George Collipriest, b Dec 1821

WAR, FLYNN, HILL, COOGLE, CHURCHES, COLLINS, NIMS

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 2/27/2004 at 09:53:12

George Collipriest is classed among the practical, progressive and prosperous farmers and stock raisers of Jackson County. He is the possessor of a large, well-managed farm in Perry Township, comprising 440 acres of cultivated, improved land (280, with the home, on section 28, 80 acres on section 30, 80 acres on section 32). He has been a resident of this township over thirty years, and may be regarded as a pioneer although not one of the earliest settlers, and while laboring hard for the position that he has achieved among the solid, substantial men of this region, he has done very much to forward its material advancement.

Mr. Collipriest is of English parentage and birth, Somersetshire being the place of his nativity, and that of his father and grandfather, (both named Henry), the latter owning a small farm there. His great-grandfather, Henry Collipriest, was a native of Berwick-on-the-Tweed, Scotland, but at some period of his life he removed to Somersetshire, England, where he passed his remaining years as a farmer. The father of our subject was bred to the calling of his forefathers, and carried on the old place on which he was born. He served in the English militia, was a consistent member of the Episcopal Church, and a man of great worth. The maiden name of his wife was Nancy War, and she was likewise a native of Somersetshire, as was her father, Thomas War, who was a farmer. The mother closed her eyes in death in her English home, leaving the record of a well-spent life. Seven children were born of her marriage, namely: Harry, who died at the age of twenty-seven: Priscilla, who resides in Australia; Mary A., in Jefferson County, Col., died May 17, 1889; George; Thomas, in Dallas County, Iowa; Moses, in Topeka, Kan.: Harriet, dead.

He of whom we write was born on the English homestead, in the Parish of Godney, in December, 1821. He had no school advantages, and gleaned an education as best he could. He remained at home assisting in the farm work until he was twenty-six years old. But he deemed that life held something better for him in the great American Republic across the waters, so, in the spring of 1847, he took passage in the bark "Elizabeth," at Bristol, and landed in New York after a voyage of six weeks and five days. He proceeded to Onondaga County, N.Y., and was employed by J. Adams for one year. He next tried life in Canada, going to Kingston; after a short sojourn there, he returned to Onandaga County, where he farmed until the fall of 1848. With but one dollar in his pocket he made his way to Beaver County, Pa., and secured work on a farm. After that we hear of him in Pittsburg, in the employ of A. Baloo, in whose vinegar factory he worked until 1856. In the fall of that year he revisited his old home, going from Philadelphia to Liverpool by steamer in eleven days. He visited the scenes of his youth and his old friends, until the following spring, when he returned to this country, setting sail from Liverpool and arriving in New York, six weeks and three days later. He came immediately to Jackson County, and locating in Perry Township, rented land until he bought 200 acres of his present farm in 1867. Only thirty acres of it were broken and there were no buildings on the place, so that the many valuable improvements are all the work of his own hands in the busy years that followed. He erected a substantial, well-appointed dwelling, commodious barns, and other necessary buildings, fenced his land, put it under admirable tillage, and has since bought 240 acres of fine farming land lying adjacent to his original homestead, and now has 80 acres under plow. Besides cultivating his land, Mr. Collipriest is especially interested in raising stock, and has as fine a herd of Short-horns as there is in the county. He also buys and feeds cattle and hogs, the latter being of the Poland-China breed. He has twelve valuable graded Percheron horses, using four tems to operate his farm. He is one of the directors of the Jackson County Agricultural Society, and has exhibited his stock on the grounds.

Mr. Collipriest has been twice married, the first time in Beaver County, Pa., in 1850, to Miss Mary S. Flynn. She was born in County Down, Ireland, and was a daughter of Edward and Lydia A. (Hill) Flynn. Her father was a carpenter and farmer by trade, and he emigrated to America in 1849, with his family and established himself at his trade in Pittsburg, Pa., and where both he and his wife died. They were stanch members of the Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Collipriest departed this life March 29, 1856, leaving two children, Henry E. (dead), and Mary S. the latter married David Coogle, of Creston, Iowa, an employee of the Burlington & Rock Island Railway. Mr. Collipriest's marriage to his present estimable wife took place in Somerset County, England, amid the beautiful scenes of his boyhood days, April 7, 1857, at which time he was united to Miss Hannah Churches. She is a daughter of Jeremiah and Johanna (Collins) Churches, natives of Godney, Somerset Co., England. Her paternal grandfather, Jeremiah Churches, was a native of the same place, and a well-to-do farmer. Her maternal grandfather, Esau Collins, was born in the same shire. He was a farmer and stock dealer until his retirement to Godney, where he died. He was a member of the militia, and one of his sons was distinguished in the English army and is now a retired Colonel. Mrs. Collipriest's father was a farmer and owned a small farm and dairy which he operated until he became blind at the age of sixty. He then sold out and retired to Glassenbury, England, where he died at the age of seventy-five, and there his wife also died. They were communicants of the Episcopal Church. Ten children were born of their marriage, namely: Elizabeth lives in England; George, in Australia; Hannah, in Jackson County, Iowa; Mary A. in St. Paul, Minn.; Ann, Samuel, Thomas, Sylvester, Eliza, and Sarah. The six last mentioned all reside in England. Mrs. Collipriest was born in Godney, England, Dec. 25, 1836. She finished her education in London in a select school, and became a milliner and dressmaker. She lived with her parents until her marriage. To her and her husband have been born six children, J.S., Harriet, Thomas M., Elmer E., Samuel S., and Harry H. J.S. is a farmer in Cass County. Harriet formerly a school teacher, married C. L. Nims, a farmer of Maquoketa Township. Thomas is a farmer in Jackson County, Iowa. The other children are at home with their parents.

Although of foreign birth our subject is an American in heart and mind, being thoroughly imbued with the spirit of this country, which has no more loyal citizen than he. He has a sturdy, vigorous intellect, and is fearless in expressing his thoughts and opinions. In politics he is independent, not caring to be bound by party ties, but votes for men and measures as seems best to him. He has borne an honorable part in the administration of local affairs, being especially interested in educational matters, and has served as School Director for years. He is at present Supervisor of Roads, and, with characteristic energy and capacity, is working for their improvement. He is a true Christian gentleman, and is a member and a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Andrew, while Mrs. Collipriest is a communicant of the Episcopal Church.

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