ALEXANDER CRUICKSHANK

CRUICKSHANK, WILSON, PERKINS, SUMMA, DUNLAP, TAYLOR

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/29/2020 at 15:06:14

ALEXANDER CRUICKSHANK—It cannot be expected, in a brief biography, that any more than a mere outline can be given of a life so eventful as that of the subject of this sketch. The events of his past life and the early settlement of this county are so closely allied, that, to give them in full, would be to give a complete history of Lee County down to the present time. Mr. Cruickshank is personally known to nearly every citizen of this county, and his name is familiar throughout the State. In sketching his life from our standpoint, we shall cull a few events from the great multitude of his past life: and these, with a few appended conclusions, must constitute the main part of this brief biographical sketch. We are indebted to a sketch, written by Mr. Cruickshank himself, for many of the Quotations that appear in the following.

Alexander Cruickshank, the pioneer of Lee County, was born in Norway, on the 2d day of February, 1805, and is, consequently, sixty-eight years of age. His father, James Cruickshank and his mother, Susan Wilson, were both natives of Scotland; the former died in 1809, in his fifty-ninth year. As an item of interest, we quote verbatim from an old testament from the church, now in the possession of Mr. Cruickshank, showing his father’s standing in the church of Scotland, when a young man. After stating that he is a resident of Oldeer parish, and giving his age, it says: “And had always behaved himself soberly, desently, and honestly and free of Church Sencure or scandal, or any bad vice know to us, so that he may be admitted into any Christian Congregation, where providence may order his lott.” This is signed by the minister and two elders.

What little book-knowledge Mr. Cruickshank obtained, he got in Norway, in the common schools; a few short terms in Christiansands, his native town, fitted him for his introduction into the great school of life, where he received the better part of his education. His father was a millwright by trade, and died when his son was but four years old, leaving no property. Young Alex, did not fall heir to great possessions, with which to pave for himself a smooth road adown the future. He was cared for by the Masons, his father having been a member of that brotherhood.

In 1817, when but twelve years old, Mr. Cruickshank began the life of a sailor. The next fifteen years of his life was spent on the Atlantic and Baltic seas. “A portion of that period, nine months, I was engaged as a sailor in the Mexican service, whilst engaged in its rebellion and war for independence, in 1824.” During the next eight years he was engaged in commerce. “between London and New York, and New York and the West Indies.” He finally gave up the privations of a sailor’s life, and landed in New York,” and with a former shipmate, went up the Hudson River to Albany, and from there went by canal and railroad to Buffalo. From Buffalo went by steamboat over Lake Erie to the town of Erie, Penn., thence by stage to Pittsburg, Penn.” In 1832, he left Pittsburgh, with his comrade, John Thompson, who was accidentally killed at Wheeling, by falling under the fly-wheel of the boat. In consequence of his death, Mr. C. made a short stay in Marietta, Ohio. In the meantime, he had interred the remains of his unfortunate comrade and sent his effects to his relatives, in New York.

While in Marietta, he became acquainted with a Mr. Bissell, and in 1832, they came, via the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois rivers, to Beardstown, Ill.

In 1834, there occurred one of the three events of his life, over which, it is said, “man has no control,” -his marriage. He was married to Keziah Perkins, of Hancock Co., Ill. She was born in Floyd Co., Kentucky, in 1810. Her parents, Stephen Perkins, and Katherine Summa, his wife, were natives of Tennessee, and North Carolina, respectively. He died July 22, 1850; she is still living, and enjoys good health, at the advanced age of eighty-four.

