WILLSON KEAIRNES

Willson KEAIRNES has been a resident of Shelby County since 1851, and therefore can justly lay claim to being one of the pioneers of the county. He was born in Virginia, November 30, 1824, and is the son of Dunlap and Elizabeth (Willson) Keairnes, natives of Virginia, of Irish and Germany ancestry. Willson was about seven years of age when the family removed to Lawrence County, Ohio. There the father died, leaving a wife and five children -- Robinson, Willson, Jane, Eleanor, and Sarah Ann (deceased).

Willson was reared to farm life, and obtained his education in the common schools. About the year 1843 he went to Missouri and spent one year; thence he removed to Illinois and remained there five years, and in 1849 he came to Iowa and settles at Indian Mills, now known as Park's Mills, three mills from Council Bluffs. In the spring of 1851 he removed to Grove Township, Shelby County, and pre emptied a tract of 160 acres in what is now section 28. There he has made numerous valuable improvements, and has one of the finest farms in that part of the country. He has a beautiful residence, and substantial buildings for live-stock and grain. When he settled on this place it was in its primitive state. He chose his farm partly in the prairie and partly in the grove which is known as Keairnes' Grove. When he came to the county there were only fifteen men living within its borders, so it can readily be seen that neighbors were few and far between. Nothing daunted Mr. Keairnes' determination, and he went to work with a will to secure a home for himself. He was almost penniless and had the care of his aged mother and two sisters besides his wife. How well he has succeeded can best be demonstrated by taking a look at his broad acres of finely improved land, well stocked with horses, cattle and hogs. His farm covers 360 acres of land. In the beginning of his residence in the county there were many hardships to endure. The nearest market place was Council Bluffs, fifty miles distant; and no difference whether it was a pound of coffee or a spool of thread, fifty miles must be traveled to obtain it. This journey was made by ox team or horseback. Mr. Keairnes was officially identified with his township as trustee and school director. He affiliates with the Republican party.

He was united in marriage, April 8, 1847, to Sarah Parks, daughter of Elisha Parks. She was a native of Louisiana. Mr. and Mrs. Keairnes are the parents of ten children -- Elizabeth, wife of Amsey Beadle; Orpha J., wife of C. Sparks (both deceased); William H., Harvey R., Mindred W., Juliett, Edwin U., George, Jennetta, wife of Samuel Buckster; Martha, wife of William Hammer. They have also reared four orphan children -- Ida Sparks, May Sparks, Sarah Keairnes, wife of George Rumels, and Mary Keairnes, wife of Thomas Warren. Mrs. Keairnes is a member of the Latter-Day Saints church.

Footnote: Sarah Keairnes married George Runnells

Source: 1889 Biographical History of Shelby County, Iowa, pp. 523,524. Transcribed and submitted by Craig and Nancy Poole - cpoole@unmc.edu