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Below is a family biography included in History of Lee County, Iowa published by Western Historical Company in 1879.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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NEWTON, MARTHA, farmer, Sec. 25; P. O. Denmark; a granddaughter of Stephen Foster, who was born in Rhode Island, where he married Sarah Gallup; soon after their marriage they settled at Sharon, Windsor Co., Vt.; had six sons and three daughters, among whom was Joseph Foster, the father of Mrs. Newton; he was born at Sharon, where he married Miss Lucretia Ballard, who was born at Munson, Mass., in 1776; had two sons and two daughters; Mrs. Newton, the youngest of the daughters, and the only one of the family now living; she was born at Sharon, Vt., in 1812; at the age of 5 years she lost her father, and, at 12 years of age, was put out to service which she continued until 25 years of age, when, in company with Calvin Newton and family and Deacon Burton, she came to Lee Co., the party coming the entire distance from Vermont in wagons, and after a journey of eight weeks, arrived in Denmark Tp., on Thursday, the 10th of July, 1837; on the following Sabbath (July 13), she was married to Daniel Newton, at the cabin of Esquire Ross, in Washington Tp.; her husband was a native of Windsor Co., Vt., where he was born in 1813; at the age of 21, he emigrated to Ohio; in the spring of 1835, came to Lee Co., and bought the claim upon which Mrs. Newton now lives. Mrs. Newton relates that her first broom was made of hazel brush and their first cradle from a black-walnut log, which was cut to a suitable length and split or rived into suitable pieces: at two different times, for a period of three months, she did not see the face of a woman; for six weeks after they commenced to keep house, they pounded corn for bread, and twice, for a week at each time, they had no bread in their house they managed to live, however, and in February, 1842, while absent from home, their cabin took fire and was entirely consumed, with everything in it; the neighbors contributed clothing, bedding, etc., and helped them to another start; March 29, 1859, her husband died, leaving an estate of 290 acres of land, which is now valued at $45 per acre. They had five children, two now living; Laura, the eldest, born in 1838, is the wife of I. C. Little; Mary was born in 1842, and is the wife of William Barnes.

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This family biography is one of 668 biographies included in The History of Lee County, Iowa published in 1879.  For the complete description, click here: Lee County, Iowa History and Genealogy

View additional Lee County, Iowa family biographies: Lee County, Iowa Biographies

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