Custer, J.A.

CUSTER ALBRIGHT SUTHERLAND, MILLER

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 9/9/2020 at 15:09:30

J. A. Custer resides on section 31, Franklin Township, and is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He was born in Montgomery County, Pa., in 1849, and is a son of P.Y. and H.B. (Albright) Custer, who were also natives of Pennsylvania. In 1857, he came West with his parents, who located in Fulton, Ill., and were there engaged in farming. In 1875 he left home and went to the Black Hills, where he remained till the fall of 1877, then returned as far east as Nebraska, where he remained one year, farming and teaming. While in the Black Hills, he was engaged in teaming and mining, with the exception of nine months when he served in the regular army under Gen. Crook, in the campaign against Sitting Bull. He was on the grounds of the Custer massacre, and was wounded in a skirmish with the Indians near Ft. Reno, which disabled him from further service.

In 1878 he was united in marriage with Miss L. J. Sutherland, a native of Keokuk County, Iowa, and daughter of James W. and Martha Jane (Miller) Sutherland. They have two children: Jesse H., born May 15, 1880, in Colfax County, Neb.; Charles Frederick born in Fulton County, Ill., Feb. 13, 1882. The family came to Washington County, Iowa, in 1885. Mr. Custer purchasing a farm of 160 acres on section 31, where he now resides.

In addition to general farming, Mr. Custer has engaged quite extensively in the breeding of Poland-China hogs, all of which are eligible to register in American Poland-China Register. He has some fine specimens of the breed, a short account of which will be found on another page of this work. He is also engaged in the raising of graded cattle, having several head of Polled Angus. Mr. Custer and wife are members of the Congregational Church. His mother died in Fulton County, Ill., May 19, 1887, where his father still resides. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of J. A. Custer, page 591.