Lakin Family History & Genealogy

In the 1850 U. S. Federal Census, Cynthia Ainesly Lakin is a 47 year old, white, married female [according to the census - she may be much older]. She lives with her husband, Elisha in Pampas Township, DeKalb County, Illinois. With the couple live seven children (Martha, 18, born in Pennsylvania; Vincent, 16, born in Pennsylvania; Elizabeth, 14, born in Pennsylvania; Esther, 10, born in New York; Cynthia, 8, born in Illinois; Polly, 6, born in Illinois; and Charles L., 1, born in Illinois). [EL 08.] [There is some question as to the birthdate for Cynthia. What I have used is the date provided on the tombstone in the cemetery near Elsworth, Iowa. This date could be wrong in the light of some of the birthdates of the children of Cynthia and Elisha Lakin. In the 1850 U.S. census, for example, Cynthia's age is listed as 47. Thus, there is a discrepancy between what appears on her tombstone and what appears in the 1850 U. S. Census. - DLL]] The obituary for Cynthia Ainesly [CA 02] is given: "Distressing Casualty On the 5th inst. the wife of Elisha Lakin, Esq., of Lakin's Grove, in this county, came to a sudden and unexpected death. She had been suffering from ill health, and had been in the habit of using morphine to alleviate her sufferings. During the absence of all the members of the family, except a little grandson, on Sunday evening, the 3rd inst., at an evening meeting, she administered morphine to herself-as she was suffering from disease--and when the family returned she was found insensible. Medical aid was obtained, and friends did everything that could be done to arrest the effect of the anodyne, but all the effects were useless. After lingering about 36 hours she died leaving a husband and a large circle of children to mourn her loss. A kind and industrious wife, a watchful and affectionate mother, and an esteemed neighbor has passed away. Mrs. Lakin was nearly 60 years of age. In a moment cut down as the grass; the warning is be wise--prepare."

