Wesley Jenkins Stalcup

SPURGIN, STALCUP

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 5/25/2012 at 14:15:48

Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Union Counties, Iowa, page 477

Wesley J. Stalcup, one of the active and enterprising citizens of Dodge Twp., residing on section 24, was born near Terre Haute, Indiana, July 20, 1830, a son of Stephen Stalcup, who was a native of East Tennessee.

Wesley J. grew to manhood on a farm, and has always followed agricultural pursuits. He received his education in a subscription school, and helped draw the logs to build the log-cabin in which school was held.

He left his native State in 1859, going to Davis County, Missouri, and in the fall of 1860 removed to Clarke County, Iowa, thence to Madison County Iowa, in May, 1861.

October 5, 1861, he was married to Miss Mary E. Spurgin, a daughter of Philip Spurgin. Nine children have been born into this union, of whom eight are still living - Maggie, Emma, Philip, and Stephen (twins), Lily, John, Lemon, and James.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Stalcup are members of the Baptist church.

Mr. Stalcup came to Union County, Iowa, with his family, in April, 1866, settling on his present farm, where he has 218 acres of valuable land. He is engaged in farming and stock raising, making a specialty of graded cattle, and is also paying some attention to dairying, and in his farming pursuits is meeting with success.

The father of our subject left his native State when a young man and located at Bloomfield, Greene County, Indiana. He was at one time a noted detective. During the war he was an enrolling officer. The Copperheads tried to compel him to promise not to vote for Lincoln's second election, but he vowed to vote for Lincoln if he lives to go to the polls. The Copperheads then burned his barns and fences killed his hogs, and finally beat him nearly to death, from the effects of which he died, but not until he had cast his vote for Abraham Lincoln.