Gilbert, Frank T.  "Historic Sketches of Walla Walla, Whitman, Columbia and
Garfield Counties, Washington Territory; and Umatilla County, Oregon."
Portland, OR: Print & Lithographing House of A. G. Walling, 1882. p. a17.
 
JOSEPH L GWINN
     who now lives on a farm seven miles southeast of Walla Walla City, was born
in Clinton Co. Kentucky, January 11, 1824. His father's name was Joseph; he was
of Irish origin, and was born March 18, 1797. The mother of Joseph L., whose
maiden name was Rebecca Owens, was of Welch origin and was born December 4,
1797. His father went to New Orleans to follow his trade as a carpenter, when
the subject of this sketch was but four years old, and probably became one of
the many victims of the assassin, or some sudden or fatal disease, as he was
never heard from afterwards. The mother, following her children in their changes
of home, finally died at her son's place in Walla Walla, in 1866. Mrs. Rebecca
Gwinn as the years rolled by and no tidings came from her absent husband,
settled on a farm given to her by her father with her family, and Joseph L. with
his younger brother, became the working members of the little household firm.
This could not last always, a termination being put to it in 1844, when Mr.
Gwinn was married to Miss Martha Triplett of Clinton Co. Kentucky, on the 27th
of December of that year. Mrs. Martha Gwinn was born December 27, 1828. The next
year the newly married couple moved to near Unionville, in Putnam Co., Missouri,
where they lived until 1864, when they came to Walla Walla Co. W. T., and
settled on the farm that now constitutes their home. Mr. Gwinn was forced to
live in the cauldron of seething contention engendered by the War, or sacrifice
his farm in Missouri, and it was due to those turmoils that he finally concluded
to take what he could get for his property there, and move to the West.
Consequently he arrived in this valley with but limited funds, that were
expended in purchasing his home of 120 acres, where he now resides. To this he
has added from time to time, until now he has, in various localities, 400 acres
of land, 200 of which are inclosed and cultivated, where he lives. He has a fine
orchard of some five acres, but, if the reader would know more of it, look at
the sketch in this work, or visit the locality at the base of the Blue
mountains, from where a grand view of the Walla Walla valley is obtained.
     The children of Mr. and Mrs. Gwinn are as follows: Sarah J., born May 27,
1848 ; John W., February 14, 180; William O., January 6, 1852, died September
22, 1869; Nancy A., June 2, 1853; Rebecca I., May 24, 1855, died August 28,
1861; Mary M., March 13, 1857; Benjamin S., April 3, 1859; Joseph D., October
29, 1860; Susan C., January 18, 1862; Louisa E., May 1, 1864, died September 27,
1864; Rachel E., September 22, 1865; George M., May 22, 1867; Thomas M., May 31,
1870, died June 24, 1878.

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Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in February 2007 by Diana Smith.

Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.