Mary Jane Rowser was 14 years old when she moved to Iowa from
Pennsylvania with her parents. Married in 1849 to Peter Wilson, plow
manufacturer of the firm of Wilson-Bechtel-Shumway, they had 2 children,
Florence G. and Melvin P. Mr. Wilson died in 1852 of cholera. After the
death of Peter, Mary Jane was found in the census for 1860 for Scott
County, city of Davenport, living with her mother, Jane, and her brother
Milton and sister Frances, both of whom were not yet married. Mary
Jane's daughter Florence was 9 and her son Melvin was 7. Two sisters,
Susan and Sarah Barber were also living with the family. They were
school teachers, and probably paid room and board to help provide Jane
and Mary Jane with income.
In 1863 Mary Jane Wilson married Charles L. Seymour, Clinton Co., IA,
pioneer of 1843. He died in 1902. Mary Jane helped Charles raise his
children along with her own. They had several grand children and great
grand children. The Seymours lived on Harts Mill Road in Davenport until
1892, then moved to 819 Fourth Ave. in Clinton, IA.
Hand written notes from Ruth Rowser Jones.

Source: Maggie Holcombe (as posted on Ancestry.com)

Last Modified: 10/09/2004
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