Tish, Samuel A.

TISH, SHAFER, BENSON, RIVERS, MORGAN, ROBERTSON

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 4/29/2009 at 16:24:17

History of Poweshiek Co. Iowa (1911)
Page 524-528

SAMUEL A. TISH

Poweshiek county can claim many worthy citizens who have ably contributed their share toward the promotion of the permanent interests of this section of the state, but it is doubtful whether any man now living in the county has more conscientiously performed his work than Samuel A. Tish. He is a successful farmer of Washington township and was for many years a school teacher, and won an enviable reputation on account of the interest he took in his calling and the excellent results of his efforts.

He is a native of Fayette county, Illinois, and was born October 17, 1860, a son of Samuel R. and Alice Catherine (Shafer) Tish. The father was born in Pennsylvania April 10, 1819, and the mother in Williams county, Ohio, June 6, 1827. They were married February 2, 1851, in Williams county, Ohio. Mr. Tish learned the trade of cabinet-maker but later took up farming in Poweshiek county where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres in 1855. To this he afterward added ninety-five acres, making his total holdings two hundred and fifteen acres, and was for nearly fifty years actively connected with agricultural and stock-raising interests in this county. He retired several years before his death, which occurred April 15, 1905. The mother was called away December 8, 1897. Mr. Tish gave his adherence to the democratic party but was never an aspirant for public office. His wife was a consistent member of the Christian church. In their family were eight children, namely: Jasper, who is deceased; Emma C., the wife of W.C. Benson, of Searsboro; Samuel A., of this review; Mary Frances, deceased; Sarah E., the wife of J.R. Rivers, of Pleasant township; Charles, of Washington township; William P., of Union township; and John, of Sugar Creek.

Samuel A. Tish was reared on his father's farm and acquired his early education in the district schools, applying himself so creditably that he became a teacher and for twenty-five terms devoted his attention to the work of instructing the young. He was prominently known in this capacity at Sugar Creek, Washington and Pleasant townships, and among his best friends today are his former pupils who, as boys and girls, gained from him their introduction to an education which in a number of instances has led to highly beneficial results. However, he never gave up his interest in farming. He rented a farm in Sugar Creek township, also renting one in Pleasant township for two years, and in 1893 purchased one hundred and twenty acres in Washington township to which he added eight acres, thus making it one of the attractive properties of the township. He follows general farming and as he thoroughly understands the business he is highly successful. He is a stockholder and was formerly a director in the butter factory at Jacobs.

On the 24th of July, 1890, Mr. Tish was married to Miss Margaret F. Morgan, a daughter of Milo and Susan G. (Robertson) Morgan. Her father was born January 1, 1831, in Springfield, Illinois, and the mother was a native of New York but was reared in Ohio. The parents were married in Lincoln township, Poweshiek county, Iowa, July 31, 1856, and became well known residents of this county where the mother departed this life February 20, 1911. Mrs. Tish, their daughter, was educated in the district schools and in the high school at Grinnell. She became a successful teacher, following in the profession for eight terms before her marriage and for one term thereafter. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Tish has been blessed with six children: Sylva A., who was born July 21, 1891, and after attending the high school is now a student of the normal school, preparing herself for the profession of teaching; Vella Elona, who was born June 11, 1894, and is now a high school student; Cressie Leone, born May 16, 1897; Lela Margaret, born May 14, 1899; Reuel Elvin, born January 17, 1903; and Hazel Loree, born July 29, 1904.

Mr. Tish is not identified with either of the leading political parties. Having observed the suffering caused by the saloon, he became a prohibitionist and is an earnest advocate of temperance principles. He has served as township road supervisor and most efficiently as a member and secretary of the school board. In 1888 he was nominated for county superintendent of schools on the democratic ticket, entirely without his solicitation, and because of the fact that his party is in the minority in this county he was defeated. Both Mr. and Mrs. Tish are consistent members of and active workers in the Christian church and also in the Sunday school. For seven years Mr. Tish was superintendent of the Sunday school at district No. 1, Washington township, and for two years during that period acted as Sunday school superintendent at Ewart. Most of this time he was also a teacher in the Sunday school. His wife is now acting as superintendent of the local Sunday school and is township president of the County Sunday School Association, while Mr. Tish is township secretary of the County Sunday School Association. In 1887 Mrs. Tish visited California for the winter and was an active teacher in the Sunday school there. Mr. Tish was elected elder of the Christian church at Ewart, which position he filled during his residence there. Both he and his wife take an active and helpful part in every movement tending to benefit the community and produce a better social and moral atmosphere. His entire life has been characterized by an upward tendency and by precept and example he has been a teacher of others. He justly occupies a position as one of the honored residents of Poweshiek county.