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John Ibbotson, one of the large land-owners of Des Moines county, and extensively engaged in stock-raising in Yellow Springs township, was born Oct. 4, 1847, on the farm where he yet lives, his parents being George and Martha E. (Riggs) Ibbotson.
The father came from Indiana to Iowa in 1841 and from the government secured a claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Yellow Springs township, whereon he lived until his death, which occurred Jan. 19, 1895. Had he lived five months longer he would have reached the ninetieth anniversary of his birth. He was a native of Yorkshire, England, while his wife was born in Kentucky. Her death occurred April 30, 1904, when she was eighty-eight years and eight months of age. Mr. Ibbotson was a devoted member of the Baptist church, and in early life gave his political allegiance to the Whig party, with which he remained until its dissolution, when he became a stanch Republican.
In the family of George and Martha Ibbotson were eight children, namely: Martha; John, of this review; Stephen, of Los Angeles, Cal.; George, who died when forty-one years of age; Lizzie, who died when thirty-nine years of age; Robert who is now living in Washington township; Isaac, who passed away at the age of thirteen months; and Abraham Lincoln, who died at the age of eight years.
John Ibbotson acquired his early education in the district schools of Yellow Springs township, afterwards spending two years as a student in the academy at Kossuth, and one year at Mount Pleasant. He was reared to the occupation of farming, and has always followed that pursuit upon the old family homestead where his birth occurred. He is now the owner of four hundred acres of valuable land, one hundred and sixty acres constituting the southeast corner of Section 19, while two hundred and forty acres lie on Section 30, Yellow Springs township. He feeds all of his grain, and keeps on hand annually, about seventy head of cattle. He also raises a few draft horses each year, and now has upon his place about one hundred and fifty head of hogs. He is well known as a general farmer and stock-raiser, and one whose success is the direct outcome of experience, sound judgment, and unfaltering diligence.
On Dec. 28, 1871, Mr. Ibbottson was married to Miss Mary F. Talbott, a daughter of Aquilla and Emily (Gregory) Talbott, and a native of Yellow Springs township, born April 2, 1848. They have become the parents of nine children: George Aquilla, born in 1872, and died in infancy; Idora, became the wife of August Butler, and after his death married John Stucker, their home being in Yellow Springs township; Edwin, married Olie Casey, and lives on the Martha property; John F., of Oklahoma City; Barbara Ann, Homer L., Leslie, Harry L., and Burton, all at home.
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