Nusum, John W. (1848-1938)

NUSUM

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 4/4/2008 at 22:41:36

John W. Nusum
Dec 19, 1848 - Jan 15, 1938

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.90, Crescent Twp.)
J. W. Nusum, M. D., Crescent City, came to Crescent City four years ago, and began the practice of medicine, though previous to this he had practiced some time in Spring Hill, Warren County, Iowa. The Doctor was born in Waynesburg, Greene Co., Penn., in 1848, though his people moved to Virginia when he was four years old; there the early years of his life were spent. In 1866, when he was nineteen years old, he removed to Des Moines, Iowa, with his people. He began the study of medicine in Des Moines, under Dr. J. Grimes, and then studied with Dr. James T. Wakefield, of Spring Hill, Iowa, after which he took a course at Rush Medical College, Chicago, where he graduated in 1868. He then returned to Spring Hill, where he spent two years in partnership with his old preceptor, Dr. Wakefield. In 1872, at Indianola, Iowa, the Doctor married Miss Emma Armstrong, a native of Guernsey County, Ohio, born in 1852. Five children have been born to them, three of whom are now living, viz., Georgie G., Maggie E. and Ivy F. The genealogy of his family the Doctor is able to trace back to an honorable ancestry. His grandfather and grandmother were both natives of England, and born a short distance north of London. In their early settlement in the United States, his grandfather joined the Americans in the Indian war, and while fighting under St. Clair, was taken prisoner by the Indians and held a captive for three years. His father, George G. (who spelled his name Neusum), was born in Virginia in 1822, and lives in Iowa; his mother, Eliza J. (Kimball) Nusum, was born in Greene County, Penn., in 1826, and died in 1861. During the war of the rebellion, the Doctor spent some time in the Confederate service, under command of Gen. Morgan; he was wounded three times during his service; he has now a good and lucrative practice established, and has gained a place in four years which many physicians struggle ten years to attain.

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.444)
DR. J.W. NUSUM, of Crescent City, was born in Greene Co, Pennsylvania December 19, 1848. His father, George G. NUSUM, was born in Virginia, September 2, 1822, son of SILAS and Charlotte (FROST) NUSUM. Mr. Silas NUSUM was a native of Virginia and served in the battle of November 4, 1791 under General Arthur ST. CLAIR, was taken to Ohio, where he was in the massacre or defeat at Fort Recovery in which seven men were taken captives. He and a man named George GALLAGHER narrowly escaped from being burned alive at the stake. GALLAGHER first broke loose and then set Mr. NUSUM free, and they then fought for their lives. They were, however, held captive for three years, and one day when, at Hanging Rock, Ohio, they were making their escape, GALLAGHER fell from the rocks and broke his hip; but he hid among the rocks on the banks of the Ohio River. NUSUM swam the river and escaped, the Indians being in hot pursuit. After night he swam the river back to where GALLAGHER was, made a raft of some logs, put him upon it and paddled him over to the other side, and thus succeeded in saving his life. He then carried him for three days before finding medical aid. He recovered and entered the practice of law, while NUSUM went into the mercantile business, which he followed until he died in 1847.
Mr. GEORGE NUSUM, brought up in the mercantile business in Morgantown, Virginia, following his father in that line, moved in his 20th year to Freeport, Pennsylvania. He continued in merchandising from 1842 to 1853 when he came direct to Colesburg, Delaware County, Iowa, and was there engaged in merchandising and teaming for 10 years. He then sold out all his interests there, moved to Des Moines, entered general merchandising again and so continued for about 10 years longer. In 1862 he exchanged his property and business for 440 acres of land in Warren Co, six miles west of Indianola, and engaged in farming and stock raising. In livestock he dealt extensively, shipping largely. The land had but poor improvements upon it when he first occupied it, but is now well equipped and in a fine condition. There are at present 620 acres in the tract; it is an immense stock farm.
In 1844 in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, he married Eliza KIMBALL, who was born in Greene Co, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1825, and they became the parents of 7 children, the subject of this sketch being the second. He was reared to mercantile life also, but in his 22nd year, in 1870, he started out for himself and about this time, February 1, 1872, he was married to Miss Emma ARMSTRONG, of St. Charles, Iowa. Next year he began reading medicine, under the instruction of DR. GRIMES of Des Moines, who had been a surgeon in the late war and is well known as a skillful practitioner in Council Bluffs where he followed his profession for several years. After studying in his office three years, DR. NUSUM alternated between the office and Rush Medical College, Chicago, for about two years longer; then for another two years, from December 1876 he was in partnership with DR. James WAKEFIELD at Spring Hill, Warren County. He arrived at Crescent City, December 4, 1878, bought property and opened practice. Taking great pride in his profession, he has an extensive and good paying patronage, even in Florence, Omaha, Council Bluffs, Missouri Valley and the surrounding country. He makes a specialty of eye and throat diseases; has saved many cases given up by other physicians.
He is a member of the M.P. Society of Crescent City, in which he has held different offices. Is also a member of Lodge No. 49, I.O.O.F. of Bloomington, Illinois. Is an exemplary and enterprising citizen. He is a well settled Democrat and has held about all the offices of his township. Is also a member of the library association. Mrs. NUSUM belongs to the Presbyterian Church of Hazel Dell. Their children are: George G., who was born in St. Mary's, Warren County, Iowa, February 10, 1873; Maggie E. born at Spring Hill, April 14, 1878; Ivy L., born at Crescent City, December 5, 1881; and Vernie born in Crescent City, May 27, 1890.