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WILLIAM S. GRECIAN, farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 21, Highland Township, was born in Ripley County, Ind., in September, 1832. He is the son of Isaac and Sarah (McClure) Grecian, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of Indiana. They were pioneers of Indian. The father died at the age of sixty years, when our subject was a lad of ten years old. Mr. Grecian was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and his wife of the United Brethren in Christ.
Our subject was reared on a farm and received his education in the district schools. He left home when a young man, and in October, 1857, came to Washington County, Iowa, and engaged as a farm hand for one year. He then rented a farm on which he remained for four years. His first purchase of land was made in 1859, consisting of forty acres of partially improved land on section 21, Highland Township, where he now resides. He has since added to his original purchase and now has a fine farm of 212 1/2 acres, all improved and in good condition. In 1856, Mr. Grecian was united in marriage with Miss Amanda Tompkins, a native of Pennsylvania, born July 23, 1834, and the daughter of John and Charlotte (Nelson) Tompkins, both of whom were natives of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Grecian have been blessed with eight children, namely: William, a farmer near West Chester, Washington Co., Iowa; Mary; Marion died at the age of two years; George is at home; Sarah died at the age of four years; and an infant is also deceased; Ida and John are at home. Mrs. Grecian died July 18, 1882, aged forty-nine years. She was a devoted member of the United Brethren Church, of which body Mr. Grecian is also a member. In October, 1887, Mr. Grecian was united in marriage with Miss Hattie Lance. She is a native of Maryland, and was born in 1851. She has been a resident of this county for eighteen years.
He has followed farming successfully through life; he is a self-made man; having commenced life a poor boy, by hard work and industry, with close attention to business, he has accumulated a competency for old age. Politically, he is a Republican, and has held several township offices, including three terms as Justice of the Peace and two years as Township Assessor. He has always taken a lively interest in the public affairs of county and State. Since coming to Iowa he has applied himself closely to his business, with the exception of a trip to Indiana, two trips to Kansas and one to Missouri. Mr. Grecian is a man well liked by his neighbors and bears the esteem and good-will of the entire community.
CHARLES C. HEACOCK, editor and proprietor of the Brighton Enterprise, was born near Marlboro, Ohio, Dec. 27, 1851, and is the son of Joel and Huldah (Gaskill) Heacock, to whom were born ten children only five are now living—Charles C., Leona S., William P., Daniel G. and Nate A. The parents were both natives of Ohio, the father being a farmer, manufacturer and inventor. The subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools, and at Mt. Union (Ohio) College. At the age of sixteen he commenced traveling in the interest of his father's inventions, and visited most of the States of the Union in that work during the next seven years, traveling in the winter season and attending school in the summer time. In this work he obtained a knowledge of men and measures that has served him well in after life, broadening his views, making him more cosmopolitan. On the 6th of October, 1874, he was united in marriage with Miss Carrie E. Davis, at Atwater, Ohio, the next day coming with his young bride to Iowa, locating in Brighton, Washington County, where they have since continued to reside. Of this union four children have
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been born, all of whom are now living, viz: Mary, Guy, Irene and Vern.
In 1879 Mr. Heacock bought out the office of the Brighton Sun, and for the next twenty months engaged in the publication of the Greenback World. This enterprise was not a financial success, and he suspended the publication of the paper after election of 1880. In February, 1882, Brighton being without a local paper Mr. Heacock started the Enterprise, as an independent local newspaper, which he has continued to publish until the present time, and which has been an unqualified success. The office in which the paper is printed is one of the most complete newspaper and job offices in Southeastern Iowa.
Mr. Heacock was an original and active Greenbacker, and was quite active in the Greenback organization, helping to roll up a Green back vote in Brighton of ninety-seven for Peter Cooper for President in 1876. For several years he stumped the county every season, until the Greenback party polled more votes in the county than the Democrats. He was a member of the Greenback State Central Committee, and by his wise counsels did much to advance the cause.
The prohibition cause has found in Mr. Heacock an earnest advocate, prohibition being the only political measure that has been advocated by the Enterprise. As a citizen he has ever been ready to advocate any measure that will advance the interests of his adopted city and county.
DANIEL EZRA BUSH is a farmer residing on section 24, township 77, range 7, English River Township, where he owns 247 acres of fine land, under a hight state of cultivation. He is a native of Tazewell County, Ohio, born Jan. 13, 1843, and is the son of Absalom and Violet (Arnold) Bush, the former a native of Fayette County, Ohio, and the latter of Kentucky, but who lived in Fayette County from childhood. THe family were originally from Virginia.
