William first married Elizabeth Manville on December 16, 1830 in Bloomfield township, Ohio. They had 6 children: Eliza, George Washington, James John, Grove (d.y.), Nicholas Clare and William Wallace. Elizabeth died on August 11, 1852.
William then married Laura Abigail (Thayer) Gilbert, a widow without children, on May 4, 1854 and along with his five children, they came to Iowa in 1855. Between 1855 and 1869 he and Laura had five more children: Norton Henry, Sarah Adah, Eddie Forest (d.y.), Alice Elizabeth and Ellsworth Grant.
William purchased a little over 303 acres of land, in three parcels, from the government in Green Township, Iowa County, Iowa on May 1, 1855. He later owned land in Lime Creek Township, Washington County, Iowa (see photo). In addition to farming, he was also a carpenter. He built a frame house* in Lime Creek Twp that was still standing in June 1976. (see photos)
When he died, his body was returned to Ohio where he is buried in the same cemetery and plot as his first wife, Elizabeth, and his mother, Pamelia. His final resting place is but a few rows away from where his young son Grove, namesake of his father, is buried.
*May 2020 update: The frame house was razed in the late 1970s by then owner David Vittetoe. The land is currently owned by Keith & Sarah McCain and has been turned back into conservation land, though the lower land looks as though it is still farmland.
William first married Elizabeth Manville on December 16, 1830 in Bloomfield township, Ohio. They had 6 children: Eliza, George Washington, James John, Grove (d.y.), Nicholas Clare and William Wallace. Elizabeth died on August 11, 1852.
William then married Laura Abigail (Thayer) Gilbert, a widow without children, on May 4, 1854 and along with his five children, they came to Iowa in 1855. Between 1855 and 1869 he and Laura had five more children: Norton Henry, Sarah Adah, Eddie Forest (d.y.), Alice Elizabeth and Ellsworth Grant.
William purchased a little over 303 acres of land, in three parcels, from the government in Green Township, Iowa County, Iowa on May 1, 1855. He later owned land in Lime Creek Township, Washington County, Iowa (see photo). In addition to farming, he was also a carpenter. He built a frame house* in Lime Creek Twp that was still standing in June 1976. (see photos)
When he died, his body was returned to Ohio where he is buried in the same cemetery and plot as his first wife, Elizabeth, and his mother, Pamelia. His final resting place is but a few rows away from where his young son Grove, namesake of his father, is buried.
*May 2020 update: The frame house was razed in the late 1970s by then owner David Vittetoe. The land is currently owned by Keith & Sarah McCain and has been turned back into conservation land, though the lower land looks as though it is still farmland.
Family Members
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Eliza Messenger Wilson
1832–1906
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George Washington Messenger
1833–1917
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James John Messenger
1836–1924
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Grove Messenger II
1838–1840
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Lieut Nicholas Clare Messenger
1840–1894
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William Wallace Messenger
1843–1912
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Norton Henry Messenger
1855–1936
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Sarah Adah Messenger Helmer
1858–1929
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Edward Forest "Eddie" Messenger
1860–1865
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Alice Elizabeth Messenger Spaulding
1862–1938
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Elsworth Grant Messenger
1869–1953
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Records on Ancestry
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