Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 656
THOMAS J. ACREA

Thomas J. ACREA, was among the pioneers who found their way to Harrison County, in November 1855, and is now a resident of section 7, of Jefferson Township. He accompanied his father, William M. ACREA, who bought a farm in the spring of 1856 in section 24, Jefferson Township, and died October 17, 1869.

Thomas J. was born in Clay County, Ind., September 22, 1837, his parents moving to Putname County when he was a small child. In 1855 the family might have been seen wending their way, overland by horse-team to the fertile valleys of Harrison County, Iowa. Their outfit consisted of a horse-team, an ox-team and a drove of cattle numbering thirty head, a part of which belonged to S.L. CASE, who came through with them.

Our subject was married to Miss Sarah A. DEAL, in St. John Township, March 9, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. ACREA are the parents of fourteen chldren: James W., born January 1, 1866; John L., September 13, 1867; Eli N., December 25, 1868; Charlie P., June 1, 1870; Hannah J., Mary E., Mark M., Leslie O., Arthur B., Austin J., Coila B., and Minnie B. Two of the above died in infancy. Mrs. ACREA was born in Putnam County, Ind., November 25, 1848, and came to Harrison County three years after her parents came.

Concerning our subject's father, William M. ACREA, it may be stated that he was born in Kentucky, January 19, 1806, and when a small boy, his parents moved to Alabama, remaining there eight years and then moved to Indiana, where they lived until they came to Harrison County, in 1855. His wife, the mother of our subject, whose maiden name was Pherraba WALKER, was born in Clay County, Ind., where she remained until she was married. Mr. and Mrs. William M. ACREA were the parents of six children, Thomas J., being the third child. The mother died in Putnam County, Ind., May, 1845.

The parents of William M. were born in North Carolina, their names being John and Katherine, they were reared and married in North Carolina and emigrated to Kentucky, making the journey on horse-back, carrying their entire possessions with them. The husband died in Indiana, and the wife came to Harrison County, with her son William M., being eighty-five years of age at the time she came. She was not able to ride in a wagon on account of it making her dizzy; but in good old pioneer style, she came on horse-back all the way from Indiana. She died in Harrison County, in February, 1866.

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