Rev. Edward B. Cousins

COUSINS, BEATTIE

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 3/24/2009 at 16:11:53

REV. EDWARD B. COUSINS is a member of the firm of Cousins & McClure, editors and proprietors of the Audubon County Republican, Audubon, Iowa. The Republican was started in December, 1885, by Mr. Cousins and Sidney A. Foster. The paper was continued under the management of this firm for fifteen months. In April, 1887, W. H. McClure purchased the interest of Mr. Foster, and the paper has since been conducted by this firm. The Republican, as its name implies, is Republican in politics. It is an eight column folio, issued Thursday of each week, and has a good circulation. It has done the county printing for three years, and it also does the city printing. The office is well organized and well equipped for this work, and the paper comes from the press a neat and clean sheet. Mr. Cousins was born in Cedar County, Iowa, May 2, 1841. He is the youngest of ten children of Robert and Ann (Beattie) Cousins. Both the father and mother were born in Ireland, and emigrating to America they finally settled in Cedar County, Iowa, where they both died about six months apart. Edward B. was then six years of age. His youth was spent on a farm and he had the advantages of the common schools until he was nineteen years old. He then went to Cornell College, Mount Vernon, where he pursued his studies for two years. In July, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Twenty fourth Iowa Infantry, as a private, serving three years. On the organization of his regiment he was sent south, and took part in the siege of Vicksburg, also in the Red River campaign. He then went, via New Orleans, around to the Shenandoah Valley, under General Phil Sheridan, and took part in the battles of Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, and other smaller engagements. He was then ordered to Savannah, Georgia, then to Augusta to guard the arsenal at that place. Afterward his regiment was ordered back to Savannah, Georgia, where Mr. Cousins was mustered out of the service in July, 1865. He returned to Davenport, where he received his pay and final discharge. He then resumed farming for a time, and then entered the State University at Iowa City, graduating in the academic department in the class of 1872. Going back to the farm, he remained but a short time, and then went to Chicago and entered the Presbyterian Theological Seminary, graduating in 1875. In the spring of 1874, previous to his graduation, Mr. Cousins was licensed to preach at Wilton, by the Iowa City Presbytery. He was ordained by the Cedar Rapids Presbytery at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, having preached at several places. In the fall and winter of 1878 and 1879 he was employed as historian by a history firm, having their headquarters at Adel, Iowa. In the spring of 1879 he came to Audubon as pastor of the Presbyterian church at that place, where he remained for four years. He then carried on farming for two years. Following this he was employed as bookkeeper for Charles Stuart & Son for two years. He then became connected with his present newspaper work. In 1876 Mr. Cousins married Miss Lou M. Post, of Clarence, Iowa, a daughter of E. E. Post. Mr. and Mrs. Cousins are the parents of one son Charles Edward, who died at the age of six years. Mr. Cousins is a member of Veritas Lodge, A. F. & A. M.; Amity Chapter, and Godfrey Commandery, being one of the charter members of the last. He is also a member of Allison Post, No. 34, G. A. R.

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

pages 703-704