My Genealogy Hound

LAUTHER, ALEXANDER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 16; P. O. Ft. Madison; born in Juniata Co., Penn., in 1824; his father, James Lauther, was also a native of Pennsylvania. Alexander was employed on the farm until at the age of 22, he entered a store at Peru Mills, same county. In April, 1849, he started on a tour of the Western States on foot, from Pittsburgh, which he reached by canal-boat and packet; he occasionally staged short distances, but most of the journey was on foot, frequently at the rate of thirty miles per day; from Niles, Mich., he went by rail to New Buffalo, thence by steamer to Chicago and Milwaukee, Wis.; he worked in the harvest field near Beloit that summer, and as help was scarce, was well compensated. From Peru he reached Peoria by boat, went back in the country, and worked at stripping soapstone from stone-coal; then taught school near Kickapoo Creek, fifteen miles from Peoria, at $45 per month; the next winter taught in Knox Co. for three months, at $18 per month; worked at farming in the summer; went to New Orleans and spent the winter of 1850 and 1851; in the spring came to Lee Co. and worked as a laborer at $13 per month; the next spring taught school in what is now Bucks College. In the spring of 1853, he visited his native State; returned, and in August purchased ninety acres of land, where he now resides; taught school in the winter, and in the spring of 1854, returned to Pennsylvania and married Miss Martha J., daughter of Moses Irwin; she was also a native of Juniata Co., Penn.; had five children, three now living — James J., born Dec. 9, 1855; died May 23, 1858; Samuel A., Feb. 21, 1858; Ellen E., April 6, 1860, died April, 1862; Annie M., March 28, 1862; Clara P., Sept. 5, 1864. They lived two years in Nebraska, then came to present location; own 448 acres, valued at $50 per acre. Members of the Presbyterian Church at Fort Madison, of which he is an Elder.