John Roush, b. 13 Feb 1832

MEYERS, SPRINGER, RISHER, BAKER, COON, BROWN, TAYLOR, TETERS, SUTTON, LISTON, FULTON, FARMER

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 2/21/2004 at 11:10:19

This name represents one of the oldest residents of Farmers' Creek Township, who is now retired from active labor and lives peacefully in the enjoyment of a competence. During the years of his active life he was accounted one of the most enterprising and progressive farmers of this region and succeeded in transforming a portion of the soil to one of the best regulated farms in this party of the county. For many years he gathered in bountiful harvests and in the meantime effected the improvements, which not only rendered his land valuable, but assisted in building up the reputation of the county as the home of a prosperous and progressive people.

From a glance at the ancestry of our subject we find that his grandfather, John Roush, Sr., if not a native of Germany, was at least of German descent. He settled in Virginia prior to the Revolutionary War, and it is believed that his marriage to Miss Elizabeth Meyers took place there. Their son George, the father of our subject, was born in that State, and afterward the grandparents removed to Ohio, settling in what was then Jefferson, but is now Harrison County. Grandfather Roush came to his death by the falling of a tree, and the grandmother was thus left a widow with six children. She survived many years.

The father of our subject was reared to manhood in the Buckeye State and married Miss Anna, daughter of Jacob and Mary (Risher) Springer. They lived in Ohio until 1842, then removed to Wabash County, Ind., locating in the heavy timber on the Indian Reserve, where the father cleared a farm and sojourned many years. Thence, in 1854, the family came to this county. The children, thirteen in number, all lived to mature years. George and Nathaniel were married in Indiana. Of Elijah a sketch appears elsewhere in this volume; Harriet the wife of Andrew Baker, is a resident of Woodbury County, this State; John, our subject was the fifth child; Samuel, married and lives in Farmers' Creek Township; Enoch lives in this county, and Hiram in Des Moines; Nancy, (Mrs. Byron Coon) is a resident of Clinton County; Maria was first married to H. D. Brown and afterward to a Mr. Taylor, with whom she moved to Ottumwa; Levi is in Farmers' Creek Township; Emily, (Mrs. James Teters) is a resident of this county; Anna became the wife of William T. Sutton, who is now deceased, and she lives in this county. The mother passed away in March, 1866; the father is still living and makes his home with his son in this Township.

The subject of this sketch was born in what is now Harrison County, Ohio, Feb. 13, 1832. He came to the West with his parents, and when twenty-two years old was married at the bride's home in Farmers' Creek Township to Miss Sarah A. Liston. This lady was the daughter of John and Catherine (Springer) Liston, and by her union with our subject has become the mother of four children: Elmira is the wife of John Fulton, a resident of Jefferson County, Kan.; Laura A., (Mrs. David Farmer) is a resident of Farmers' Creek Township; Addie and Emma B. are attending the Commercial College at Davenport. The old homestead is now occupied by Elijah Roush. It is a very fine estate and is pleasantly located on section 27.

Upon the arrival of our subject in this county the nearest grain markets were Lyons and Dubuque. The country, however, settled up rapidly and as the facilities for transportation increased there was an increased demand for farm products.

Mr. Roush, during his early manhood operated a saw-mill, which was patronized by people for miles around. He has forty acres of highly cultivated land on section 35, whereon he has put up substantial buildings. He remodeled the dwelling in 1873, and has everything about him for his convenience and comfort.

("Portrait and Biographical Album of Jackson County, Iowa", originally published in 1889, by the Chapman Brothers, of Chicago, Illinois)