Pruden, C. M.

PRUDEN

Posted By: Joyce Hickman (email)
Date: 9/22/2008 at 16:38:39

C. M. Pruden

(From the 1883 History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, by J. H. Keatley, p.165, Macedonia Twp.)
C. M. Pruden, miller, Macedonia, was born in Rock Island County, Ill., at Rapid City, October 19, 1855. His father, L. S. Pruden, was born in Athens, Athens County, Ohio, May 29, 1831; he remained in Ohio till twenty years old, then emigrated to Rock Island County, Ill., in 1850. He, with his father, owned and operated a grist-mill in connection with an oil mill and salt works near Athens; there subject's father and grandfather, while boring for salt, struck one of the first oil wells discovered in Ohio, although the substance which proved to be oil, afterward, was not detected as such at that time. This property was sold, when the family emigrated to Rock Island County, Ill. There subject's father bought the place known as "Sulphur Spring Farm," situated about ten miles south of the city of Rock Island, and near the town of Andalusia. After two years, he sold his farm and remoevd to Rock Island County, Ill., where he, with James Barber, laid out the town of Rapid City in 1853. There he built the Rapid City Mill and operated it till April 14, 1866; sold his property, and, with his family, moved to Potosi, Washington County, Mo., where he engaged in lead mining for two years. He then returned to Rock Island County, Ill., where he worked one year in the same mill he had sold; then, in 1870, he emigrated to Glenwood, Mills County, Iowa, where he operated a mill known as the Gordon Mills, for three years; thence he moved to Falls City, Richardson County, Neb.; operated a mill one year; thence to Fremont County, Iowa, and operated amill. Then he bought a property and built what is known as the "Sunny Side Mill," situated one and a half miles southwest of Macedonia, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Here the father's health failed and he went West, leaving his son, our subject, in charge of the mill. His father recovered partially and returned to Iowa, but on account of a relapse returned to the West, and died at Boulder City, Boulder County, Col, April 26, 1881. Subject's mother, Amelia M. Ruby, was born in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., October 14, 1838. She is the mother of three girls and one boy. Subject learned the milling trade with his father and was in business with him till his death. Subject is still operating the Sunny Side Mill on Nishnabotna River. Mr. Pruden married Miss J. M. Hogan, of Avoca, Pottawattamie County, Iowa, January 27, 1881. She was born August 3, 1858, near Avoca, Pottawattamie County, Iowa. Her father, James S. Hogan, was born in Indiana, December 25, 1825, and died February 15, 1862; her mother, A. W. (Wilson) Hogan, was born in Fulton County, Ill., October 14, 1837, and has had three children. Subject and wife have one child - Odessa Maud, born November 20, 1882. In politics, Mr. Pruden is a Greenbacker; he is an Odd Fellow.