Ambrose Key

Who was Ambrose Key?

Ambrose W. Key was born 27 November 1829 in Crawfordsville, Indiana, the son of George Key and his wife Rebecca Mintun. George, a native of Virginia, settled with his family in Ohio circa 1800. From there, he began a career as a trader, traveling various rivers while establishing his trade routes. In 1836, George spotted lands in Iowa which reminded him of his boyhood home in Virginia, staking a claim to what he dubbed "Virginia Grove" in Louisa County. George planted crops there in 1836 and 1837, and wintered with his family back in Montgomery County, Indiana. While raising his crops in 1838, George sent for his wife and family to come to Iowa. Rebecca hired 10 men to help her move her family of 10 children, including Ambrose, 300 miles from Indiana to Iowa. They averaged 7 miles per day on their 45 day trek, employing three wagons and a carriage, while driving a collection of young horses, cattle, and nearly 100 head of sheep.

Ambrose purchased 80 acres of government land in Louisa County during 1855, and was an established merchant in the town of Wapello by 1856. On 21 May 1859, he married Mary Jones Garrett, a native of Ohio, in Tipton, Moniteau County, Missouri. Within a year, the couple was residing in Washington County, Texas, where Ambrose was the proprietor of a general store. Ambrose also purchased the Baker and Thomson Sawmill on the San Jacinto River, and operated a sash, door, and blind factory for about 4 years. The family lived in Falls County, Texas for several years, where Ambrose bought another sawmill and started a tannery.