BRUSH, Jacob Henry 1833-1919
BRUSH, BUCKMASTER, BURCHARD
Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 5/5/2012 at 18:02:33
Jacob Henry Brush – July 9, 1833 – March 6, 1919
Wife:
Julia (Buckmaster) Brush – October 9, 1844 – January 25, 1927
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#1:JACOB H. BRUSH, OSAGE
At an early period in American history three brothers came from England and settled in Hungtington, Long Island, and from them have sprung the Brushes now scattered over the western as well as eastern states.
Jacob Henry Brush, son of Albert and Julia Burchard Brush, is one of these descendants, and was born in North Salem, Westchester County, New York, on the 9th of July, 1833.
His father, Albert Brush is a farmer, one of the proprietors of Brewster, a town in the edge of Putnam County, on the Harlem railroad, and he and his wife are still living in Brewster. The Burchards were early settlers in Norwalk, Connecticut.
Jacob spent his early years in Westchester and Putnam counties, receiving his education at the North Salem Academy and Amenia and Charlotteville seminaries, teaching the district school one winter at Brewster.
About the time he arrived at his majority Mr. Brush became interested in the west, and concluded that here was a good field for young men of any business tact and a disposition to work.
Thus impressed, he left Putnam County in May 1885, reached Dubuque about the time the land office was being removed; followed it to Decorah; there opened a real-estate office and bank, and again followed the United States land office when it was removed to Osage in July 1856.
The next year Mr. Brush was joined in the banking business by his younger brother, Francis Albert Brush, the firm name being J. H. Brush and Co.
In 1861 another brother, Jesse Platt Brush, and in 1866 the youngest brother, Avery Brush engaged with the subject of this sketch in banking, and they are still in business together. In 1865 their private band was changed to the Osage National Bank, of which J. H. Brush is president, J. P. Brush, cashier, and Avery Brush, assistant cashier.
Of the land-office business Mr. Brush has had special charge since he began it. Few men have located as many acres of land in the Turkey river land district for non-residents as he, and probably fewer still have accommodated as many men who wanted to find homes in this district. During all these years he has never needlessly distressed a man—never took advantage of his necessities to foreclose on him, but has uniformly shown all possible leniency. Indeed, he has seldom had occasion to resort to law.
Mr. Brush has engaged in other business when he could command the time to attend to it. In 1861 he built the Osage flouring and saw mills, and operated them until October 1873. He is one of the half-dozen Osage men who were most active in securing the railroad which reached this city in 1868, and one of those who labored and gave to establish the Cedar Valley Seminary, and also one of the very few to advocate and work for the total prohibition of the sale of intoxicating liquors in Osage. Few men in this section are more public spirited or have labored harder to bring settlers, and those of the very best class, into northern Iowa. In his own city he has always been prompt to furnish means to men of real enterprise and stamina who wished to put up blocks or single stores, and I addition to the mills and his own bank he has built some elegant residences
Mr. Brush is a republican in politics, and a strong supporter of the party, but has held no office. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since about 1851, and is generous in his support of religious, educational and benevolent institutions.
On the 4th of May, 1862, Miss Julia Buckmaster, daughter of Francis Buckmaster, of Osage, became his wife, and has been the mother of five children. A son and two daughters are living.
Francis Albert Brush, his younger brother, of who we have spoken who was killed in the battle of Pleasant Hill, in April 1864, was first lieutenant, company K, 27th Iowa Infantry. He entered the service in the fall of 1862; was a brace soldier, and most highly esteemed by his comrades in arms, as well as by the community in which he enlisted. Few men who went Mitchell county and laid down their lives for their country were, in their fall, more deeply lamented.
Iowa Biographical Dictionary, 1878
(Research Credit: D M Scott)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#2:Jacob H. Brush was born in July 9, 1833 in New York. He was the son of Albert Brush (1811 - Apr. 22, 1880) and Julia M. Burchard (Aug. 28, 1809 - May 15, 1881).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#3:CENSUS -- His parent's family:
1850 Federal Census: Southeast, Putnam County, New York: Albert Brush (age 39, farmer, born NY), Julia Brush (age 40, born NY), Jacob H. Brush (age 17, born NY), Sarah E. Brush (age 14, born NY), Francis Brush (age 12, born NY), Jesse P. Brush (age 9, born NY), Julia A. Brush (age 7, born NY), Avery S. Brush (age 5, born NY), Martha E. Brush (age 2, born NY) and Adalade Brush (age 0, born NY).
1860 Census: Osage, Mitchell County, Iowa: Jacob H. Brush (age 26, banker, born NY).
His brother Frank A. Brush was wounded fatally April 9, 1864, at Pleasant Hill, Louisiana. He died April 20, 1864, Hospital, Pleasant Hill.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#4: (biographical)A CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE
The Osage Press of last week, in an able and well written article, brings out the name of Jacob H. Brush, of Osage, as a candidate for Congress in this District.
The Press opens the article with the following:
If we read aright the tokens of disapprobation everywhere manifested toward the present Representative in Congress from the 4th District of Iowa, it seems certain that Mr. Pratt will not be his own successor to the next Congress.
Of Mr. Brush's qualifications for the office, and of his standing at home, both the Osage papers are equally emphatic and complimentary. In fact, no man in the Cedar Valley stands higher in the estimation and esteem, not only of his own immediate neighbors, but of all who know him, than Mr. Brush. He will make a formidable competitor for the nomination, for he has hosts of friends anxious and willing to help him along.
We give the following paragraphs from the article in the Press:
Mr. Brush is a modest and unassuming man, of unsullied reputation, both as a citizen and a banker; a gentleman of scholarly attainments, thoroughly versed in both politics and business; able and forcible as a speaker, and withall, just the man, in our judgement whom the people of this district can most heartily support for their Representative in Congress.
He is one of the oldest residents of this section of Iowa, having located here as early as 1856, at which time he engaged in banking, in connection with his brothers, who have since continued in that branch of business, and he is at the present time the popular President of the Osage National Bank, one of the most flourishing banking institutions of this or any other state.
Mr. Brush has always been one of the people, identified with them in all matters pertaining to the public good, foremost and zealous in all public enterprises tending to develop, advance and benefit the country and its interests, commercial, social and moral. A Christian gentleman, public spirited citizen, who, intellectually and socially, stands in the front rant of society, the peer, in every respect, of any many yet mentioned or to be mentioned for Congressman, and we have an abiding faith that the Congressional District Convention will recognize his eminent fitness, his high qualifications, his great popularity at home and abroad, and thus select him as the standard bearer to carry the Republican banner to a successful and glorious victory in October next.
[Iowa State Reporter, June 10, 1874]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#5:Photo of Jacob Brush, from STANDARD HISTORICAL ATLAS OF MITCHELL COUNTY, IOWA, 1911; published by Anderson Pub. Co., Chicago.
(Credit: S. Bell)
Mitchell Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen