Trussel, James

TRUSSEL, BELT, PITKIN, WHITE, MORTON, SHERRARD, BOWEN, NICOLL, SEGO

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 10/23/2009 at 06:50:24

Trussel, James

The people of Independence Township, Jasper County, point to James Trussel as one of their most valued citizens, admiring him for his continued interest in the affairs of the locality and for his high moral character, for his life among them for nearly a half century may well be likened to an open book.

Mr. Trussel was born in Kosciusko County, Indiana, June 2, 1844. In March 1853, he came with his parents to Iowa, located in Buchanan County and there followed farming. Purchasing additional land in Fayette County, the family moved from their log cabin which they had occupied when first beginning life in the new country to a more commodious frame dwelling located on the new purchase. Retaining the farm in Buchanan County, the elder Trussel thereby became a landlord in each of them. It was the formation period of Iowa, and it can be truly said that this was one of the real pioneer families. Their neighbors were few and developed farms infrequently seen. Their trading points were Dubuque and Iowa City. In 1864 the family moved to Independence Township, Jasper County, and have made this their home continuously to the present time, becoming active in the development of the same.

Marshall Trussel, father of James of this review, was born in Vermont in 1805 and died in Independence Township, Jasper County, Iowa, in 1865. Elizabeth (Belt) Trussel was born in Licking County, Ohio, and died in Missouri at the age of eighty-four years, having made her home with the subject of this sketch for a period of twenty-five years, after the death of the father. There were six children in her family, as follows: Phineas, deceased; Aquilla lives in Kansas; Mary Pitkin is deceased; Elizabeth White lives in Independence, Missouri; Emma White is residing in Independence, Missouri.

James Trussel was married in Des Moines, Iowa, to Lydia Ellen Morton, who was born at Fredonia, Licking County, Ohio, December 9, 1843, and her death occurred on March 11, 1880. This union resulted in the birth of three sons and two daughters, as follows: A. M., a well known and successful business man of Baxter, Jasper County, was born August 16, 1866, and has lived here practically ever since, having grown to manhood and attended the public schools here. In 1890 he left the farm and came to Baxter, working at the carpenter's trade with W. H. Bair, who was one of the successful contractors of this town. For four years they were associated in this work. In 1894 Mr. Trussel purchased the barbershop in Baxter and with the exception of one year, operated the same to April 1, 1912, when he sold out. In addition to the shop and equipment he owns the building adjoining and the undivided one-half of another good business house here; he also owns an interest in three hundred and twenty acres of choice land in Saskatchewan, Canada.

He is a Socialist in political belief, but not in an offensive way. He has been a member of the town council. Fraternally, he belongs to Baxter Lodge No. 168, Knights of Pythias, of Baxter, to which his father, James Trussel, also belongs.

S. C. Trussel, the second child born to the subject of this sketch, now deceased, was born in Independence Township, this county, May 29, 1868, and died November 15, 1891; Carrie Sherrard, born September 20, 1869, lives in Salt Lake City, Utah; Herman, born June 26, 1875, lives in Baxter; his wife was born in Independence Township, May 29, 1868, and died October 5, 1908; Grace E. Bowen, born May 26, 1879, lives in Houston, Texas. All these children were born in Jasper County except Herman, whose birthplace was in Adair County, Iowa. He is a member of Baxter Lodge No. 168, Knights of Pythias, Baxter, Iowa. By occupation he is a traveling salesman for the Sharpies Cream Separator Co., of Chicago.

Mrs. Lydia Ellen (Morton) Trussel was born at Fredonia, Licking County, Ohio, December 9, 1843. Her father, Marcus A. Morton, was born in Middleborough, Massachusetts, April 3, 1800, died at Valparaiso, Indiana, December 18, 1855. Marcus A. Morton was married at Granville, Ohio, February 4, 1830, to Lydia Nicoll, where their eldest children were born: George M. Morton, November 7, 1830, residing at Le Moyne, Ohio; William W. Morton, born May 22, 1832, died at Newton, Iowa, May 20, 1901; Hiram N. Morton, born January 8, 1834, died at Winterset, Iowa; Sarah L. Morton, born December 18,1836, of Horton, Kansas; the following children were born at Fredonia, Ohio: Elizabeth Morton, November 1, 1838, residing at Newton, Iowa; Silas W. Morton, born April 21, 1840, died at Council Bluffs, Iowa, December 19, 1907; Lysander Morton, born April 29, 1842, died at Fredonia, Ohio, October 22, 1842; Lydia Ellen, of this sketch, born December 9, 1843, died at Newton, Iowa, March 11, 1880; Julia E. Morton, born September 14, 1846, residing at Chicago, Illinois; Martha H. Morton, born April 22, 1848, died at Council Bluffs, Iowa, March 17, 1889. Mrs. Trussel's mother, Lydia (Nicoll) Morton, died at Newton, October 14, 1860. She and the children arrived at Newton October 10, 1856. She owned the farm five miles northeast of Newton. This farm remained in the family until 1901. Marcus Morton was of English descent, his wife was of Scotch descent.

James Trussel, the immediate subject of this sketch, was again married, his second wife being Hester A. Sego, who was born in Ohio and who is now living in Baxter, Iowa. There were three children born to this union, namely: Earl, born August 20, 1888; Ray, born November 24, 1890; Hazel, born August 25,1895.

Mr. Trussel followed farming until 1891, when he worked at the carpenter's trade, but the past fourteen years he has conducted a shoe shop in Baxter. Politically, he is a Socialist. He filled the office of constable of his township for four years in a very creditable manner. He is the owner of the business block where he maintains his shop, the other half being owned by his son, A. M., mentioned above. Past and Present of Jasper County Iowa B. F. Bowden & Company, Indianapolis, IN, 1912 Page 1221.