David SLOSSON

David SLOSSON

Male 1811 - 1884  (73 years)

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  • Name David SLOSSON  [1
    • During the two years 1858 and 1859, a number of new families located in the Des Moines settlement, among whom were David Slosson, John A. James, Perry Nowlen, Henry and William Jarvis, Ora Harvey, .F. Avery, James Edelman, Hank Brown and John Straight.

      David Slosson, in May 1858, came to Pocahontas county, with a family consisting of his wife, Esther Vaughan, who died in 1875, three sons - Oscar, Orland and Edmond - all of whom were young men, and one daughter, Ann, who became the wife of Eomeyn B. Fish and is still a resident of the county. On his arrival, David Slosson located on section 26, and on September 28, 1858, entered his preemption claim for lots 1 and 2 and the W1/2NE1/4 of that section, containing 158 acres. His eldest son, Oscar Slosson, December 8, 1860, entered as a pre-emption the SE1/4 Sec. 24, 160 acres, same township, and received the patent for it June 1, 1861; and Orlando, the second son, on January 18 1868, entered as a homestead the NW1/2 Sec. 26, 160 acres, same township and received the patent for it September 1, 1869.

      David Slosson was the son of David and Esther (Vaughan) Slosson, his father being of Welsh and his mother of English descent. He was a native of Vermont, where he was born march 11, 1811, near Grand Isle. He received a good common school education, and when quite young moved to New York state, where he learned the shoemakers' trade.

      At twenty he married Rachel Vaughan, a cousin, and during the next five years worked at his trade during the winter and on the farm during the summer. He then moved to Summit count, Ohio - later to Clinton County, New York, and in 1846 returned to Summit county, Ohio. The next move was to Michigan, and in 1852 he came to Clinton county, Iowa, where he remained until the time of settlement in this county in 1858.

      His next move was to Washington Territory, where his three sons - Oscar married to Julia Towslee, Orlando married to Harriet Halstead and Edmond married to Ellen Savage - still reside. He died there June 30, 1884. His daughter, Mrs. R.B. Fish, resides at Rolfe.

      At the time of the organization of this county, David Slosson had the honor to be chosen the first County Judge and served in that capacity from march 21st, the day he qualified, to Dec. 31, 1859. the duties devolving upon this officer were those that are now performed by the Board of County Supervisors. As there was no public building in the county his cabin, which was somewhat central in the Des Moines settlement, became the seat of government for the county, and the public records were kept there until the erection of the first court house, in the fall of 1860.

      His administration of the affairs of this county, though limited to a period less than one year, was unusually eventful and has been rendered memorable by thee important contracts that were concluded by him in behalf of the county. These contracts related to the erection of the first court house at Old Rolfe, the construction of the first bridge over the Des Moines river and the special survey of the swamp lands of the county that they might be given in payment for the public building and bridge.

      The following item from the record is of interest as showing the salary of the Judge and his systematic method of keeping the record:

      STATE OF IOWA
      Pocahontas Co.,
      County Court
      July 9, A.D. 1859

      On this day, I, David Slosson,County Judge of said county, drew a warrant for $12.50 for one (the first) quarter's salary fee.

      David Slosson
      County Judge

      The law creating the Board of County Supervisors was enacted in 1860, and in 1861 he had the honor to serve as a member of the first Board of County Supervisors. He also served on his Board during the years 1863 to '67, 1870 to '71 and 1874 to '79, making a period of nearly thirteen years that he served in this capacity, the longest of any inucmbent in that office. [1]
    Birth 11 Mar 1811  Near Grand Isle, Vermont Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Census 1856  Living in Elk, Clayton Co., Iowa Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Occupation 1856  Shoemaker Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Census 1860  Living in O\'Brien, Wright Co., Iowa Find all individuals with events at this location  [3
    Census 1870  Living in Des Moines, Pocahontas Co., Iowa Find all individuals with events at this location  [4
    Census 1880  Living with daughter Ann Fish, in Des Moines, Pocahontas Co., Iowa Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Death 30 Jun 1884  La Conner, Skagit Co., Washington Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 6
    Burial Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, La Conner, Skagit Co., Washington Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    Person ID I85681  Main Tree
    Last Modified 4 Jun 2018 

    Father David SLOSSON,   b. Abt 1772, Bennington, Bennington, Vermont, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 17 Aug 1855, Grand Isle, Vermont, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 83 years) 
    Relationship Birth 
    Mother Esther VAUGHN,   b. Abt Feb 1774   d. 19 Aug 1849, Grand Isle, Vermont, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 75 years) 
    Relationship Birth 
    Marriage South Hero, Grand Isle, Vermont, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Family ID F02046  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Rachael VAUGHAN,   b. 21 Aug 1810, New York Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 27 Nov 1875, Iowa Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 65 years) 
    Children 
    +1. Oscar SLOSSON,   b. 20 Feb 1833, Clinton County, New York Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 6 May 1903, La Conner, Skagit Co., Washington Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 70 years)  [Birth]
    +2. Orlando Simeon SLOSSON,   b. 2 Feb 1840, New York Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 13 Jun 1917, Tacoma, Skagit Co., Washington Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 77 years)  [Birth]
    +3. Ann E. SLOSSON,   b. 2 Sep 1846, Chazy, Clinton Co., New York Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 20 Nov 1918, Grandview, Yakima Co., Washington Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 72 years)  [Birth]
    +4. Edmund David SLOSSON,   b. 6 May 1849, Michigan Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 23 Oct 1930, College Place, Walla Walla Co., Washington Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 81 years)  [Birth]
    Family ID F37866  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 6 Jun 2018 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1856 - Living in Elk, Clayton Co., Iowa Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1860 - Living in O\'Brien, Wright Co., Iowa Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1870 - Living in Des Moines, Pocahontas Co., Iowa Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1880 - Living with daughter Ann Fish, in Des Moines, Pocahontas Co., Iowa Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 30 Jun 1884 - La Conner, Skagit Co., Washington Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - - Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, La Conner, Skagit Co., Washington Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 

  • Headstones
    David Slosson Headstone
    David Slosson Headstone
    David, the son of David Slosson and Esther Vaughan, is the husband of Rachel Vaughan. He is buried in the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in La Conner, Skagit Co., Washington.

    Created by: Anonymous
    Photo added by: Jean G

  • Sources 
    1. [S9534] The Pioneer History of Pocahontas County, Iowa.

    2. [S9537] 1856 Census Elk, Clayton County, Iowa.

    3. [S9538] 1860 Census O'Brien, Wright County, Iowa.

    4. [S9539] 1870 Census Des Moines, Pocahontas County, Iowa.

    5. [S9540] 1880 Census Des Moines, Pocahontas County, Iowa.

    6. [S02329] Find A Grave Website.

    7. [S03338] Slosson 11-20-00 Greene.FTW.
      Date of Import: Jan 6, 2001