Alandras Darrow
1815-1875

ALANDRAS DARROW (deceased); was born in Goshen Township in 1815, and is the son of James Darrow and Sarah Willard. James was a native of Vermont, coming from near Lake Champlain to this State as early as 1811, pitching his cabin in the northern part of Goshen Township, then in the wild state and inhabited by the red man. To locate a family here at that time required no little courage, as well as the endurance of many hardships and privations, but, by dint of hard labor and perseverance, he established for himself and family a permanent home, where he passed the remainder of his days, his death occurring in about 1837-38. He had an encounter in early life with a bear on Lake Champlain, which well nigh proved his destruction, but, by his courage and perseverance, he came out victorious. The parents of Sarah Willard, his wife, were early pioneers here; she died in 1847-48. Thus we record the death of two more of the van-couriers of civilization in this county.

He had three sons and three daughters, who grew up, and five of them reared families; two daughters still survive and reside in Union Co. Alandras was the third of the family and oldest son. Except a two years' residence in Union Co., his entire life was passed on the homestead, his death occurring in March, 1875, leaving ten sons and three daughters - Andrew, who died in infancy; Jane; George W., James (deceased), Jonathan; Zachary T., who enlisted in the late war, March 7, 1864, as a member of Company A, under Capt. E. D. House, 60th O. V. I., and was shot through the head and killed, May 9, 1864, in the battle of Nye River, Va.; Sylvester and Sylvanus, twins, the former deceased; Alandras and Alonzo, twins, the latter deceased; Phebe E., Alice and William. Mr. Darrow was married in 1835, to Phebe H. Colwell, a native of Ohio, and since 5 or 6 years old a resident of this county. He left at his death an estate of 360 acres, which now belongs to his family.

The History of Champaign County and Ohio. Chicago, Illinois: W. R. Beers & Co., 1881, pages 883-884.

This information was transcribed and posted on the Heritage Pursuit site.