John Francy

County Histories from Henry County, Iowa where they settled tell us that John Francy and his wife Joice Ritchey immigrated from County Antrim in 1841 with their young son Timothy.  John was said to be one of 12 children of John and Agnes (Carly) Francy, who were Protestant landowners. The other siblings names were: Agnes, Alexander, David, Ellen, Jane, Margaret, Mary, Robert, Rose, William, and George (a gravestone for a George Francy with the approximate ages that a brother may have been only a few miles from where John and Joice eventually settled in Iowa).  John and Joice lived in Wheeling, Virginia (which eventually became West Virginia) where the next three children (William John, George, Eliza) were born.  By 1851, they had moved west to Iowa where they settled for the remainder of their life. Two additional sons: Robert and David, were born here.

They settled on what would eventually be a farm of about 100 acres just north of the local river and raised their family.  Obituaries and County Histories indicate they were successful and well-respected members of their community.

John and Joice were buried in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery just outside of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.  Their burial stone provides the following information:

John Francy died 11 Sept 1893, aged 77 years. (born 1816)

Joice Francy died 25 April 1897, aged 78 years. (born 1818).

Two of their sons remained in Henry County as farmers and raised families.  Three sons traveled west and started families.  Their only daughter never married or had children.  She lived in the nearby town of Salem, Iowa.