My Genealogy Hound

CAPT. J. C. LOUNSBURY, who for more than a quarter of a century was captain of a vessel on the Mississippi River, has been residing in Perry County since 1860. His interests here are centered in township 4, range 1, where he owns three hundred acres of valuable land, which is one of the best managed farms in this part of the state. Mr. Lounsbury was born in Orange County, N. Y., in 1823, and on coming west in 1846, located in Cincinnati. He immediately engaged as mate of a vessel running to New Orleans, and continued to act in that capacity for about ten years, when he was promoted to be captain.

While following the river, our subject had charge of some of the best boats on the Mississippi and was only induced to abandon that line of work on account of the illness of his wife. In 1860, he came to Perry County and purchased a quarter-section of land. The lady whom he married while residing in Cincinnati was Miss Hannah A., daughter of Dr. V. W. and Diantha Leonard. Their marriage occurred September 5, 1850, and to them have been born five children, viz.: Emma, now Mrs. William Fielden, of Washington; J. Edward, who assists his father in carrying on the farm; Lillie, Mrs. George McClelland, of Oklahoma; John C., now residing in Sedalia, Mo., where he is in the employ of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company; and Esther, the wife of Frank Watts, of Du Quoin.

The Lounsbury family originally came from Scotland, where they were well-to-do people. Grandfather Joshua Lounsbury was born and reared in Westchester County, N. Y. During the Revolutionary War, he rendered valiant service to his country as Colonel of his regiment. Our subject is also descended from Revolutionary stock on his mother’s side. The wife of our subject traces her genealogy back to Timothy Stanley, who came from England with the Pilgrims in the “Mayflower.”

Our subject was reared on his father’s farm, where he remained until reaching his sixteenth year. As before stated, he followed the river until the Civil War, when he located on his present beautiful estate and is now engaged in a general farming business. He manages his affairs in such a way as to bring him in a good income and thus ranks among the well-to-do farmers of this locality. Politically, Captain Lounsbury is a stanch Democrat, and socially is an Odd Fellow. With his family he is a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church and is highly respected in the community where he has spent so many years.