Cynthia Ann McDowell LaForce

My maternal 2nd great Aunt

Cynthia Ann, daughter of Nancy Estes and Garrett McDowell was born January 24, 1834 in Fountain County, Indiana. Her parents were married in St. Clair County, Illinois on January 27th, 1830. There was time enough for her to have an older sibling, and the 1840 census suggests she had an older sister who was no longer living with the family in 1850 either by death or perhaps marriage.

A land patent dated June 6, 1932 shows her parents owned 80 acres of land in W½ of the NE¼ of section 27, Township 18 north, Range 7 west, Fountain County, Indiana. Fountain County lies in the western part of Indiana on the east side of the Wabash River. The county seat is Covington.

Based on the birth locations of Cynthia's siblings, sometime in late 1838 the family moved to Polk county, Missouri; Cynthia would have been about 4 years old. Polk County is located in Southwest Missouri. In the 1840 census, her family is listed in Polk county. There were 7 people  (no slaves) living in the Garret McDowell household. Her father was employed in agriculture.
                                          M   F

      Under 5:                   2    1   John 2, Vincent 1, Christina 4

      5 thru 9:                    -    2   Cynthia 5, unknown older sister

      20 thru 29:               -    1   Nancy

      30 thru 39:              1    -   Garrett

In 1841 Dallas county, Missouri was created from Polk county. The McDowell family's land was located in the new county. Land patent records credit Garrett McDowell with the following properties:

     4/10/1843 40 acres NW¼NW¼ section 15 33N - 20W Dallas

     10/1/1845 40 acres NE¼NW¼ section 15 33N - 20W Dallas

      8/3/1848 80 acres E½NE¼  section 32 34N - 19W Dallas

Around 1847 the family moved to Mahaska county, Iowa. Cynthia would have been about 12 years old. Mahaska County was formed on February 17, 1843. The county was the first in Iowa to have a sheriff and a justice of peace. The first courthouse was completed in January, 1846. The first school, a small log cabin one-half mile east of Oskaloosa, was opened on September 16, 1844. It is likely that Cynthia and her siblings attended this school. Land patent records credit Garrett McDowell with the following properties in Mahaska County:

     10/1/1848 160 acres NE¼ section 10 74N - 16W Mahaska

     12/4/1848 160 acres SE¼ section  8 74N - 16W Mahaska

When the 1850 census was taken, Cynthia and her family were living in Mahaska county, Iowa. Her father Garrett was farming his 400 plus acre farm which had a cash value of $1200. According to the agricultural schedule, 55 acres were improved and 350 were unimproved. He owned farm equipment worth $ 70. The livestock which were valued at $ 270 included 2 horses, 3 milk cows, 2 working oxen, 6 other cattle, 9 sheep, and 30 swine. In the previous year his cash crops valued at $ 50 included 70 bushels of wheat, 600 bushels of coarn, 15 bushels of oats, 25 bushels of potatoe, 45 lbs. of wool, and 100 lbs. of butter. The household members with age and place of birth were listed as follows:

      Garrett McDowel            40  KY   

      Nancy McDowel              38   IL

      Cyntha McDowel             15  IN

      Christina McDowel          15  IN

      John McDowel                 12  IN

      Vincent McDowel             8   MO

      Tobitha McDowel             8   MO

      Nancy A McDowel            1   MO

      Catherine Scott                75 unk

      James Wortman               7  IA

In 1851 an special Iowa state census was taken of  13 counties. The Garrett McDowell household of 9 people was listed in Mahaska County. Cynthia was probably one of the 9 inhabitants.

Sometime between 1851 and 1854, her parents moved to Jasper County, Iowa. Her mother Nancy was listed on a special Iowa census taken of Jasper County. Her father is said to have died in 1855, but as her mother was listed as head of the household, the date of her father's death may be in error.

