A Portrait and Biographical Album of Des Moines County, Iowa

Acme Publishing, 1888, pp. 444, 447

Isaac Redfearn

(Courtesy of John Redfern)

Isaac Redfearn was the son of Isaac Redfearn and Nancy Carrthers. His brother was John Redfearn of New London, Iowa. Some of the family spelled the name "Redfern."

Isaac Redfearn, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Des Moines County, Iowa, residing on section 7, Pleasant Grove Township, is a pioneer of 1840. He was born in North Carolina, December 7, 1820, and his parents, Isaac and Nancy Redfearn, were also natives of the same State, but emigrated to Illinois in 1823, settling in Bond County, where the father purchased land and resided until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Redfearn were the parents of ten children, of whom our subject was the fourth. Of the family but two others are now living--John, a farmer of Henry County, Iowa, and Jemima, wife of James Long of Bond County, Illinois.

At the age of seventeen our subject ran away from his home and came to Iowa, settling in Burlington, where he remained until 1846, working as a farmhand or at any odd jobs which he could find to do. In May, 1846, he enlisted as a private in Company E, 3d Illinois Infantry, in the Mexican War, serving fourteen months and participating in the battles of Vera Cruz and Cerro Gordo. He was elected Second Lieutenant of the company in July, 1846, and served as such until the close of the war, when he was mustered out at New Orleans in June, 1847. The same year he returned to Burlington and made his first purchase of land, consisting of 140 acres on section 7, Pleasant Grove Township.

On the 8th of February, 1849, Mr. Redfearn was united in marriage with Almira Lee, a native of Macoupin County, Illinois, and a daughter of John Lee. That fall the gold-fever broke out, and the following spring, equipped with an ox team, Mr. Redfearn started on an overland trip to California, reaching Sacramento after traveling for five months across the plains. After engaging in mining for four months he returned home by water, again engaging in farming on the land which is still his home. From time to time he has added to his original farm of 140 acres until now 600 acres of fine land pay a good tribute to his care and labor.

Five children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Redfearn: Oliver, now a farmer of Washington Township, Des Moines County; Jennie, wife of Jerome Steele, residing at Beatrice, Nebraska; Ira, a resident farmer of Pleasant Grove Township; John L., also a farmer of Pleasant Grove Township; and James, still residing at home. Mr. Redfearn is a self-made man financially. Commencing life a poor boy, earning his first money by day labor, he has steadily worked his way up until he has now a comfortable competence. He makes a specialty of raising fine thoroughbred horses, and has many fine animals on his farm. Politically, he is a Democrat. Mrs. Redfearn is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

On the opposite page is a view of the residence of Mr. Redfearn, with a portion of his fine stock shown in the foreground.

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Isaac Redfearn