By this marriage, eight children have born, whose names and dates of birth are as follows; James was born May 7, 1835; he is married and lives on the home farm. Catherine was born Feb. 14, 1837; she is the wife of Samuel Dunlap; their home is in Bannock City, Montana Territory. Stephen, born March 13, 1840; died September 26 of the same year. Elizabeth was born May 8, 1841, who is living in California. Jennie was born March 27, 1843. Iowa was born Sept. 5, 1846; she is the wife of Samuel Taylor, and is living near West Point. Alexander was born Sept. 12, 1849; he is in Montana Territory at present. John P. was born June 22, 1852. In 1833, while in Illinois, he had a severe attack of the cholera; and it was only through the good treatment if Dr. Galland, a physician which whom he had become acquainted, that his life was saved. March 4, 1834, is the date of Mr. Cruickshank’s advent into this State. He crossed the Mississippi at Fort Madison; and at that time there were but three families in the place. There were two families on the bluff, back of the town, and probably not more than a dozen in the country, north of what is known as “The half-breed tract.”

The place where Keokuk now stands was a boat landing. The town had not been laid out, although it had been named, and contained about half-a-dozen families.

Speaking of Black Hawk, the Fox Chief, Mr. Cruickshank says; “He had his camp between Fort Madison and Montrose, in 1834 and 1835. He visited me several times, and would nurse one of my children, who was then a babe, to sleep. He had but one wife, and was said to be very affectionate to her. She was a cleanly, nice woman, and I once had the pleasure of eating a breakfast cooked by her, at her husband’s camp. The tea and venison were excellent. I regarded him a as truthful, honest man.”

When Mr. Cruickshank came to the county, he made claim to two pieces of land. These he sold; and in 1836, he selected his present farm.

At that time Lee County had not been laid out, there being but two counties in the Territory—Des Moines and Dubuque. Iowa was a part of Michigan Territory; it afterwards became part of Wisconsin Territory, and in 1838 it was organized Iowa Territory. When Mr. C. first came to the country it was as wild as Indians and wolves, and the absence of white settlers could make it. “Deer, wild turkeys, prairie chickens, squirrels, and wild bees with their hives in hollow trees, were quite plenty.” “Having come from Europe and followed a sailor’s life so long I knew little or nothing of the frontiersmen of the United States until I came to settle amongst them; and now I can never think of the “Old Settlers” of Lee County, Iowa, but with a remembrance of their many genial qualities. They were openhearted, generous, neighborly and hospitable. They loved each other, and when it was known that a new comer, or a “new Settler,” as we called them, had arrived, they all turned out for eight or ten miles around to help him erect his log cabin and out-houses.

Courts of justice were then unknown; the highest and only tribunals to which they could refer their little difficulties for arbitration, were their neighbors. Mr. Cruikshank has always been a strong Democrat, deviating from that ticket only when he saw that the candidate was unfit for the position to which he aspired. By pursuing this course, he has shown his aim to be the election of good men to office, and the promotion of his country’s good. He has filled a few township offices. In general, he has been content to do his share of the work, of progress in politics, at the ballot-box, rather than in office. From our short acquaintance with the subject of this biography, and from conversations with those who have known him during the past years, we are enabled to give a few of the qualities that form the general relief of his character. He is possessed of great tenacity of purpose, with which is coupled a strong will power; this is a marked and almost necessary characteristic of all pioneers. Of strong constitution and great powers of endurance, although well advanced in years, his health is good and he is able to do a good day’s work, being busy all the time. Liberal, almost to a fault, in all enterprises of public benefit. Having a good memory and rare conversational powers, it is indeed a treat to spend a few hours in conversation with him. The most uninterested cannot fail to listen while he is narrating circumstances that happened in the early settlement of the country. Kind and hospitable, as the “Old Settlers” are want to be, it may be truly said that “his latch-string always hangs out.”

Although not rich in gold, yet he has as storehouse of treasure which money cannot buy. A good home, a view of which is given in this work; a sufficiency that enables him to enjoy many of the comforts of life; a loving family with whom to spend the rest of his days.

May he, and the few others, who first infused the breath of civilization into the Great State of Iowa, receive the homage due them.

Source:
Illustrated Historical ATLAS of Lee County, IOWA
A. T. Andreas
Chicago, ILL.
1874

Transcription by Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer