JOHN B. McCULLOUGH.

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         John B. McCullough, who has lived retired in Wapello for the past twenty-eight years, was successfully identified with general agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career and still owns five hundred and eighty-five acres of valuable land in association with his son. His birth occurred in Rush county, Indiana, on the 15th of April, 1828, his parents being Simeon and Mary (Sydener) McCullough, who were born in Kentucky in 1794. The mother was born on the 3d of May of that year. Their children were eleven in number, as follows: William, whose natal year was 1816, Andrew; Catherine; Elizabeth; Margaret; James; John B., of this review; Simeon; Mary; Nancy; and Jacob, whose birth occurred in 1836.

         John B. McCullough attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education and when sixteen years of age began working by the month, buying eighty acres of land with the money which he earned. By additional purchase he extended the boundaries of his farm to include one hundred and twenty acres and remained thereon until he had attained the age of fifty-three years, being busily engaged in its further cultivation and improvement. In 1864 he removed to Monmouth, Illinois, where he was engaged in mercantile business until 1878. He then went to Nebraska, where he lived on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres for three years. In 1881 he came to Wapello, Louisa county, Iowa, and, as above stated, has here resided continuously since, enjoying the fruits of his former toil in well earned ease. He still owns five hundred and eighty-five acres of rich and productive land in association with his son and is widely recognized as one of the substantial and respected citizens of the community.

         Mr. McCullough has been married three times. On the 30th of January, 1851, he wedded Miss Margaret R. Wright, a daughter of Silas M. and Annie (Hamilton) Wright. Their union was blessed with four children, as follows: Mary, the deceased wife of Rev. U. Z. Gilner, of Warren county, Illinois; William W., of Monmouth, Illinois, who was the builder of the interurban railroad from Monmouth to Galesburg; Silas S., who died in infancy; and Thomas, born February 18, 1864, who is engaged in the lumber business at Mathersville, Illinois. The wife and mother was called to her final rest on the 13th of November, 1870, and on the 23d of October, 1872, Mr. McCullough was again married, his . . .

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. . . second union being with Miss Mary I. Davison, by whom he had two children: Roy, a banker of Wapello; and Cora Blanch, who died on the 12th of August, 1887, at the age of six years. Mr. McCullough lost his second wife on the 3d of March, 1901, and on the 11th of November, 1903, wedded Miss Alice Thomas, a daughter of George F. and Elizabeth Reardon (Minton) Thomas. George F. Thomas formerly served as postmaster of Wapello.

         Mr. McCullough gave his early political allegiance to the democracy but at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war became a republican and has since remained a stalwart advocate of the men and measures of that party. In 1853 he was elected county surveyor of Bush county, Indiana, serving for a term of four years. In 1871 he was chosen county surveyor of Warren county, Illinois, for a term of four years, his duties including the testing of scales and the examination of coal mines and railroads. The cause of education has ever found in him a stanch champion and for fifteen years he held the office of school director. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist church. He has now passed the eighty-third milestone on this earthly pilgrimage and has so lived that he can look back upon the past without regret and forward to the future without fear.