John M[arshall] POOR, farmer, living on section 22, Rice Township, was born in Washington County, Indiana, August 4, 1836, the eldest child of Alvin and Julia A. POOR, who were among the pioneer settlers of Ringgold County. They came to this county in the year 1856, and settled in Clinton Township on a farm where they spent their last years. They were the parents of eight children, all of whom are yet living. Their names are - John M., Isabella, Alvin M., Ann Maria, Daniel W., Clinton E., Susan E. and Wesley A.

John M. was reared in Washington and Pike counties, Indiana, his parents locating in the latter county a few years previous to their coming to Ringgold County.

In 1857 he returned to Indiana where he attended school, preparing himself for a teacher, which profession he followed in Indiana and Illinois, until his father's death which occurred in 1862, when he returned to Ringgold County to settle up his father's estate.

August 9, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry, and although his regiment did not participate in many historic battles, their duty was arduous, as well as honorable, ridding the country from bushwackers in Arkansas and Mississippi.

Mr. POOR took part in the siege and capture of Mobile, and in the last campaign in Texas. He received an honorable discharge at Davenport, Iowa, August 10, 1865.

He returned to Ringgold County, April 11,1867, when he was married to Miss Mary J[ane] BAIRD, a daughter of Samuel [and Millie Elizabeth (PARKS)] BAIRD, one of the early settlers of Clinton Township where he still resides. Mrs. POOR was born in Putnam County, Indiana, October 12, 1849, and came with her parents to Ringgold County in 1855, where she has since lived.

Mr. and Mrs. POOR have six children living - Eugene W., Millie Belle, Mary Emma, Willie W., Elmer R. and Lura M. Orville, their fifth child, died aged one year.

Mr. POOR followed farming in Clinton Township until 1875, when he commenced improving his present farm in Rice Township, having improved his 160 acres himself without any assistance.

In politics Mr. POOR casts his suffrage with the Republican party. He has served in several township offices efficiently and acceptably, and is at present township assessor. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist church.

NOTE: John M. POOR died May 29, 1908. Mary Jane (BAIRD) POOR died March 1, 1926. John and Mary Jane were interred at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, p. 347, 1887.

WPA Grave Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z