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Allen Henry McLaughlin was born December 22, 1830 in Greenville, Pennsylvania and came to Iowa in 1853, first locating in Jackson County. He was united in marriage to Lovina Jane Morford in 1852. They then moved back to Mercer County, Illinois, and came to Iowa in 1877 and located in Clinton County.
They were the parents of six children, one of whom died in infancy. The others were Mary Jane (Mrs. J. B. Harris), John B. (my Great Grandfather) Henry, Marion and Ben H. All lived in, or in the vicicnity of, Schaller for many years....
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Allen Henry McLaughlin was born December 22, 1830 in Greenville, Pennsylvania and came to Iowa in 1853, first locating in Jackson County. He was united in marriage to Lovina Jane Morford in 1852. They then moved back to Mercer County, Illinois, and came to Iowa in 1877 and located in Clinton County.
They were the parents of six children, one of whom died in infancy. The others were Mary Jane (Mrs. J. B. Harris), John B. (my Great Grandfather) Henry, Marion and Ben H. All lived in, or in the vicicnity of, Schaller for many years. They came to Sac County in 1879 and settled on land southwest of Schaller although at that time the town was not in existence.
(1) Mary Jane became the wife of James B. Harris and they were the parents of Allen, John, James, Kate, Henry, Edward and Jenny.
(2) John B. McLaughlin - see his Bio.
(3) Henry married Lottie Guilliford. Their children were Earl, Ethel (Mrs. Fred Bristol), Willard, Lyle and Kenneth. Early in Schaller's history, Henry and his brother F. Marion (Mar) operated a general store.
(4) F. Marion (Mar) and his wife, the former Rachel Mills, were the parents of Maude, Amanda and Elmer.
(5) Ben married Irene Luckey. There were three children born to them: Hazel, Francis and Max.
All of the family were members of the Methodist Church and supported it in all ways. All were blessed with good voices and the church and the community reaped much enjoyment from their music.
Lovina was eligible to belong to the Daughters of the American Revolution and she was a member for many years.
The above information is from the Schaller, Iowa 1883-1983 Centennial Book.
Allen H. McLaughlin is my Great, Great Grandfather. His son is John B. McLaughlin and one of John's sons is J. Marion McLaughlin, my Grandfather. One of Marion's sons is my Father, Charles Henry McLaughlin. All of them are buried in the Schaller Cemetery.
This is a new tombstone. The old ornate tombstone was destroyed by vandals. I thought I had a picture of the old headstone but had no film in the camera - now it is lost forever.
The following article appears in The Schaller Herald on Thursday, September 17, 1903:
"Mr. and Mrs. A. H. McLaughlin Celebrate Their 50th Wedding Anniversary
Just fifty years ago last Tuesday, 9/15/1853 at Bellevue, Jackson County, Iowa, occurred the marriage of Allen H. McLaughlin and Miss Lavina J. Morford, under what was, in those early days, considered very favorable circumstances, but in this day and age would be considered by many to be a foolish undertaking. But these young people were of hardy pioneer stock and entered upon their journey of life with high hopes, and that their lives have been prosperous and blessed with much of that which is good goes without question.
Fifty years of married life is a long time, not so long after the race is won and the victor looks back down the path which he has traveled, but it was deemed of so much importance in the lives of these good people that their children thought it should be made a day of rejoicing and a bringing together of the family and other relatives.
There was quite a gathering at the old home just Southwest of town Tuesday, in response to invitations sent out, and nearly 70 persons, all relatives, we believe with the exception of five or six, met there to do honor to the occasion.
Mr. and Mrs. McLaughlin raised a family of six children, of whom J B, H A, F M and B H, and Mrs. J B Harris, are still living. One son, Joseph, died several years ago, the only death that has entered this family during the 50 years. In this family also are numbered 23 grandchildren, and one great grandchild, Mildred Harris, all of whom were present except Wm McLaughlin, who is employed in Sioux City and was unable to be present. Herman McLaughlin, whose accidental death occurred so recently, was the only member of the grandchildren of this couple who has been taken from them. Truly they have been permitted to live beyond the allotted time of man 'three score years and ten' both being 73 years of age, and have seen their children, and children's children grow up to be highly respected citizens, they have so much to be thankful for.
Mr. and Mrs. McLaughlin, after their marriage, removed to Mercer County, Illinois, where they resided until the spring of 1877 when they returned to Iowa and took up residence in Clinton County. In 1879 they came west to seek a new home, and here, surrounded by their children, have lived a contented life.
Mr. and Mrs. McLaughlin have gone hand in hand from the dawn of wedded life through the fierce sun of the noontime of active life, and in their declining days the hope of their friends is that they may ___ all joy many years as peaceful as an October afternoon when the haze of Indian Summer vails the heat and brings messages of hope for the future.
They were the recipients of many wholesome and useful presents from those present and also from friends at a distance who were unable to attend.
The following relatives from out of town were present at the festivities: Messrs. and Mesdames George Fell of Cherokee, Oklahoma; Harvey Wise, Paton; Chas McLaughlin and A. L. Hyser and son, Storm Lake; J. W. Hartsell and son, Early; and C. L. McLaughlin, Memphis, Missouri; J. H. McLaughlin, Paton; Jos. Downs, Manchester."
Their is also a picture which is in too poor a condition to reproduce. Next to this article, is a 6" x6" block ad entitled "New Fall Goods" from the H. A. and F. M. McLaughlin General Store (2 of their sons).
Lovina's name is spelled two different ways but her tombstone and the family Bible say "Lovina" so I am assuming that is correct.
The 1914 Sac County History (p. 176) mentions A. H. McLaughlin as one of the Charter Members and past Masters of the Schaller Acme Lodge #457 (Ancient Free and Accepted Masons) chartered in 1883.
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