Person:George Logan (8)

MR. and MRS. GEORGE LOGAN, PIONEERS WILL CELEBRATE THEIR 60TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY AT HOME NEXT TUESDAY

Sixty years ago, March 8, 1867, two years after the Civil War had ended and the North and South were working for reconstruction of war districts, two happy young folks skipped away from home and at a small wooden church located in the country near the Warren County, Illinois, line were married. Tuesday, Mr. and Mrs. George R. Logan 1019 Reed Street, will celebrate the occasion of their sixtieth wedding anniversary by inviting friends and relatives to their home during the afternoon from 2 until 4 o'clock. Despite her age Mrs. Logan husstles about the house preparing a "thousand and one" things for the occasion. The celebration was planned as an "open house", but due to the fraility of Mr. Logan, it was thought best to refine the party to an invited group. Old soldiers of Red Oak were extended a special invitation to be present with their wives.

OLDEST PIONEERS
Mr. and Mrs. Logan are two of the oldest pioneers in Red Oak. After two years on a farm in Warren County, Illinois, where the parents of the couple lived, Mr. Logan was induced to come to Iowa by an uncle of Mrs. Logan's, Robert Gibson. who lived here. Mr. Logan left his wife with the parents and with his cattle, horses and implements started the overland trip. He arrived here without unusual mishap and settled on a farm northeast of here near what is now Pilot Grove. A year later Mrs. Logan followed him coming on the first passenger train to go through here. This event turned the day into a celebration and the couple have many happy recollections of that event. "There was a saloon on every corner and a few in between," said Mr. Logan "and these places were kept busy on this day. This coming of the railroad was an event that was long looked for and was celebrated in what was thought a fitting manner. This day was the day before Thanksgiving, November 1869"

AT SAME PLACE 49 YEARS
After living on the farm near Pilot Grove for seven years the couple moved to Red Oak, and have lived at the same location for the last forty-nine years. It was here that three of a family of six children were born. At the time this home was purchased the couple could stand on the east hill and count the houses in Red Oak. There was only one house between here and Frankfort at that time - and a cornfield extended down into town as far as Eighth Street. Telephones were unthought of and transportation between towns was a long and arduous affair.

HE WAS SHERIFF
Mr. Logan was sheriff of Montgomery County for six years, from 1890 to 1896, and during that time his work caused him to do a great deal of traveling over the county. He used a team and at times he left his home early in the morning and did not return until late at night. His work was heaviest during court sessions when witnesses had to be served with papers. A trip to Grant took a full day and when several persons in far parts of the county were wanted he was kept away from home for several days.

Mrs. Logan is a member of the Women's Relief Corps and is an active member of the Baptist Church, and Mr. Logan is a member of the G.A.R. and attends the United Presbyterian Church. He enlisted in the Union Army in 1861 for three years and, at the end of that time, re-enlisted for the duration of the war. He was mustered out at Springfield, Illinois, and went back to Warren County where he took up farming.

YOUNG PEOPLE OKAY
Keeping abreast of the times, "The present generation is wonderful," said Mrs. Logan. "It has so much we didn't have in the olden days, and it is accomplishing so much every day. We did have good times back in the early days when Red Oak had just begun. Quilting, sewing bees, barn warmings were all a part of the fun then. Many times we had all-night parties and got home just in time to change our clothes and get back to work."

The family consists of five boys and a girl, all of whom are married. They are
- Truman O. Logan of Hope, Kansas;
- Guy E. Logan of Des Moines;
- J.E. Logan, Red Oak's Assistant Postmaster,
- George R. Logan of Des Moines;
- Mamie Dodds of Red Oak;
- Paul P. Logan who is a captain in the United States army is now stationed in the Panama Canal Zone.

Three of the sons held positions of rank in the army, four of them were in active service in the world war and the other is the father of a world war veteran. Guy E.Logan was a United States Army General; George Ray Logan was a Colonel; and Paul P. Logan is at present a Captain. Mr. and Mrs. Logan are expecting all of the children with the possible exception of Paul who is so far away. Mr. Logan is 85 and Mrs. Logan 77 years old.

GEORGE RANKIN LOGAN -- CIVIL WAR VET -- DIED WEDNESDAY
Had resided in this city 59 years and pioneered the way for others.

George R. Logan, Civil War veteran and hightly respected citizen of Red Oak, died yesterday at his home, 1019 Reed Street, his death resulting from complications due to his advanced age. Mr. Logan had been ill and in feeble health for the past eight months. George Rankin Logan, a son of Mr. and Mrs. James Logan, was born in Springhill, IN, May 7th, 1842, and had he lived until May he would have celebrated his 86th birthday. He was united in marriage to Lucy Caroline Gibson at Gerlock, Il, on March 8th, 1867. they made their home in Illinois for two years, then cam to Red Oak in 1869. For several years they made their home in the Red Oak vicinity. Since leaving the farm Mr. and Mrs. Logan have resided in Red Oak. Mr. and Mrs. Logan were the parents of the following children, who with Mrs. Logan survive him.
- Truman O. Logan, of Hope, Kansas;
- Guy E. Logan of Des Moines;
- J. Ed Logan and
- Mrs Mamie Dodds of Red Oak and
- Paul Logan, now in the Panama Canal Zone.

George Logan served in the war from 1860-1864. He was a member of Company I, 50th Regiment of Illinois. He enlisted at Monmouth and served under General Sherman and was with him in his famous march to the sea. He was mustered out of service and given his honorable discharge at Springfield. After the close of the war he went back to Warren County, where he took up farming . Mr Logan was induced to come west by an uncle of Mrs. Logan's, Robert Gibson, who lived here. Mr Logan with his cattle, horses and implements started the overland trip. He arrived here without unusual mishap and settled on a farm northeast of here, near what is now Pilot Grove. A year later Mrs. Logan joined her husband and came to Red Oak on the first passenger train.

Mr. and Mr. Logan celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniverasary last March. They were numbered among the pioneers of Red Oak. Mr. and Mrs. Logan have lived at the same location in Red Oak for forty-nine years. At the time the home was purchased the couple could stand on east hill and count the houses in Red Oak. There was only one house between here and Frankfort at that time -- and a cornfield extended down into town as far as Eighth Street. George Logan served as town marshal in Red Oak in early days, he served as deputy sheriff and was sheriff of Montgomery County for six years, from 1890 to 1896. He was first captain of Company K in Red Oak. He was a member of the G.A.R. and of the United Presbyterian Church. Three of Mr. Logan's sons have held position of rank in the army, four of them have seen active service.

Funeral services will be in charge of Rev. T.S. Kesterson and Rev. D. Nicol, but at this time funeral arrangements have not been completed pending the arrival of relatives. Four sons, Truman, Guy E. J.Ed and George R. Jr. will serve as pallbearers and Charles H. Murphy and Russell Norcross. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Mr Logan's death removes one of Red Oak's grand old men whose familiar figure will be missed from the ranks of Montgomery County's pioneers.

Year: 1850; Census Place: Fugit, Decatur, Indiana; Roll: M432_142; Page: 79B; Image: 165
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Family Number Surname Given Name Age Birth Year Race Gender Birth Place
281 Logan James H 29 1821 Male Illinois
281 Logan Rhoda M 28 1822 Female Indiana
281 Logan George R 7 1843 Male Indiana
281 Logan Nancy R 5 1845 Female Indiana