My Genealogy Hound

LAUTHER, ELIZABETH J., farmer, Sec. 15, P. O. Fort Madison; daughter of Thomas Jacobs, who was born in Juniata Co., Penn., in 1794, where, on the 1st of December, 1818, he married Rosana, daughter of James Shaw; she was born near Carlisle, Penn., on the 27th of May, 1794; Thomas Jacobs and his wife settled at Waterford, Penn., where he engaged at the business of a tailor, having learned that trade; they afterward removed to Germantown, Penn., where he died March 1, 1834, leaving three sons and one daughter, Elizabeth, who was born in Germantown in 1833; soon after her father’s death, her mother returned to Waterford, where Elizabeth was raised and educated. On the 29th of January, 1852, she married James Lauther, who was born in that county Sept. 1, 1826; in 1854, they came to Iowa, where they first settled on the farm now owned by Omer Hayes. About 1858, they purchased the farm where the family now live, which consists of 200 acres, valued at $45 per acre; in March, 1871, the husband and father, James Lauther, was called from “labor to refreshment,” leaving three children — Rebecca, born in Pennsylvania March 7, 1853, the wife of William Eoff, farmer and stock-dealer, of this township; James M., born in March, 1855, and is the mainstay and support of his excellent and highly-respected mother, and manager of the farm; Margaret J., born in March, 1861; Thomas B. was born in March, 1864, and died in April, 1866. The Lauther family came of Presbyterian parentage, of which Church Mr. Lauther was a respected and influential member at the time of his death; Mrs. Lauther and her children are also members of that Church.