In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1814, Washington county
From History of Johnson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, and its townships, cities and villages from 1836 to 1882. Together with biographical sketches .. (1883)
MARGARET HAYDEN MEDOWELL, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, May 28,1814. When she was a child but five years of age her parents, Miles Hayden and Sarah Caskey Hayden, moved to
Orange township, Richland, (now Ashland) county, Ohio, and settled on a farm April 19, 1819. The family consisted of five sons and two daughters, James, George, John, Morgan, Ellzey, Nancy and Margaret. John and Ellzey are still living. Margaret Hayden married Henry Medowell June 15, 1837, and with her husband and father came to Johnson county, Iowa, and settled in Big Grove township upon a farm in June, 18-12, her mother having gone to her reward April 9, 1834, while the family lived in Ohio, and her father closed his earthly career January 25, 1819, and was buried near Solon in this county. And now, after nearly forty-five years of blissful married life the subject of this sketch, on the 5th day of May, 1882, departed this life and her noble spirit winged its everlasting flight to the God who gave it, leaving a kind and indulgent husband, a faithful and dutiful son, and a large circle of friends and relatives to mourn her departure. Her son, Arthur Medowell, the present popular and efficient auditor of Johnson county, has lost the best friend he ever had, the husband a true and devoted wife, and the fi-ends and relatives a kind and affectionate friend. Her life was adorned with the Christian graces of love, purity and truth, her heart was always warm with a mother's love, with sympathy for the afflicted, herself a child of sutVering. She patiently waited death's messenger to close a well-spent life surrounded by kind and loving friends who did all in their power to soothe the fevered brow and alleviate her suffering. We can only say to the bereaved ones, "That into each life some rain must fall, some day be dark and dreary-, but never mind, behind the cloud there is a silver lining," and your resignation should be in the spirit expressed by the poet, when he says:
" Strike thou, the master, We thy keys, the anthems of thy destinies. Our hearts shall breath the old refrain — Thy will be done."
As printed in History of Johnson County, Iowa, containing a history of the county, and its townships, cities and villages from 1836 to 1882. Together with biographical sketches .. (1883). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1883. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.