      Nancy McDowel  5 people, 1 male, 4 female (Nancy, Christina, Vincent, Tabitha, & Nancy)

A Find A Grave memorial suggests Cynthia married a Thomas Jefferson LaForce sometime between 1850 and 1856. In 1856, the LaForce household was living near Oskaloosa in Mahaska County, Iowa. The 2 person household was listed as follows:

      Thomas J Laforce 26 KY resident of Iowa 2 years,  teamster, voter, militia

      Cynthia Laforce    22 IN  resident of Iowa 9 years

Cynthia's mother and siblings were listed in the 1856 census in Mahaska County. Her mother Nancy, a widow and 9 year resident of Iowa, was a property owner whose farm included 15 improved and 218 unimproved acres of land. Her crops included 3 acres of spring wheat which yielded 16 bushels, 5 acres of oats whose yeild was listed as low, 15 acres of corn which yeilded 100 bushels, 150 lbs. of butter and 13 lbs. of wool.

      Nancy McDowel              38   IL

      Vincent McDowel            17   MO

      Tobitha McDowel            15   MO

      Nancy A McDowel            7    IA

Cynthia's mother and siblings were listed in the 1856 census in Mahaska County. Her mother Nancy, a widow and 9 year resident of Iowa, was a property owner whose farm included 15 improved and 218 unimproved acres of land. Her crops included 3 acres of spring wheat which yielded 16 bushels, 5 acres of oats whose yeild was listed as low, 15 acres of corn which yeilded 100 bushels, 150 lbs. of butter and 13 lbs. of wool.

Kansas became a territory of the United States in 1854. In 1857 Federal land sales began and immigrants including the LaForce family flocked to the area. This date is based on the birth locations of Cynthia LaForce's 2 sons, William born around 1856 in Iowa and Thomas born around 1857 in Kansas. When the 1860 census was taken the LaForce family was living in Ozawkie, Jefferson, Kansas Territory. 

      Thomas Laforce      30 KY a farm laborer with $ 0 real estate & $100 personal estate

      Cynthia Laforce       25 IN

      William Laforce          4 IA

      Thomas Laforce         3 KS

Kansas became a territory of the United States in 1854. In 1857 Federal land sales began and immigrants including the LaForce family flocked to the area. This date is based on the birth locations of Cynthia LaForce's 2 sons, William born around 1856 in Iowa and Thomas born around 1857 in Kansas. When the 1860 census was taken in July 1860, the LaForce family was living in Ozawkie, Jefferson, Kansas Territory. 

According to the Find A Grave memorial for Cynthia McDowell LaForce, Cynthia died on May 19th, 1861 and was buried in Bluff Creek Cemetery in Eddyville, Iowa. This leads me to believe the family had returned to Iowa sometime July 1860 and May 1861. According to the History of Ozawkie on the City of Ozawkie's webpage, in 1860 a great drought plagued the area. Perhaps this drought caused the LaForce family to return to Iowa. Cynthia was 27 years old.

After her death, Thomas married a second time on 9 April 1863 to Mary A. Olney [Williams] a widow with a 2 year old daughter named Anna Louisa Williams. Mary married a third time on November 8, 1868 in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Unless the marriage was disolved, it appears that Thomas died before November 1868 most likely in Iowa. There appears to be no children from this union. 

It is unknown what happened to the children of Thomas and Cynthia. 

Scienda Black McGuire

My maternal 2nd great Aunt

Scienda is my maternal 2nd great aunt. According to her tombstone, Scienda was born on January 3, 1847. The 1860 census states she was born in Wabash, Illinois. Her parents were John and Catherine Black. John was the son of James Black and Ruth Conely. Catherine was probably the daughter of Verlanda Cannon and John Gray.

In 1850 census, her family was listed as family 102 in Wabash, Illinois. Her father John age 33, was listed as a farmer with $200 worth of real estate. Her mother was listed as Catherine age 35 born in Pennsylvania. She was the second of 3 children living in the household. James age 6, "Cicnda" age 3 and my 2nd great grandmother Mary (Knowles).

     John Black           33 m  Ohio

     Catharine Black     35 f   PA

     James Black          6 m   IL

     Cicnda Black         3 f    IL

     Mary Black           1 f    IL

Scienda's mother, Catherine, probably died between 1850 and 1854. When the 1860 census was taken, her father was married to Elizabeth (perhaps Gray) who was a native of Wabash. John and Elizabeth had 4 children, all born before 1860. Scienda's eldest sibling of this union was John (aka Jehu) who was born in August 1855.