[Although I am in possession of B. A. Lakin, (1910), "History of the Lakin Family from 6 October 1797 to 6 August 1910," Elsworth, Iowa: The Author [BALa 01], thanks to the generosity of Florence Ann Stevenson, widow of Earl G. Welch, Jr., I cannot in good faith reproduce all of the information in this compilation because I simply do not trust it. However, certain parts for Elisha Lakin, Gustavus Kendall and maybe a couple of other will be transcribed for them under their names.] From the "History of the Lakin Family from 6 October 1797 to 6 August 1910," I have transcribed the following paragraphs dealing Elisha Lakin [BALa 01; pp. 1-2]: "Elisha Lakin, the founder of Lakin's Grove, was born October 6, 1797, at Grotton [sic], Mass. near Boston. He was of Scotch descent, his father being a veteran of the Revolutionary War. He was one of a family of seven children, Luter, Noah, Elisha, John and George, and two girls of names unknown to the writer. His mother died when he was 14 years old, and he was bound out as apprentice to learn the blacksmith trade. Thinking that the work was not to his liking, he threw his clothes out of the window, and went to Pike County, Pa., where he lived for 25 years. On his way to Pike County, his courage all but failed him, but he pushed on through the wilderness, and at last reached his destination. "A circumstance showing the thoroughness of Elisha will be recorded here. For about 25 years he piloted rafts down the Delaware River, and at one time he came to a newly constructed dam, which he was unable to pass. He asked that an opening be made, was refused, and was dared to attempt passage. Elisha took the dare, sunk two kegs of powder, after first dipping them in tar, and in two hours had passed the scene of opposition. "In 1825 Elisha Lakin was married to Miss Cynthia Ainslee, and to this union fifteen children were born, five boys and ten girls. They are: Lucinda, Harriet, Pennilipia, Mary Ann, Samuel, Luther, Martha, "Old Brint," Esther, Elizabeth, Cynthia, Lydia, Pollie, Charlie and John, who died in infancy. "In 1939 Elisha Lakin sold his interests in Pennsylvania and moved to York state. He left his family there and went by boat to Illinois where he preempted land in Kane county, building a log cabin on the present site of Elburn. In 1840 he moved his family to that place. They lived there only a few years then moved to DeKalb County. In October 1854, he came west and entered what is now known as Lakin's Grove, buying land along the Skunk River, extending from W. D. Bonner's east line to the C. & N. W. Railway bridge west of Ellsworth. "On the last day of May, 1855, he started west with his family into Hamilton county with a few teams of oxen and arrived June 17th of the same year, locating with his family upon the land he has purchased. He broke up a few acres of land, sowed it to buck wheat, ground it in a coffee mill, and he and his family lived on buck wheat cakes that winter, living in hay shanties. "In the year 1857 he took a contract to carry mail from Webster City to Lakin's Grove, Illinois Grove, New Providence, Bangor and Mariette, which was then county seat of Marshall county. For this service, he received $500 per annum. At the time there were no bridges to cross, no neighbors to salute him and practically no roads to travel. This contract was in vogue five years. Later he was elected to fill the office of coroner, which office he held for a number of years. He was the first county supervisor from Lyon township. "His wife died (in Winter 1859) a few years later, and he was again married to Mrs. Dalbey, mother of F. R. Dalbey, of Elsworth, Iowa. "In 1878 he suffered a stroke of paralysis, from which he never fully recovered, passing away 6 July 1879 at the age of 81 years and..." Elisha Lakin, one of the well-known pioneers of Hamilton county, was born in Massachusetts in 1797. In Iowa, he was a Jacksonian Democrat, and for a number of years was justice of the peace, and also a member of the county board of supervisors and coroner of the county. At 18 years, Elisha went to Pennsylvania, where he was married to Cynthia Ainesly and lived until 1842 when he moved to Kane County, Illinois, and entered Government land, living there five years, when he moved to De Kalb county, Illinois, and made that county his home until his removal to Hamilton County (Iowa) in 1855. He brought with him 100 head of cattle and horses, which was a valuable addition to the stock of Hamilton County. He located on section 24, Lyon Township, and was the first permanent settler of that township, and made it his home until his death. [EL 01.] According Lee, History of Hamilton County, Iowa, p. 66, Elisha may have been elected coroner for Hamilton County in 1857 and Justice of the Peace for Clear Lake Township. There is some dispute as to whether Elisha or Luther was the elected Lakin. It seems, however, that Elisha was certified and served until 1859 when Luther was elected. Again from Lee, p. 122: During the years of the Civil War: "As the years of the war slowly passed and men were constantly dropping out of the line of civil life into the ranks of the great army that was battling for the Union, it is not strange that settlements within the county should be fewer and improvements leas in value than when the attention and energies of so large a number of men were engaged in civil, instead of military, pursuits. Still the work of settling and improving the county did not wholly stop. A scattering settlement had been effected along the Skunk river. There the Sowers, Staleys, Hendersons, Lakins, Churches, Everetts and others had built their cabins and with the aid of a few scattered prairie settlers, had organized townships and were building school houses, roads, bridges and place the landmarks of civilization upon the wild and untamed prairies. It seemed incredible that under the circumstances, any improvements could be expected, yet the fact is that the county continued to gradually increase in population and material resources until in 1865 and '66, when a great influx of settlers began to find homes here and put new life and vigor into all private and public enterprises. See also an article on the Homewood Cemetery in the notebook on Cemeteries. And also an article Lakin's Grove Settlement from the Centennial Story of Ellsworth (Iowa) 1880-1980: A Look Back a Step Forward. New Providence, Iowa: Providence Printing, 1980. NOTE: I found Lakin's grove through Mike Kufus, in Elsworth, Iowa at a filling station, repair shop. Mike is the son of Carol Kufus, the compiler of the book, The Centennial Story of Ellsworth, 1880-1900. Where Lakin's Grove used to be is a mile and one quarter north of Ellsworth, the first turn to the left. If you find that you have already come to the Homewood Cemetery, you have gone too far. I went there and found where Lakin's Grove used to be. I also went to the cemetery and found Elisha and Cynthia Lakin's graves, as well as that of Lucinda Lakin Kendall Morgan McKowan, Evaline McKowan's mother. Lucinda is a 2nd great grandmother; Evaline a great grandmother. In the 1850 U. S. Federal Census, Elisha Lakin is 52 years old; he is a farmer; the estimated value of his real estate is $1,000; he was born in Massachusetts. He is living with his wife, Cynthia (47; born in Pennsylvania) and seven children (Martha, 18, born in Pennsylvania; Vincent, 16, born in Pennsylvania; Elizabeth, 14, born in Pennsylvania; Esther, 10, born in New York; Cynthia, 8, born in Illinois; Polly, 6, born in Illinois; and Charles L., 1, born in Illinois) in Pampas township, DeKalb County, Illinois. In the 1860 U.S. Federal Census, Elisha Lakin is 62 years old; he is a farmer, the estimated value of his real estate is $1,000 and the value of his personal estate is $1,000, and he was born in Massachusetts. He is living with Caroline (46; possibly a second wife?, born in Ohio), Cynthia (17), born in Illinois), Polly (15, born in Illinois), Charles (11, born in Illinois), Edwin (8, born in Minnesota), Fanny (7, born in Illinois), and William Witke (a 19 year old male from New York who is a laborer - possibly farm laborer.) I do not find Fanny and Edwin among the list of children for Elisha Lakin that I have in FTM. Four of the children (Cynthia, Polly, Charles, and Edwin) attended school within the past year. It appears that Elisha, Caroline and William Witke can read and write because column 13 is not checked. Fanny is only seven years old, so she would not under any circumstances be able to read or write. In the 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Elisha Lakin is a 73 year-old white, male farmer with approximately $4,500 in real estate and $1,450 in personal property. He was born in Massachusetts, neither of his parents was foreign born, is a citizen of the United States, is neither deaf, dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, a pauper, nor a convict, and has not been denied the right to vote. Caroline is a 55 year old, white female [perhaps a second wife], born in Ohio, who is keeping house. Her parents are not foreign born; she too is a citizen of the United States, and is neither deaf, dumb, blind, insane, idiotic, a pauper, nor a convict - no women at this time were allowed to vote. The three other members of the household are males from 17-87. They are either retired farmers or farm laborers. Two are from Massachusetts, one from Minnesota. The one from Minnesota is seventeen and had attended school within the year. Otherwise, they share the same characteristics as Elisha Lakin. Yet it is interesting that two of the three men are from Massachusetts. This information could provide a clue as to the origin of Elisha in Massachusetts.

