Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 593
LORENZO B. PROSE

Lorenzo B. PROSE, owner of the LUSK House, at Logan, has been a resident of Harrison County for the last decade. He is a native of the Buckeye State, born in Gallia County, Ohio, December 21, 1834. He is a son of Jehu W. and Jane (WISEMAN) PROSE, natives of West Virginia, who died in Illinois, to which State they removed in 1858. The father was a tanner by trade but followed farming a good share of his life. They reared a family of seven children, six of whom still survive, our subject being the oldest. He was reared in Lawrence County, Ohio, principally surrounded by the scenes of pioneer farm life. After he had attained the years of his majority, he commenced to do for himself, and was for many years engaged in milling, operating both flour and saw mills as well as doing factory work as a machinist. In 1857 he removed to Illinois, spent three years and then returned to Ohio, where he engaged in the milling business.

Four months after Fort Sumter had been fired upon by those who rebelled against our form of government, and five months after President Lincoln had taken his seat, our subject offered his services to his country by enlisting July 16, in captain J. S. GEORGE's Independent Cavalry Company, which was attached to Gen. COX's Brigade in the Big Kanawha Valley, W. Va., and served sixty-five days, when the company was discharged, their time having expired. After his service in 1862, he returned to Illinois and remained there until 1866, when he once more returned to Ohio and engaged in the milling business, and in 1867-68 helped build and start a furniture factory in Gallipolis, Ohio, which he operated for a short time and then disposed of it, after which he divided his time for several years between Ohio and West Virginia, butting vast quantities of lumber, and being thoroughly conversant with that line of business, he made a decided success of the same.

In the spring of 1881, in company with several families besides his own, numbering fifteen persons in all, he came by team to Harrison County, Iowa and located upon a farm on section 7, of Lincoln Township, for which he had traded; the same consisting of two hundred and forty acres of unimproved land. He at once set about making substantial improvements and succeeded in making one of the finest farms in that part of Harrison County, the first year erecting a good frame residence. He was among the first to locate in that vicinity, which was then one vast expanse of unimproved prairie land. He went to work with a good will and a determination to subdue the prairie sod. Upon coming to the county he possessed but a small amount of money, which he had saved by frugality and the exercise of good judgment in Illinois and Ohio, thus succeeding more than some of his less fortunate neighbors, who at times almost manifested a jealous disposition because of his success. In the year 1882 the community in which he lived secured the location of a post office, known as Olympus, and our subject received the appointment of the first Postmaster, which position he held eight years, until he moved to Woodbine. At one time Mr. PROSE was the only Republican postmaster in Harrison County. While on the farm he devoted his attention principally to stock raising, moving to Woodbine in 1888, in order to give his children the benefits of the "Woodbine Normal School." February, 1891, he traded his farm to James LUSK for the "LUSK House" at Logan, which he leased until October 1, and then took possession himself and operated this until December 1, of the same year, and again leased it.

Mr. PROSE is a man of more than ordinary ability, having contributed to the local journals of the county in which he has lived, including Harrison, and through an article which he prepared for the Woodbine Twiner, June 17, 1883, he was the means of inducing several families to emigrate to Harrison County, many of whom are prosperous farmers to-day.

Politically, he is a firm believer in the principles and general administration of the Republican party. He acted as Justice of the Peace for four years, being the first one appointed to such a position in Lincoln Township. He is a member of the Eaton Post No. 86 G. A. R. at Woodbine.

January 7, 1856 marked a new era in this man's life, for it was upon this day that the was united in marriage to Miss Verlinda HANNAN, who was born in Gallipolis, Ohio, May, 1837. The fruits of this union was seven children--Thomas W., who has been a resident of Gallipolis, Ohio, where he has been a practicing physician and engaged in trade, but has recently sold his business and at this date is take a special course of lectures on the eye and ear, in New York City. William H., a resident of Hammond, Rock County, Neb., following farming; Arius H. and Elmie f., twins, both reside in Woodbine, the former traveling in the interest of Charles REED with medicines, and the latter is the wife of John H. MCDANIEL; Linna E., wife of C. M. NEWLAND of Allen Township; Mary J., wife of Traverse THOMPSON, of Bay View, Wash. and one who died in infancy.

For his second wife our subject married Mary MCDANIEL, February 22, 1871. She was born October 13, 1837, in Gallia County, Ohio. By this union four children were born--Margaret E., Ruth U., Anna G and Joseph R., all residing at home.

The family are associated with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In religious matters Mr. PROSE reaches out after all that can be obtained in the Christian life, and may be termed a liberal thinker. Other matters concerning his pioneer days in Harrison County, will be found in the Lincoln Township history.

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