Emilia Moore was born in Indiana December 27, 1846. The next day, Iowa became the 29th State in the Union.
And when Emilia was eight years old, her family loaded two immigrant wagons in Indiana and headed for the state of Iowa, which was as old as Emilia. The Moore family arrived in Guthrie County June 2, 1855.
Emilia grew to womanhood and married David Jordan, who built a log cabin for them, just west of Monteith just a couple of years after President Lincoln had been assassinated.
Monteith became an official town in 1880, when the branch train, affectionately known as the Liza Jane, was completed from the main line of the Rock Island Railroad north to the county seat of Guthrie Center.
Emilia and Davy Jordan were the first of three generations to live in and around Monteith, which never had a population of more than 78 people. The nearby pioneer cemetery is filled with those folks, their kith and kin, and memories of the old days.
You might also enjoy Leora’s Early Years: Guthrie County Roots
Quite a family, Joy!
Am I wrong, or is the house a more modern style than most for that era?
I think so too, but it replaced a log cabin they’d lived in for 14 years.
That’s one way to ensure people remember a birthday!
I’ll bet I’m the first one to figure it out!
Now, that’s a small town!
It sure is, but I didn’t realize it hadn’t gotten much bigger, ever! There are a flock of folks on Facebook that still love the area, even having a Christmas party and calling it Monteith City Council Meeting and sending it to the local paper!
Very cool!
I’m assuming you’ve visited the area several times. I just read an interesting Facebook post about Monteith.
Whenever we’ve gone “over the river and through the woods” to Grandma’s town, we drive north out of Stuart so we can go drive through what’s left of Monteith. I remember taking Grandma on a drive once when she pointed out the house where she and Clabe met! Oh, I wish I’d paid more attention in those days.
Wow. Great story.
Thanks, Rich. There’s hardly anything there anymore, but folks who grew up around Monteith still love the area.
I’m impressed by the modern look (and the size!) of Emilia’s house at that time in US history. It wouldn’t look out of place today. 🙂
You are right, Nancy. I’ve seen the house from the road, several years ago, a different angle that wasn’t as impressive as from the angle in the old photo.
That’s a great coincidence I love that photo of the house and family. Quite a tight community, I expect!
They still are, Eilene, even though Monteith isn’t an official town!
The history of your family and where they have lived is fascinating, Joy.
Thanks, Tim. Intact families who endured so many heartaches, but they had each other.