When Daniel was but four years of age the family moved from Ohio to Washington County, Iowa, and located upon the farm now owned and occupied by him. Here he was reared, and received his education in the public schools. English River Township, at that time, was but thinly settled, and the wild land must be converted into farms, and in making the change every member of the family must do his part. In the work of the farm, supplemented by an attendance upon the public schools, young Daniel was engaged until August, 1862, when he enrolled his name as a member of Co. F, 30th Iowa Vol. Inf., and was appointed Corporal. As such he went into the field, and was with the regiment in the operations against Vicksburg, in the fall of 1862, and then with Sherman in in the battle of Haines' Bluff, on the Yazoo River, and at Arkansas Post. The regiment next participated in the siege of Vicksburg, and in one of the charges made upon the rebel works Mr. Bush received a gunshot wound in the right hand. In the Chattanooga campaign the regiment participated, and, under Hooker, it was engaged in the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. It was also in the battle of Resaca, and in various engagements in the Atlanta campaign. In all these battles and campaigns Mr. Bush was with his regiment, and in the battle of Jonesboro, Sept. 1, 1864, he was severely wounded in the right breast and shoulder, causing the dislocation of the arm at the shoulder, and the removal of four inches of bone of the arm. For months he lay in hospital, and by reason of the serious nature of his wounds, incapacitating him from further active service in the field, he received an honorable discharge and was mustered out Jan. 9, 1865.
Returning to his home in English River Township, for two years his life was held by a delicate thread. His strength then began slowly to return, and as he was able he resumed his work upon the farm, but it was not until fourteen years later that the ball was removed. The years of suffering that he endured was enough to break down many a less rugged man, but he bore the pain uncomlainingly, realizing that it was necessary that some sacrifice should be made that our country should be saved, the Union restored.
On the 1st day of September, 1875, Mr. Bush was united in marriage, in Jackson Township, Washington County, with Miss Mary Coombs, a native of Indiana, and daughter of W. A. and Mahal (Davis) Coombs. Four children have been born unto them: Daisy L., born in Ottumwa, Iowa, Dec. 11, 1877; Leroy E., born in Jackson Township, March 23, 1879; Carl A. born May 16, 1881; Louis Ellsworth, May 26, 1886.
Mr. Bush and family attend the Christian Church. Politically he is a Republican, with strong prohibition sentiments. A brave soldier and a patriotic man in war and peace, he is truly a representative citizen, not only of the township in which he lives, but of the county as well. As such he is respected by all. The farm upon which he lives is well cultivated and shows evidence of the worth and ability of its owner.
C. O. NICHOLS, manager of the creamery at Dayton, was born May 25, 1826, in Delaware County, N.Y., and is the son of Daniel and Anna (Roe) Nichols, both of whom were natives of Danbury Conn. The father of our subject owned an extensive farm of 560 acres in New York, and upon it the early life of C. O. was spent. He remained with his parents, attending the common schools, and afterward assisting on the farm, until he was twenty-six years of age, when he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Pierce, a native of Delaware County, N.Y., born April 13, 1836. The township was first bought by old Col. John Harper and brothers, and the title always held good.
Mr. and Mrs. Nichols are the parents of the following-named children: Anna, the wife of W. E. Ferris, a farmer in Lime Creek Township; Alice, the wife of Palmer J. Gregg, a merchant in Harper, Keokuk Co., Iowa; Grant died Feb. 27, 1882; Jay, at home. In 1844 Mr. Nichols bought the old homestead of 132 acres of Maj. Pierce, and resided upon it for about three years, then sold the same and purchased the old farm of his father's, upon which he had spent his childhood days, and made that his home until 1875. In 1869 he built the second creamery, in the State of New York, and operated that in connection with farming for thirteen years, or until 1875, when he sold the old farm, dispensed with his creamery, and spent the summer of that year traveling through Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. He finally decided to cast his lot with the Iowa people, and during the next year bought a farm of 120 acres in Seventy-Six Township, to which he removed his family. He remained on this farm four years, and in 1880 leased it for three years, himself taking a contract for the management of a dairy farm with fifty cows, six miles east of Ainsworth, which he operated in connection with a creamery.
In May, 1881, Mr. Nichols sold out and came to Dayton, and superintended the building of the creamery at that place. May 26, 1885, the first creamery building was burned to the ground, but with his characteristic energy Mr. Nichols soon replaced it by the present building, since which time he has been very successful in business.
