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Henry C. Childs

Henry C. Childs, deceased, is numbered among the early settlers of Fayette County. He was born in Madrid, N. Y., in 1824, and was a son of Zerah Childs. The family is of Scotch descent and was probably established in America at a very early day. The subject of this sketch received such educational advantages as the common schools of that day afforded and in his native State was reared to manhood. In Stockholm, N. Y., in 1847, he was joined in wedlock with Miss Charlotte E. Cole, daughter of Horace and Delinda Cole. The lady was born in Stockholm in 1829, and there resided until her marriage. The young couple began their domestic life in New York, from whence they removed to Morrison, Whiteside county, Ill., where he resided until 1859, when with his family he crossed the Mississippi into Iowa, locating in Fayette. There were five children born unto Mr. and Mrs. Childs, three of whom are living - Simon Z. was married, removed to Nebraska, and died in that State in February, 1888; Amanda died in childhood; and Henry Carroll is engaged in the boot and shoe business at Fayette and his sketch is given elsewhere in this work; Sidney M. is married and resides in Kearney, Neb.; and Charlotte is the wife of Lee Wilbur, who also resides in Kearney, Neb.

Mr. Childs died at his home in Fayette, on the 9th of December, 1869. He was a Democrat in politics and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Childs survives her husband and now makes her home with her daughter in Kearney. She was formerly a member of the Methodist Church but now belongs to the society of Seventh Day Adventists.