My Genealogy Hound

HORNBY, WM. L., farmer, S. 27; P. O. Denmark; his father, John Hornby, was born in London, England, in 1787, and having lost his father when a child, his mother placed him on board an outward-bound vessel, and he was left by the captain at a foreign port, and when 9 years of age, was taken from the wharf at Havre, France, by the captain of an American vessel, with whom he remained for several years; he followed the sea until 40 years of age, and became commander of a vessel. In the meantime he married, in Lincoln Co., Me.; had one child; lost his wife and married again, and had a family of ten children — Wm. L. was born at Bremen, Lincoln Co., Me., in 1830, and when 7 years of age, his father fearing that his sons (some of whom had attained to manhood’s estate) might choose his profession, left the sea-coast and came to Lee Co., settled where Wm. L. now resides, and remained until his death, in 1856; his wife died three years after coming to Iowa; in 1850, Wm., in company with a brother, joined the tide of emigration to California, taking the overland route; there he remained five years; returned and purchased the home farm, of 210 acres, valued at $40 per acre. The 15th of October, 1856, he married Miss Mercy M. Sackett, daughter of Cass and Henrietta M. Sackett, nee Beach, who came to Lee Co., from Ohio. Mr. Hornby enlisted in the 1st I. V. C., and served until the close of the war; participated at Prairie Grove, Little Rock, and, as cavalry is usually employed, in skirmishing and raiding; they have had two children — Clara F., born July 21, 1857, died Aug. 21, 1864; Mary H., born Nov. 23, 1862. Mr. and Mrs. H. are members of the Congregational Church.