The father of our subject died in New York, June 16, 1850. He was a very active man, a leading and highly esteemed citizen of his State. He has yet living a brother at the age of ninety-five, and another at the age of ninety-eight, and one who lived to the age of ninety-seven. He was aged sixty-seven years at the time of his death, being killed by a runaway team. The mother of our subject was aged seventy-nine years and six months when she died in 1869.
Mr. Nichols has been a member of the Masonic fraternity over forty years. Politically, he is a Republican. Mr. Nichols and his estimable wife are not old settlers of the county, but since their coming have made hosts of friends.
H. A. BURRELL, editor and proprietor of the Washington Press, was born in Sheffield, Lorain Co. Ohio, and is the son of Robbins and Eliza (Brigham) Burrell, both natives of Berkshire County, Mass., in which State they were married. Robbins Burrell came with his father, Jabez Burrell, to Ohio in 1816. Several of his brothers came at the same time. They were noted men from the fact of their being giants in size. Only one of them attained prominence, he being Judge of the County Court for several years.
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There were several children of the Brigham family; one of Eliza's brothers, Amariah, was for many years Superintendent of the State Lunatic Asylum at Utica, N.Y., dying while in charge of it. He was authority on insanity and its causes, and was the author of a work on that subject. A private asylum for the treatment of insanity, at Canandaigua, N.Y., was named Brigham Hall, in his honor, and Dr. Dwight R. Burrell, youngest brother of our subject, is its present Superintendent. His course of study was most thorough, being graduated in classics at Oberlin in 1864, then graduated in medicine at Ann Arbor, Mich., two years later. He then went to Blackwell's Island, N.Y., and was Assistant Surgeon, from which he was transferred to Bloomingdale Asylum, acting as Assistant Superintendent for a number of years, and from there took charge of the asylum previously mentioned. He is a bachelor, although not a confirmed one. Rev. John C. Brigham, another brother of Mrs. Burrell,was for several years a Congregational minister at Brooklyn, N.Y., and after his health failed, resigned the pastorate and was elected Secretary of the American Bible Society, attending to that until his death occurred.
Robbins and Eliza (Brigham) Burrell remained in Lorain County from their first coming until their death. They were the parents of Ann, deceased, a graduate of Oberlin College; Solon, deceased, accidentally killed in Milwaukee, after roaming almost over the entire world, whaling in the South Pacific and passing through hundreds of hairbreadth escapes unharmed; Lewis B., of Portland, Ore., clerk for Knapp, Burrel & Co., the largest dealers in agricultural implements on the Pacific Coast; Edward P. remains on the old homestead in Ohio, married Rose Clifton, who has borne one son, Harry; Howard A., or subject, also a graduate of Oberlin College, a resident of Washington, Iowa, and proprietor of the Washington Press. He wedded, in 1863, Miss Harriet Everson, who bore three children—Norman E., Helen B. and Anne M.
The death of the wife and mother occurred June 5, 1876, and Mr. Burrell married Martha J. Jackson, Dec. 19, 1877. Her father, John Jackson, was a former resident of Lima, Ohio, and was one of the first settlers in this county. He was its first Surveyor. Mrs. Burrell was about six years of age when her parents located in Washington, and although her husband is not one of the first settlers, he has the honor of being the husband of one.In April, 1886, Mr. Burrell came to Washington and purchased the Washington County Press, and has since conducted it. For several years prior to his coming here, he was connected with the Cleveland (Ohio) Daily Leader, of which he was city editor. This gave him an experience as a ready and logical writer which is appreciated by the citizens of this county, and the Press and its editor are known not only throughout the county, but the State as well. The Press may be considered the official organ of the Republican party in Washington County. It was established in 1856, since which time its political sentiments have remained unchanged.
AUGUSTINE BURHAM, deceased, was a native of Virginia, born in 1800. His parents dying when he was but eight years of age, but little is known of them. He was reared on a farm in Virginia, and moved from that State to Maryland, in an early day, and from there to Washington County, Iowa, in the spring of 1852, locating in Cedar Township, where he remained until his death, which occurred June 28, 1887, at the age of eighty-seven years. He was married in Virginia to Miss Rebecca Stewart, also a native of that State. They were the parents of thirteen children: John now resides in Jasper County, Mo., is a carpenter by trade, but is at present employed as a civil engineer on a railroad; Hiram died when a child; William resides in Franklin Township; James Gibson,of Cedar Township; Nelson C., now residing in Nebraska; Martha A. first married Cal. Johnson, who died, and she subsequently married James Miller, but is again a widow and makes her home with James G. Burham in Franklin Township; Harriet is the wife of William Leasure, of Newton County, Mo.; Julia A. first married Jacob Helwick, who died, and she is now the wife of Capt.