In the 1860 U.S. Federal Census, Elisha Lakin is 62 years old; he is a farmer, the value of his real estate is $1,000 and the value of his personal estate is $1,000, and he was born in Massachusetts. He is living with Caroline (46; a second wife, born in Ohio), Cynthia (17), born in Illinois), Polly (15, born in Illinois), Charles (11, born in Illinois), Edwin (8, born in Minnesota), Fanny (7, born in Illinois), and William Witke (a 19 year old male from New York who is a laborer - possibly farm laborer.) I do not find Fanny and Edwin among the list of children for Elisha Lakin that I have in FTM. They could be the children of Caroline, but I cannot establish that fact. Four of the children (Cynthia, Polly, Charles, and Edwin) attended school within the past year. It appears that Elisha, Caroline and William Witke can read and write because column 13 is not checked. Fanny is only seven years old, so she would not under any circumstances be able to read or write. It is an hypothesis that Elisha Lakin married one of the two following persons: Caroline Halcourt or Mary Caroline Fore who had married A. Collins or Isaiah Collins, respectively. There is no first name on the marriage license. However, the possibility of the last name, Collins, matching with a male in a marriage in Illinois was suggested by Nadine Dingman, genealogist, Webster City, Iowa. But, I have placed the first name in the place of second wife of Elisha Lakin, hypothetically, because I do not know if either of the two women married a Mr. Collins.. [DLL.]

In the 1850 U.S. Federal Census, Lucinda Lakin Kendall Morgan McKowan was listed as the wife of Delatus Morgan; she was a 39 year old, white female, who had been married in the previous year. With her are two of her children by a marriage to William Kendall, Gustavus and Helen Kendall, whose last names are listed as Morgan. Also, she had a son, Franklin with Delatus Morgan. She was born in Pennsylvania. Elizabeth Lakin is also living with the Morgans. It is not clear who Elizabeth Lakin is. She is a forty-three year old female, who, according to the check marks, married within a year and who has attended school within a year. [DM 01.] It is my understanding that that from the Lakin-McKowan marriage there was a daughter, Evaline, my great grandmother [DLL], and a son, possibly named Edward P. McKowan, but he died shortly after he was born. Lucinda may have died as a result of giving birth to this son, but I have no record of this matter. The name on the gravestone in the Homewood Cemetery near Elsworth, Iowa, is Lucinda Kendall, not Lucinda McKowan. My understanding is that both Gustavus and Helen Kendall wanted it so. [This information comes from Nadine Dingman, I believe - DLL] The gravestone picture indicates that she died in 1857 at 36 years of age. While the 1850 census indicates that she was born in 1811, I rather doubt that could be the case since that would have meant that her father was only 14 years of age. So, I am taking the year of 1821 from the 1850 Kane County, Illinois, census of Delatus Morgan as the year of Lucinda's Lakin's birth until other information develops. In the 1856 Iowa State Census, Lucinda Lakin McKowan is a 34 year old, white, married female. She is married to Edward P. McKowan. (The census taker marked the wrong column for marriage.) She was born in Pennsylvania, and has lived in the state of Iowa for only one year. She lives with her husband, Edward, two children from a marriage to William Kendall (Gustavus and Helen Kendall), two children of Edward's marriage to Jane C. Smith (Martha and George McKowan), and two children of Lucinda's marriage to Delatus Morgan (Franklin and L. A. Morgan) in Clear Lake Township, Webster County, Iowa.

Julia Lakin of Maple Park, Kane County, Illinois was born on July 29, 1870, and died at age 96 years old in November 1966.

Charles Lakin of Indiana was born on September 17, 1871, and died at age 91 years old in July 1963.

Otto Lakin of Frankfort, Clinton County, Indiana was born on October 23, 1872, and died at age 100 years old in August 1973.

Frederick Lakin of Vermont was born on December 9, 1872, and died at age 92 years old in January 1965.

Joseph Lakin of Tovey, Christian County, Illinois was born on April 13, 1873, and died at age 94 years old in January 1968.

Nanette Lakin of Illinois was born on June 8, 1874, and died at age 90 years old in November 1964.

Cora M Lakin of Andes, Delaware County, NY was born on November 21, 1874, and died at age 91 years old on May 15, 1966.

Max Lakin of Ohio was born on September 11, 1874, and died at age 88 years old in August 1963.