Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 1096 - 1097

EDWARD McQUOWN was born in Ohio County, Va., July 8, 1850, of which State his mother was also a native, while his father was a Pennsylvanian by birth. The latter, John McQuown by name, was married in early manhood to Miss Rebecca Huey, who became the mother of nine children, of whom Edward was the fourth in order of birth. The paternal grandfather, familiarly known as Maj. James McQuown, was a man prominent in his native State of Virginia, a surveyor by profession and well known along the route of the Pan-Handle Railroad. He spent his last years in West Alexandria, and died at a good old age.

            The mother of our subject was the daughter of Virgil and Ruth (Gilmore) Huey, natives of Virginia, who removed to Peoria County, Ill., about 1850. John McQuown followed carpentering and farming combined until leaving his native State, and upon settling in Illinois, purchased eighty acres in Brimfield Township, Peoria County, of which he was one of the early pioneers. The Huey family, who had come the year before, were located in Brimfield Township, that county. The father of our subject carried on farming there until 1859, then removed to Virginia, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1866. The aged mother is still living, and makes her home with her youngest daughter in Denver, Col.

            Of the children born to John and Rebecca McQuown, nine lived to mature years and seven are now surviving. Edward, of our sketch, in common with his brothers, became familiar with the various employments of farm life, and completed his education in the district schools of Peoria County, Ill. There also he took to himself a wife and helpmate, being married, in October, 1874, to Miss Sarah J. Blundy, who was born in Peoria County, in Sepember, 1853. Mrs. McQ. was the only child of Joseph and Jane (Snacth) Blundy, who were of English birth and parentage. They crossed the Atlantic in 1851, and at once sought their home in the West, locating on a tract of land in Peoria County, where the mother died in 1864, and where the father is still living. Mr. Blundy, after the death of his first wife, contracted a second marriage, with a lady of Peoria County.

            The paternal grandparents of Mrs. McQuown, also natives of England, were worthy and industrious people, and reared a fine family of sons and daughters, who lived to be an honor to those from whom they drew their origin. Among their children their son Joseph was one of the most intelligent and respectable, and performed well his part as a worthy citizen.

            Mr. McQuown remained in Peoria County eleven years after his marriage, and there his three children were born: Alvin Ralph, Aug. 17, 1876: Olive May, July 16, 1878, and Carrie Blanche, Nov. 13, 1881. Our subject has not had very much time to devote to political matters, but upon occasions of general elections casts his vote with the Republican party. He occupies the office of School Director in his district, and has taken an active interest in the Park Association, which was organized for the purpose of laying out and overseeing the ground devoted to a cemetery. This includes ten acres, which the association has caused to be fenced and planted with suitable trees, and which is a most worthy enterprise, as these institutions in the country are too apt to be treated as a secondary matter. Mr. McQuown was formerly Treasurer of the association, and has contributed greatly to the successful carrying out of the enterprises they have on hand. Our subject is not connected with any religious organization, but his estimable wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Sunny Dale.

[ Home ]