The Hahn Families of Linn County, Iowa

DANIEL SEWARD HAHN. One of the oldest pioneers who yet lives to tell of the trials and struggles through which the early settlers passed in establishing homes in Linn County, is the gentleman whose name heads this notice. He came here in 1837, and for a period of half a century has been closely identified with the development of the county, and has gained a reputation for honesty and straightforward dealing second to none within her boundaries. ne has witnessed the county's development from a wild, uncultivated tract of land to one of the richest and most productive agricultural districts in the State, and has contributed his quota to her advancement in these directions.

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Sfjixrxx uineninan. The grandfather was killed by the Indians at North Bend, while there for the purpose of selling a tract of land to raise money to pay the balance which he owed on the site of the city of Cincinnati. It is not certain whether the grandfather was born in this country or not, but if not, he was of German parentage.

The father of our subject was born in Pennsylvania, but after the death of his father the family removed to Butler County, Ohio, where they secured land and where our subject's father was reared to manhood. lie followed the vocation of farming, and continued to reside in Butler County until 1820, when he removed to Indiana, settling near Crawfordsville and clearing a farm. He removed from the latter county to Knox County, Ill., where he was a pioneer, and where he also improved a farm and erected thereon a good set of frame buildings, and was busily engaged at farm work until his death, which occurred in 1850.

The maiden name of our subject's mother was Susannah Seward, who was a native of York State and a cousin of the Hon. W. II. Seward. She died in Butler County, Ohio. Oursubject was the fourth in order of birth of his parents' family of live chilli, dren, and the youngest of four sons and the only ii child now living, lie was but five years old when his mother died, and twelve years of age when the family removed to Indiana, and there lived to attain his majority. His opportunity of acquiring an education was limited, as there were no free schools in those days, and what education he received was through the instruction of a private tutor.

Mr. Hahn married, in 1830, Permelia Epperson, who was born in Tennessee and reared in Kentucky. lie leased a tract of land in Montgomery County. Ind.. after his marriage, and lived there until 1834, engaged the while in farming. He then, accompanied by his wife and four children, started for Illinois overland, bringing his household goods with him. Arriving in that State, he located at Henderson Grove, and worked his father's land im-

1 til the fall of 1836. He then moved to Mercer County, that State, but could not obtain a clear title to land desired in that county, and in the

.'.'-spring of 1837, in company with his brother-inlaw, Charles Moberley, started for the Black Hawk purchase. They had one horse, and on their journey purchased corn and bread sufficient to satisfy their hunger. They, however, remained only a short time when they returned to Illinois and, with two yoke of oxen, came to this State and located in Cedar County, where his brother-in-law had a claim. Remaining with him a short time, our subject then came to this county and located on the identical tract of land on which he now resides. He broke a few acres, erected a log house on his claim, and in July returned to Illinois for his family, and brought them and his household goods to his new home with his faithful ox-teams. At this time he was the owner of two yoke of oxen, a mare and a colt, four cows and about fifty cents in money. He put in a crop of buckwheat on his brother-in-law's sod land, which, after harvesting and placing in a bin, he was extremely discouraged to see the angry flames destroy, and he was consequently obliged in buy buckwheat, which he ground in a coffee-mill to keep the wife and children from starving. The following year he raised a crop of winter wheat which he reaped with a sickle and threshed with a flail. The nearest mill was on Rock Creek, twenty miles distant. Wild game of all kinds was plenty, and had it not been so the early pioneers would have had an extremely hard time to keep from starving to death, and our subject still retains possession of the old gun which he had in those days, and with which he killed many a deer, the same gun having been owned by his father. Mr. Hahn was always fearless, and was a terror to horsethieves who roamed the country during the early settlement of this county. His life was threatened by them time after time, and he alwa37s went armed and prepared for any emergency that might arise. The land when he first came here was unsurveyed, and the log cabin in which he first lived was covered with shakes, and he even lived in it for several months without ever having a floor.

After the land came into the market our subject entered eighty acres, which took nearly all the money he had. This he had made off the land by raising wheat, corn ami pork, which he sold at Muscatine and Dubuque. He afterward entered other land as he could obtain the means to do so, and the last eighty acres of his claim he paid for

=HH] with money received from a man who came along while he was confined to the house, sick, and who bought some hogs from him and paid him just enough money to enter his last eighty acres, lie entered in all 280 acres, and is now the proprietor of 25* acres of the identical land which he entered from the Government almost fifty years ago. He has a fine stone quarry, good timber and running water mi his place, and from the insignificant price which he paid for it, it has advanced in value until it is now a handsome competency on which he can live and enjoy his declining years in peace and quiet. His place is on section 15, Franklin Township.

Mr. ami Mrs. Hahn became the parents of eleven children, six sons and five daughters. The faithful wife and mother departed this life Nov. 16, 1881. Five sons are still living. Charles is a resident of Johnson County, Iowa; Joseph, of Osborn County, Kan.; Daniel, of the little city of Mt. Vernon, in this State; and Sarah, the wife of William Murray, lives in California; Mary E. married Edward Haley, of Franklin Township; Jane became the wife of G-george Johns, and lives in Mt. Vernon; Elias lives in Kansas; Permelia lives in Mt. Vernon, and John manager the old homestead.

Mr. Hahn, politically, affiliates with the Democratic party. He cast his first vote for Gen. Jackson, and has remained firm in the faith of his early manhood, and is perfectly satisfied with President Cleveland's administration. In religion he is an (_>ld school predestinarian Baptist.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

AMOS HAHN is a prominent and successful farmer and a highly esteemed citizen of Franklin Township, where he owns and occupies a fine homestead. Mr. Hahn is a of Pennsylvania, born in Northampton County, Nov. 14, 1821. His father, Phillip Hahu, was a native of the same county, and his grandfather was born in Germany, and descended from a line of pure German ancestry, possessing excellent and remarkable traits of character, which they transmitted to their descendants.

Amos Hahn was reared on the farm of his father and remained under the parental roof until his marriage. He then opened a store and was engaged in trade for six years, lie was not entirely satisfied with his condition and prospects and resolved to cross the Mississippi and examine the country from which were coming such glowing reports and tine promises. lie accordingly sold out in 18(12, crossed the Father of Waters, and came into Linn County. He purchased eighty acres of prairie land, wholly unimproved, upon which he built a house and made preparations to put in a crop, lie was ordinarily successful in his struggles with the virgin soil, and in 180!) disposed of this property to good advantage. He then purchased the farm upon which he now lives and which embraces a body of some of the best land in Linn County. He has greatly improved its condition since taking possession of it. and has a tine dwelling, good barns and outhouses, and all the conveniences for modern and systematic farming. He has accumulated considerable property, and both as a business man and in society, is considered a valuable member of the community.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CLARENCE E. HAHN.

Among the sturdy, energetic and successful farmers and stock raisers of Franklin township, who thoroughly understand the vocation which they follow and are consequently enabled to carry on their calling with profit to themselves, is the subject of this sketch, whose farm is on section 16, Franklin township. He was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, March 19, 1858, and in 1862 came to Iowa with his parents, Amos and Henrietta (Barnes) Hahn, whose entire lives up to that time had been passed in the Keystone state. On the paternal side our subject"s ancestors came from Holland, but the Barnes family originated in Scotland. On coming to this state Amos Hahn first located near Lisbon, in Franklin township, Linn county, but later removed to section 3 in the same township, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty-tive acres, making it his home throughout the remainder of his life. He died February 12, 1897, and his wife deli.ited this life December 20, 1896, both beinsburied in the Lisbon cemetery. They had five children: Sarah, now the wife of

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Clarence E. Hahn began his education in the Glenwood school, and completed it in the Mt. Vernon public school, and after laying aside his text books at the age of seventeen years he devoted his entire time and attention to the operation of the home farm. Six years later the family removed to the farm which he now owns and occupies, and he managed the same until his father's death. He has since purchased the interests of the other heirs, and has made many improvements upon the place, the model country residence being surrounded by beautiful trees, which forms a most attractive spot in the landscape.

At Anamosa, Iowa, August 31, 1899, Mr. Hahn married Miss Catherine McDonnell, wdio was born in Fairview township, Jones county, Iowa, January 22, 1865. Her father, John ilcDonnell, was a native of County Clare, Ireland, and in 1853 came to America on the British Queen, a sailing vessel, which wa three months in crossing the Atlantic at that time. He landed in New" York, and engaged in farming in the Empire state for seven years before coming to Iowa. Locating in Jones county, he worked as a farm hand imtil 1857, and then purchased eighty acres of land in Brown township, Linn county, where he still continues to reside. He has added to his original jjurchase from time to time, however, until he now has two hundred and forty acres of very valuable and productive land. His parents, two brothers and two sisters also came to the United States. While in New York he became acquainted with Margaret Lynch, Avho was working in the same family where he was employed, and their friendship ripening into love they were afterward married at Cascade, Jones county, Iowa. She was born in Countv Kilkenny, Ireland, and came to the new world in 1855 on the steamer Lucy Thompson, which sailed from Liverpool to New York. Two years later she went to Dubuque, where she made her home until her marriage. She died November 18, 1891. The McDonnell family lived originally in Scotland, and from that country went to Ireland. Mrs. Hahn is the third in order of birth in a family of eight children, the others being !Mary, who resides with her father; William, wdio died in 1889, at the age of twenty-seven years; Thomas, Avho died in 1893, at the age of twenty-eight; Margaret, also at home with her father; Alice, wife of Albert Dunn, of Linn township, this county; Lucy, at home; and Louis, who now manager his father's farm.

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As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.