, guess what! the bank had failed and he never did get his money.
He is buried in the Cory Grove Cemetery Sca County Iowa. Francis McGuire Cory
and Isabelle Hitchcock were married on 8 Feb 1838 in Shelby, Richland Co, OH.
Isabelle Hitchcock1
(daughter of Isaac S. Hitchcock and Mary Haverfield) was born on 29 Apr 1821
in Mansfield, Richland Co, OH. She died on 12 Oct 1901 in Sac City,
Sac Co, IA. Francis McGuire Cory and Isabelle Hitchcock had the following
children:
|