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John Gray, of Brighton; Lucy Ann, wife of M. D. Cuffee, of Carthage, Mo.; Henry H. was a soldier in Co. I, 13th Iowa Vol. Inf., and served until his death, which occurred at Corinth, Miss., in 1862, at the age of nineteen years; Seymour, now of Woodburn, Clark Co., Iowa; Perry residing in West Chester; Harry, a farmer in Cedar Township.
Thrown upon his own resources at the age of eight years, with no kind of father or loving mother to guide his young footsteps, Mr. Burham grew to manhood, and instilled in his mind, by others, correct principles of morality and of business. All the property he had while in this life, he secured by his own exertions, never having inherited a dollar. During almost his entire life he was afflicted with disease, but was ever patient, never complaining. Rearing a large family of children, he endeavored to instill in their minds the same business as well as moral principles. He spoke evil of no man, and endeavored to treat others as he would have them treat him, living closely to the Golden Rule. HIs death was mourned alike by family and friends.
ROBERT G. HUNTER resides upon section 7, Dutch Creek Township, and engages in farming and stock-raising. He is a native of Ohio, born in Carroll County, Sept. 6, 1822, and is the son of John and Mary (George) Hunter, who were natives of Ireland and the parents of nine children, all being deceased with the exception of David, a resident of Bloomington, Ind.; Mary Ann, wife of Frank Downey, a farmer residing in Jackson County, Ohio; and Robert G.
The father of Robert died when he was about four years of age. He then made his home with a cousin, William Kelly, in Jefferson County, Ohio. He was there reared on a farm, and from time to time attended the district schools of that county. At the age of eighteen he apprenticed himself to the wagon-maker's trade, and followed that together with farming, making his home with Mr. Kelly until he was married, in 1847, to Margaret Crawford, a daughter of James and Margaret (Addender) Crawford, who were also natives of Ireland, the former coming from County Donegal, and the latter from County Derry. Mrs. Hunter was born Sept. 22, 1818, and was the sixth in a family of seven children. Nancy is deceased; Matthew died in this country; Mary, widow of David Stevenson, resides in Hubbard, Ohio; Ann, wife of Robert Lee, resides in Columbia County, Ohio; James, deceased; Lillie, deceased, wife of William Seeton.
In the spring of 1855, Mr. and Mrs. Hunter came to Burlington, Iowa, by water, and then by teams to Washington County. A brother of Mrs. Hunter came to this county about 1849, which probably was one inducement for them to make this their home. In the fall of 1855, Mr. Hunter entered 200 acres of land, where he has since passed his busy life in making a home for himself and family. In 1863, he met with a misfortune, losing his right arm in an accident in a sawmill. Mr. and Mrs. Hunter have had nine children: The first died in infancy; Margaret J. was born Feb. 5, 1849, and now living in Greeley County, Kan.; James C. Born Nov. 5, 1851, is in charge of the home far; Mary, born July 24, 1855, was to have been married at 2 o'clock on the 20th day of November, 1872, to Patterson George, but died about two hours before that time. She was a devoted member of the United Presbyterian congregation of Pleasant Valley, uniting at the age of fifteen. She was a sincere, humble and devoted Christian. She was the light and joy of the family, a successful educator in the public schools, and for many years a teacher of the infant class in the Sabbath-school. Suitable resolutions were passed by the school on her death. Vilty, born Jan. 15, 1851, is the wife of Daniel Roher, a farmer in Washington Township, this county; Christian, born July 24, 1858, resides at home; William K., born Nov. 15, 1862, is a farmer residing in Greeley County, Kan.; Ella May, born Oct. 22, 1865, is residing at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Hunter have given each of their children a good education and provided for them as best they could. They can now look back on a life well spent, and forward to a bright future. They are both members of the United Presbyterian Church, the children also being members of the same church. William K. united with the Church at a very early age, and for some years was a teacher in the Sabbath-school. On his removal to
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Greeley County, Kan., he was greatly missed by the school. In all church work, and all moral enterprises, Mr. and Mrs. Hunter take an active part, at all times doing what they can for the public good. They are both greatly esteemed for their many excellent traits of character.
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