At the time of the census, Scienda was not living with her father, she was living nearby in Wabash county, Illinois at the home of Verlinda Gray who is most likely her maternal grandmother. in Coffee precinct of. The Post office is listed as Rochester Mills. They are listed as family 1141. List as family 1139 is her father; family 1140 is Daniel Gray (son of Verlanda).

     Verlinda Gray   60 f KY

     Sianda Black     14 f Wabash, IL

     John Black           43    Ohio

     Elizabeth Black    33   Wabash

     James Black        16    Wabash

     Mary Black          11   Wabash

     John Black            5    Wabash

     Susan Black          3    Wabash

     William B Black    1    Wabash

     Jessee Black         3 m Wabash

Scienda's father, John, probably died between 1860 and 1870. When the 1870 census was taken, her step mother Elizabeth was listed as the head of the family. All 4 children of her half siblings were living with her step mother. Scienda's youngest sibling of this union was Jersey who was born in March 1860.

In 1870 census, Scienda was living with her Mary and Jesse Knowles, her sister and brother-in-law in Coffee precinct of Wabash county, Illinois. The Post office is listed as Rochester Mills. They are listed as family 123. Jesse (my 2nd Great Grandfather) was listed as a farmer with $3000 real estate and $ 900 personal property. Only William Gobel a farm laborer was marked as unable to write. Her step mother Elizabeth and her half siblings were living in the Coffee precinct of Wabash County. Her brother James was listed in the James Knowles household in Coffee precinct; James was the brother of Jesse Knowles.

     Jesse Knowles      25 m IL

     Lucinda Knowles  23  f  IL (transcription error by enumerator - Jesse's wife was named Mary)

     Sienda Black         21 f  IL

     William Gobel       23 m IL

     Elizabeth Black       39 f IL  keeping house

     John Black              17 m IL farm laborer

     Susan Black            14 f IL

     Beauchamp Black  11 m IL

     Jersey Black            6 f IL

     James Knowles      37 m IN farmer  

     Mary Knowles       34 f IL  keeping house

     William Knowles   12 m IL

     Susan Knowles     10 f IL

     Ephraim Knowles   8 m IL

     Cynthia Knowles    2 f IL

     James Black            25 m IL

Traveling by covered wagon, in 1873 Scienda's sister and brother-in-law moved to Spring Valley, Colorado The property was located in Douglas County. The closest post office was in Greenland. It is likely that Scienda moved west with Mary and Jesse.

While living in Spring Valley she married Thomas Perry McGuire. They were married on March 12, 1876 by Rev J.L. Dyer at the McGuire home. The witnesses were her sister and brother-in-law Mary and Jesse Knowles.

When the 1880 census was taken, 33 year old Scienda (born in Illinois, father in Ohio, mother in Kentucky) was living in Douglas County with her 50-year-old husband Thomas McGuire who was born in Ohio. Living next door were her sister and brother-in-law Mary & Jesse Knowles. Also enumerated on the same page were the Moses Gray and John Gray families who may have been related to Scienda and her sister Mary. Her step mother and half siblings remained behind and were enumerated in Coffee precinct of Wabash county.

       Thomas McGuire    50   M IN  self               Farmer

       Scienda McGuire    33   F  IL   wife             Keeping house

       Jessee Knowles      37   M IN  self               Farmer

       Mary Knowles       30   F   IL   wife             Keeping house

       William Knowles    10   M IL   son               Farm Laborer

       John Knowles          6   M CO son

       Maranda Knowles   2    F  CO daughter

       Jane Storm             16   F  IL   servant         Servant

       Elizabeth Black        52    F  IL head            Keeping house

       Jehn Black               26   M IL  son              Farming

       Jersey Black            20    F  IL daughter      At home

       Susan Page              23    F  IL daughter      At home

       Jeremiah Page          21   M IL  son-in-law  Works on Farm

On April 26, 1883 Scienda gave birth to her only child, John Perry McGuire. John was born in Spring Valley. When the 1885 Colorado state census was taken, 38 year old Scienda (born in Illinois, father  in Ohio, mother in Kentucky) was living in Douglas County, Colorado with her husband 50-year-old Thomas McGuire a farmer born in Ohio, and her son John P age 2. Living nearby were her sister and brother in law Mary & Jesse Knowles.

