Grecian, William S.

GRECIAN, MC CLURE, TOMKINS, NELSON, LANCE

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 3/30/2021 at 14:56:20

William S. Grecian, farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 21, Highland Township, was born in Ripley County, Ind., in September, 1832. He is the son of Isaac and Sarah (McClure) Grecian, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of Indiana. They were pioneers of Indiana. The father died at the age of sixty years, when our subject was a lad ten years old. His mother died in July, 1881, aged fifty-nine years. Mr. Grecian was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and his wife of the United Brethren in Christ.

Our subject was reared on a farm and received his education in the district schools. He left home when a young man, and in October, 1857, came to Washington County, Iowa, and engaged as a farm hand for one year. He then rented a farm on which he remained four years. His first purchase of land was made in 1859, consisting of forty acres of partially improved land on section 21, Highland Township, where he now resides. He has since added to his original purchase and now has a fine farm of 212 ½ acres, all improved and in good condition. In 1856, Mr. Grecian was united in marriage with Miss Amanda Tompkins, a native of Pennsylvania, born July 23, 1834, and the daughter of John and Charlotte (Nelson) Tompkins, both of whom were natives of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Grecian have been blessed with eight children, namely: William, a farmer near West Chester, Washington Co., Iowa; Mary; Marion died at the age of two years; George is at home; Sarah died at the age of four years; and an infant is also deceased; Ida and John are at home. Mrs. Grecian died July 18, 1882, aged forty-nine years. She was a devoted member of the United Brethren Church, of which body Mr. Grecian is also a member. In October, 1887, Mr. Grecian was united in marriage with Miss Hattie Lance. She is a native of Maryland, and was born in 1851. She has been a resident of this county for eighteen years.

He has followed farming successfully through life; he is a self-made man; having commenced life a poor boy, by hard work and industry, with close attention to business, he has accumulated a competency for old age. Politically, he is a Republican, and has held several township offices, including three terms as Justice of the Peace and two years and Township Assessor. He has always taken a lively interest in the public affairs of county and State. Since coming to Iowa he has applied himself closely to his business, with the exception of a trip to Indiana, two trips to Kansas and one to Missouri. Mr. Grecian is a man well liked by his neighbors and bears the esteem and good-will of the entire community.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of William S. Grecian, page 530.