De Cou, Walker

DE COU, RUSLING, MCWADE, SOELL, ALEXANDER

Posted By: Bill Waters (email)
Date: 4/19/2014 at 19:19:40

WALKER DE COU

Among Winneshiek county's most progressive, prominent and active native sons is numbered Walker De Cou, who since the beginning of his business career has been operating the homestead farm in Military township upon which he was born and reared. He is, moreover, a worthy representative of one of the most honored and respected pioneer families of this section of the state, his father, Judge John De Cou, having located here in 1851 among the earliest settlers. He was a native of Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, born on the 16th of April, 1824, and he there attended school until eighteen years of age, afterward engaging in teaching for about six years. At the end of that time he entered the University of Canada, which he attended for about two years, completing in that institution an excellent and comprehensive education. On the 10th of June, 1850, he was married in Port Dover, Canada, to Miss Mary De Cou, his second cousin, and in the same year immigrated to Iowa, locating first in Bloomfield Township, Winneshiek County, where he remained for three years. In 1853 he bought land in Military township, acquiring at that time one hundred and sixty acres on section 1 and adding to this from time to time until he became one of the most extensive landowners in this section of the state. By constantly following the most practical and progressive methods he made his farm a productive and valuable property, developing it from a wild tract into a well cultivated and model farm. He won a place among the most successful and prosperous farmers of the vicinity. Always a progressive and public-spirited citizen he identified himself closely with community affairs, and was honored by his fellow citizens by election to various important positions of trust, serving as chairman of the board of supervisors and assessor of Military township. In 1861 he was made judge of Winneshiek County and he served with credit and distinction for two years. He was elected to the state legislature in 1873 and during his term of service his influence and his vote were always on the side of right, reform and progress, his labors contributing to the passing of a great deal of important legislation. He was a democrat of the old school, a stanch and loyal supporter of the principles and policies of that party and an active worker in its ranks. He won widespread renown and distinction and at his death the Decorah Republic spoke of him as "one who in his youth and activity was one of the most prominent and able members of the Democratic Party." He passed away on the 21st of December, 1912, at the age of eighty-eight years, and in his passing Winneshiek County lost one of its representative and substantial citizens and one of the earliest and greatest of its pioneers. Judge De Cou and his wife became the parents of three children: Eber, who is engaged in farming in Springfield Township; Charles, deceased; and Walker of this review.

Walker De Cou was reared upon the family homestead in Military Township and acquired his education in the district schools. From his early boyhood he assisted with the work of the farm and thus he early became familiar with the details of farm operation, gaining an experience and knowledge which has been invaluable to him in later years. He has never left the homestead, which he now owns and operates; giving his attention to farming and stock-raising, and success has steadily attended his well-directed and practical labors. He is today in control of one of the finest agricultural properties in this part of Iowa, well managed and substantially improved and reflecting in its neat and attractive appearance the careful supervision of its owner.

Walker De Cou married Mrs. Cornelia (Rusling) McWade, the widow of George McWade, by whom she had two daughters: Delia, the wife of Arthur Soell, a chemist in La Crosse, Wisconsin; and Marie, who married Harry Alexander, accountant with the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad at Chicago, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. De Cou have a son, Oliver, who lives at home, with the Masonic order and the Modern Woodmen of America, and his religious views are in accord with the doctrines of the Episcopal Church. Like his father, he is a stanch democrat and interested in the welfare and growth of the party, although he never seeks office for himself. His record is a credit to his name, which has long been an honored one in this part of Iowa, and he commands the respect and confidence of all who are in any wav associated with him.

Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark publishing Company 1913