GEORGE PRUSIA, b 14 Apr 1829

PRUSIA, CLAYTON, DOUGLAS, FERUSON

Posted By: Donna Moldt Walker (email)
Date: 9/16/2004 at 17:56:32

The pioneer element of the Hawkeye State has a most worthy representative in the subject of this sketch, who came to this region with his brother and sister, they settling first in Van Buren Township, of which he has since been a resident. There were then but two or three families within its limits, and one of the log houses occuped by these was also devoted to the accommodation of travelers. Indians still roamed over the country, and the third day after coming here young Prusia shot a large coon, which was divided up among the settlers who were almost upon the point of starvation. Deer were very plentiful, and Mr. Prusia has seen as many as seventy-five together. Other game also abounded; likewise prairie fires, which, with other things, the settlers had to fight. There were no railroads west of Chicago for some years.

Our subject was born in Washtenaw County, Mich., April 14, 1829, his early home being on the present site of Ann Arbor. The paternal grandfather was born in Prussia. Our subject's father, George Prusia, Sr., settled in Washtenaw County, Mich., at a very early day, and established the first canning factory in that county. He followed his trade thereafter in Ann Arbor a period of forty years. He came to Iowa before the late Civil War, and spent his last years in Jackson County, dying in 1880, at the advanced age of eighty-nine. The mother had passed to her rest long years before. She left six children, all of whom lived to mature years. Her maiden name was Rebecca Clayton, and she was born in Livingston County, N.Y., where she was married, and where were born her three eldest children. Ezra Prusia is now a resident of Preston; Isaiah died in California; Emeline died when about twenty-five years of age; George, our subject; Caleb is a resident of Iowa, and Rebecca lives in Missouri.

The early educational advantages of our subject were quite limited, but he grew up stout and robust, and was trained to habits of economy and principles of honor. In 1849, at the age of twenty years, he formed one of a company of four, one of them being his brother Isaiah, determined to go to California. At Countil Bluffs they joined a company of 300 men, who set out across the plains via Salt Lake City, which was then a Mormon settlement in its infancy. Our subject became quite well acquainted with a number of the Latter Day Saints, traded cattle with them, and being a good violinist was invited to play at several dances. The Mormons, however, were exacting in every favor they conferred, and wanted $7 apiece for ferrying eight wagons across a river.

Mr. Prusia and his companions, by making close calculations, found that they could build a boat at that price, and did so, intending to run a ferry for a time. The Mormons thereupon threatened them with violence, even to the loss of their lives, and offered the travelers $10 if they would give up their boat by evening, otherwise they would sink it and them with it. Being left by their comrades Mr. Prusia and his friend accepted the $10. They arrived at their destination in October, having been on the way since April. Mr. Prusia engaged in mining and merchandising, was quite successful, and sojourned on the Pacific slope until the year 1851. His brother had died on the plains in 1850, from the exposure indicent to caring for his cattle and horses. George, Jr., afterward was assisted by his partner, Mr. John Swaney. He was finally taken ill with typhoid fever, and, although recovering, his physician recommended him to return to his home, which he did in the year 1851.

After an eighteen months' sojourn in Iowa our subject started across the plains a second time, and upon his arrival in California engaged in the lumber business, and was quite prosperous. In 1854 he embarked in mining on Deer Creek, about twelve miles below Nevada. Here also he was very successful, seeming to be fully adapted to the business, and possessing an almost unerring judgment, which was frequently appealed to by new men coming into that region. In both of his trips across the plains he had been accompanied by William Cunningham, who was one of the five partners, the fifth being Loran Sprague.

Our subject set his face homewrd the second time in the year 1855, making the journey via the Isthmus of Panama and New York city. His first venture had netted him $10,000, and the second $5,000. He assisted his brothers and sisters, and also his father, who was financially embarassed. He purchased between 600 and 700 acres of land, and began to think about establishing a home of his own. May 24, 1861, he was united in marriage with Miss Minerva Douglas, who was a distant relative of Stephen A. Douglas, of National fame. Of this union there was born one child before Mr. Prusia, in 1862, entered the army. In 1863 he was captured by the rebels at Champion Hills, paroled upon the ground, came home before he was exchanged, and soon entered the ranks again. He saw his wife for the last time that year, as her death took place May 22, 1864, while he was on the Red River expedition. Two children were thus left motherless - George and Parkus I.

As a soldier of the Union army our subject was a member of Company A, 24th Iowa Infantry, in which he had enlisted three years or during the war. They drilled one month at Muscatine, and were then sent to the front. Mr. Prusia was in the various minor engagements and skirmishes in the vicinity of Helena, Ark., and later marched upon Vicksburg, arriving there in time to witness the first great explosion. They afterward drove the rebels from place to place until our subject was captured. At Helena he was promoted to Second Corporal. In 1863 he was at New Orleans, whence his regiment joined the Banks expedition, and this accomplished they were assigned to the Army of the Potomac, and to the command of Gen. Sheridan in the 19th Army Corps, going up the Shenandoah Valley. Their orders were to destroy provisions, etc., and to accomplish this enterprise so effectually that a crow would have to carry a haversack in flying from one bluff to another, which they did. This division of the army was next ordered to Savannah, Ga., to the relief of Gen. Sherman, and from there went to Raleigh, where they were at the time of Lee's surrender. Thence they were sent back to Savannah and Augusta to parole the rebel prisoners, and to receive their arms. At Savannah our subject was discharged in August, 1865. The second wife of our subject, to whom he was married January 17, 1869, was formerly Miss Julia Ferguson, a native of Pennsylvania. She was born Dec. 25, 1851, and is the daughter of James and Eliza Ferguson, who are now deceased.

After returning from the army, Mr. Prusia engaged in lumbering and farming combined, putting up a saw-mill on the Maquoketa River in Washington Township. He has been a stirring, active man, and while in California operated considerably as a speculator, and was very successful. The company of which he was a member was named "Rough and Ready," which name was also given to one of the towns in California where they sojourned, being named in their honor. Politically, he was a stanch defencer of Democratic principles until the campaign of 1888, when he was turned from his allegiance by the "eccentricities" of the Cleveland administration, and gave his support to Benjamin Harrison and the Republicans. He has never been anxious for office, and has simply served as a member of the School Board of his district. His home farm comprises 160 acres, and lies on section 14 in Van Buren Township, while he has 350 acres in Washington Township. Socially, he belongs to G.A.R. Post at Miles.

To our subject and his present wife there have been born eight children, six of whom are living, namely: Lydia, Azariah, Charles, Benjamin, Emelina and Albert.

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