     Thos P McGuire           53 m  IL  IL  IL
     Scienda McGuire           3  f   IL  IL  IL

     John P McGuire            2 m   IL  IL  IL

Sometime between 1885 and 1893 the McGuire family moved to Grand Junction in Mesa County, Colorado. In May 1893 Scienda and her son John returned to Douglas County to visit her sister Mary. Their visit was documented in the Castle Rock Journal.

In 1900 census, 53 year old Scienda (born in Illinois, father in Ohio, mother in Kentucky) was living in Grand Junction, Mesa County, Colorado with her husband 70-year-old Thomas McGuire who was born in Ohio. She and her husband had been married 24 years. Scienda had given birth to 1 child who was still living. They were living in a rental home.  All were literate.

     Thomas P McGuire      70 m Dec 1829 OH  OH  OH  Carpenter

     Scienda McGuire          53 f   Jan 1847  IL    OH  KY  Seamstress

     John P McGuire           17 m  Apr 1883 CO  OH  IL    At school

In 1910 census, 63 year old Scienda (born in Illinois, father in Ohio, mother in Kentucky) was living in Grand Junction with her husband 80-year-old Thomas McGuire who was born in Ohio. She and her husband had been married 34 years, it was the first marriage for both of them. Scienda had given birth to 1 child who was still living. They were living in a rental home located at 615 4th street.  Her son  John had attended school during the previous year. All three of the McGuires were literate.

     Thos P McGuire         80 m OH  US  US   Retired farmer

     Scienda McGuire        63  f   IL  OH  KY   none

     John P McGuire          27 m  CO  OH  IL  Electrical Engineer

Sometime between 1910 and 1917 Scienda's son John began working for GE in Schenectady, New York as an Erection Engineer. While working for GE, he obtained a passport in order to install equipment at a sugar mill in Cuba. He also registered as required for the WWI draft.

On January 31, 1916 Scienda's husband Tom passed away. They had been married just short of 40 years. Tom was buried in Orchard Mesa Cemetery in Grand Junction.  The picture of his tombstone is courtesy of his Find a grave memorial.

Several entries were found in the Grand Junction City directories for Scienda and her husband Thomas. The 1916 city directory for Grand Junction shows the couple were living at 744 Chipeta Ave at the time of Tom's death. Scienda appears to have remained at that residence for the rest of her life.

     1916    McGuire, Thomas P (Scienda) r 744 Chipeta Ave

     1918    McGuire, Scienda (wid Thos P) r 744 Chipeta Ave

     1922    McGuire, Scienda (wid Thos P) h 744 Chipeta Ave

     1924    McGuire, Scienda (wid Thos P) h 744 Chipeta Ave

In 1920 census, shows that 73 year old Scienda a widow born in Illinois, father in Ohio, mother in Kentucky, was living at 744 Chipeta Ave in Grand Junction. The census indicates that Scienda owned the home free of a mortgage. She was the sole occupant of her home at that time. Her son John Perry was living in Schenectady, New York with a wife Mary and their newborn daughter Ruth.

     Scienda McGuire         73 f   IL  OH  KY   none

     John P McGuire           36    m  CO OH   IL   Elect Eng

     Mary C McGuire         32     f   MI   MI  MI  Physician

     Ruth M McGuire         3 mo f   NY  CO  MI

Scienda died on August 10th, 1925 at the age of 77. She was buried in Orchard Mesa Cemetery in Grand Junction Colorado.  The picture of her tombstone is courtesy of her Find a grave memorial. She was survived by her son and daughter-in-law John and Mary McGuire and 3 grand children Ruth, John Thomas and William J McGuire.