The people of Denver township, Richland county, Illinois, point to Daniel
C. Genoway as one of their most valued citizens, admiring him for his high
moral character, for his life among them for more than a half century may
well be likened unto an open book. That they place implicit confidence in
him is evidenced by the fact that they have elected him to several township
offices, the duties of which he discharged with credit. He made his advent
into the world in the pioneer days, and spent his boyhood days upon the
farm.
Mr. Genoway was born in Clermont county, Ohio, September 7,
1831, and in his early "teens" left the farm to become an apprentice to a
carpenter. He also learned the cooper's trade, but did not work at it for a
great length of time. The father of the subject was Joseph Genoway. His
mother's maiden name was Rebecca Crumbaugh, born in Ohio in 1799. The
paternal grandfather of the subject, Joseph Genoway, came from his native
France, as one of General LaFayette's soldiers to aid the America colonists
in the Revolutionary war. Liking the country, he remained here becoming a
citizen of the young republic, and finally settling in Connecticut. Mr.
Genoway's maternal grandfather, Jacob Crumbaugh, emigrated from Germany to
this country, settling in Kentucky, and a few years later was married to
Mary Baker, of Maryland, whose ancestors were from Germany.
The
subject came to what is now Denver township, Richland county, in 1855, and
worked industriously at his trade, building many dwellings and barns. He and
Philip Heltman, well known in this locality, were engaged in building a barn
in Jasper county during the days of the Civil war, when a recruiting officer
happened to pass, and descending from the roof Mr. Heltman enlisted on the
spot. Mr. Genoway was married to Ruth McGuire in January, 1861. Their
children were Charles Vanlandingham, born October 27, 1862; Peter Elmer,
born February 11, 1865. The first named was educated for the medical
profession, and after some local practice being anxious to advance, studied
medicine in New York City, Vienna, Austria and Rome. He is now an eminent
physician in Spokane, Washington. He has a wife and three children. Peter
Elmer was educated at Olney, and is now a professional teacher. He holds a
high official position in the Ben Hur fraternity. He married Miss Eva
McLain, and has two children. Some time after the birth of these children
the wife of the subject died, and on March 7, 1869, he espoused Martha
Washburn. His second wife was born in Denver township, February 22, 1851,
and was the daughter of Henry and Eleanor (Gard) Washburn. Her paternal
grandparents were Willis and Nancy (Allender) Washburn, born respectively in
1799 and 1801. Her uncle, Joseph Washburn, was a soldier in Wilders' famous
brigade, as was her uncle, James Washburn, who died in the army hospital at
New Albany, Indiana. Her ancestors were generally members of the Baptist
faith. The subject and his wife had six children: Harry E. was born February
9, 1870. He has traveled extensively, but is now at home with his parents;
Rebecca E., born November 11, 1871, died the same year; John H., born March
5, 1873, married to Florence Watts in 1894, and lives near Fredricktown,
Missouri, being a miner; Lemuel T., born September 6, 1874, served in the
Spanish war and died October 19, 1904; Lillie M., born February 2, 1877, now
the wife of Clifton O. Walker, of Piatt county, with three children, Fern,
Martha and Delbert; George Andrew Louis, born November 7, 1883, married
December 24, 1905, to Bertha Cook, was in the regular army as telegrapher in
Alaska for three years, and received from the government one hundred and
sixty acres of land near Wendt, South Dakota, where he is now operator and
express agent, and where he owns in addition to government land a tract of
equal size which he purchased.
The father of the wife of the subject,
Henry R. Washburn, is still an active man at the age of eighty-three years,
and lives in Piatt county, Illinois. He was twice married and the fruit of
each union was nine children. When he first came to Illinois he worked for
fifty cents a day, and through his own efforts acquired a farm of two
hundred acres. Mr. and Mrs. Genoway are known as very charitable people, and
they are now raising two little girls, who were left homeless, Frances
Steward and Cora Cagel. The former was taken into the home when eleven years
old, and the latter when two years old.
Extracted 26 Apr 2017 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 257-259.
| Jasper | Crawford | |
| Clay |
 |
Lawrence |
| Wayne | Edwards | Wabash |
