John C. SINCO, section 1, Riley Township, was born in Greene County, Indiana, January 12, 1839, a son of Henry and Jane SINCO, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of South Carolina. They were married in Indiana, and when our subject was four years old moved to Jefferson County, Iowa, being among the pioneer families of that county. Subsequently they moved to Decatur County and there the father bought 300 acres of land, and laid out a town which he named Paris, but which is now called High Point. Selling that property they moved to Ringgold County, in 1855, and settled on section 2, Riley Township, and there the father died in 1874, aged seventy-four years. The mother is now living at Kellerton. Their family consisted of seven children - John C.; Columbus B., who died while serving his country, in the twenty-first year of his age; Mary Ellen, wife of Frank SCOTT, of Decatur County; Martha, deceased, wife of Gilbert MARK; Caroline, wife of J. H. JOHNSON, of Nebraska; Charlotte, wife of Dell FERGUSON, of Decatur County; Margaret, wife of William BARNES, of Riley Township [Ringgold County].

John C. SINCO was married May 24, 1863, to Caroline CLING (sic), who was born in Huntington County, Indiana, April 27, 1846, daughter of J. W. CLING, who moved to Illinois in 1850, and in 1857 to Harrison County, Missouri, and is now a resident of Decatur County, Iowa.

Mr. and Mrs. SINCO have seven children - Sarah, wife of A. I. PAULLIN; Lawn Dora, Florence Mary, Lulu Lillian, John H., Nancy Anna and Jessie Maud. The fine farm property of 300 acres owned by Mr. SINCO was entered and entirely improved by himself. In politics he is a Republican. He has served his township acceptably and efficiently in several public positions, and at present is school treasurer.

NOTE: John C. SINCO served with Company C of the 3rd Battalion of the Southern Iowa Border Brigade during the Civil War. He died on March 19, 1929. Caroline Watson (KLING) SINCO was the daughter of John William and Sarah KLING, and, according to her obituary, was born April 27, 1846 in Pennsylvania. Caroline died at her home in Benton, Ringgold County, Iowa, on June 25, 1933. John and Caroline were interred at Maple Row Cemetery, Kellerton, Ringgold County, Iowa.

Lawn "Dora" SINCO was born in Iowa in 1867, and died in 1955, Benton, Ringgold County, Iowa. She married on March 2, 1892 to Elisha Calvin GAINES (1868-1923), and the couple were the parents of Veneta (GAINES) HALEY (1896-1966) and Vera (GAINES) DILLENBURG (1901-1968). Dora and Elisha were interred at Benton Cemetery, Ringgold County, Iowa. Elisha was the son of Jarvis GAINES (1843-1922) and Elizabeth Ann (O'DELL) GAINES (1850-1929).

Sarah (SINCO) PAULLIN (also spelled "PAULLING") resided in South Dakota after her marriage. Florence Mary SINCO married B. H. ELLIOTT and resided in Fairfield, Iowa. Lulu Lillian SINCO married W. A. DANIELS and resided in Kansas City, Kansas. Nancy Anna SINCO married O. D. HARDING of Chariton, Iowa. John H. SINCO resided in Kellerton, Iowa.

Jessie Maud SINCO was born in Ringgold County, Iowa, in 1885, and died in 1970. She married Harrison H. GIBBS, born 1888 and died 1953. Jessie and Harrison resided in Iowa City, and were interred at Oakland Cemetery, Iowa City, Johnson County, Iowa.

Henry SINCO, John's father, was born near Richmond, Virginia, February 13, 1800, and died at the age of 74 years on April 7, 1874, Riley Township, Ringgold County, Iowa. John's mother, Jane (BENNETT) SINCO, was born October 12, 1816 in South Carolina, and died February 23, 1898. Henry was interred at Lillie Cemetery near Lamoni, Decatur County, Iowa. Jane was interred at Maple Row Cemetery, Kellerton, Ringgold County, Iowa.

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, Pp. 373-74, 1887.

WPA Graves Survey

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

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