To omit from these pages the life record of Orace M. Culver would be to sever an important link in the chain of pioneers which connects the past with the present history of Cedar county. Born in Cuyahoga county, Ohio, on the 14th of June, 1821, he was a son of Gabriel Culver, who was born in Canada of English descendants. The father, removing to Ohio, settled near Cleveland when a young man and there married Philura Brown. In 1838 he came with his family to Cedar county, where he followed the pursuit of farming during his active life.
Orace M. Culver was eighteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to this county. The trip was made overland in the primitive mode of travel of those times, which at best required many days for the tedious journey. With a horse, “Old Bob”, that his father had secured in exchange for a bushel of potatoes, hitched in the lead of a yoke of oxen and Orace at the helm, they made their way to the then wild prairies of the Hawkeye state. Settling in Cedar county, they built a log cabin where Winfield Busier now lives. In this cabin, containing only one room, three families—the Culvers, Mudges and Cooks—lived during the winter. All were ill but Orace Culver, who arose at three o’clock in the morning and pounded up corn for bread until daylight, when he began the day’s work. His father constructed a rude mill, which was used by the family and their neighbors. In those days the Indians gave the settlers much cause for uneasiness but in time the hardships and privations of pioneer life gave way before an advancing civilization.
Orace M. Culver taught the first school in Center township in the Burr Oak schoolhouse. As soon as he attained his majority he entered land from the government and although he commenced business life without capitol and received no material aid from any one, by force of his energy and business sagacity he worked his way steadily upward. As he found opportunity and his financial resources increased, he added to his holdings until at one time he was the owner of eight hundred and seventy-five acres of land and was largely engaged in feeding stock. The cultivation of the fields and the raising of stock both proved profitable sources of income. He shipped the first carload of cattle from Cedar county to Chicago. He also owned the first tread-power threshing machine in this county, going to Chicago with a team to haul the machine back home.
On the 14th of June, 1843, Orace M. Culver was married to Miss Lucy Ann Cook, a native of Ohio. Their happy married life was of short duration, for Mrs. Culver died in August, 1845, leaving a little daughter, Cornelia, now the wife of J. H. Bolton, of Tipton. Mr. Culver was married a second time, in 1848, when Miss Barbara Catharine Harry became his wife. She was born in Harrison county, Indiana, in 1826. Unto them were born nine children, eight of whom reached years of maturity. John D., is now deceased; Alfred L. is living in Adair county, Iowa; Jennie P. makes her home in the same county; Orace Alvah has also passed away; William P. is living in Adair county; Walter died in infancy; Dolby R. is deceased; Lucy is the wife of George W. Garey, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume; and Blanche N. died at the age of twenty years. The mother departed this life on the 7th of May, 1895, and the father passed away in Adair county in January, 1907, having reached the extreme old age of eighty-six years.
Mr. Culver was many times solicited by his fellow citizens to accept public offices but seldom consented, caring more to give his undivided time to his large farming interests. He was a writer on horticultural and agricultural subjects and many of the articles from his pen appeared in the leading journals devoted to those industries. In politics he ever gave his allegiance to the republican party. In religious faith he was a Protestant Methodist and contributed liberally from his purse to the support of the church. A man charitably inclined, he was ever ready to extend aid to the needy, sympathy to those in sorrow and counsel to those who sought the opinion of one of excellent judgment and large experience.
