Beenblossom, Nelson

BEENBLOSSOM, SCHUCK JACOBS

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 7/31/2020 at 13:49:10

Nelson Beenblossom, residing on section 8, Marion Township, is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was born in Harrison County, Ind., in 1819, and is a son of Abraham and Eveline (Schuck) Beenblossom, the former a native of South Carolina, and the latter of Kentucky. His mother died in 1877, aged seventy-six years, and his father in 1883, at the age of eighty-four. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They were among the early settlers of Washington County, Iowa, coming here in 1842.

Nelson Beenblossom, the subject of this sketch, was reared upon a farm and educated in the common schools of his native State. In the fall of 1842 he came to Washington County, and entered 160 acres of land on section 8, Marion Township, which he improved, and where he still lives. He now owns 268 acres of land, all under fence, and most of which is under a high state of cultivation. On the 24th of January, 1839, he married Miss Clarissa Jacobs, a native of Pennsylvania, and daughter of John H. Jacobs, also a native of Pennsylvania. They have become the parents of seven children: John Harrison died at the age of eighteen years; Sarah Jane resides at home; Andrew lives in the city of Washington, William Henry is now residing in this township; Perry resides in this county; McClellan and Ella are at home. Mr. Beenblossom is a member of the Christian Church, while Mrs. Beenblossom is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In early life he was a Whig and cast his first Presidential vote for William Henry Harrison. Since its organization he has been a member of the Republican party, and has held various township offices.

Mr. Beenblossom commenced life a poor boy, with neither the advantages of education nor wealth; all that he has was secured by his own exertion, together with that of his wife. He has been a hard worker, a good manager, and given strict attention to his business. In addition to general farming, he is engaged somewhat extensively in stock-raising, and turns off quite a large number of horses and cattle each year. He has visited Indiana twice since he moved to this county, but with that exception he has stuck closely to his farm, and is now one of the few pioneers of Washington County. He is hale and hearty, and still performs daily his allotted tasks, and during the present season has attended to thirty acres of corn. He is a man who is universally respected by all who know him.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of Nelson Beenblossom, page 227.