Biographies
For
Muscatine County Iowa
1889



Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 568

WILLIAM S. PEASLEY, importer, dealer, and manufacturer of marble, granite, etc., established his business in 1878. He was born in Mt. Gillead Morrow Co., Ohio, Aug. 16, 1835, and is the son of Samuel and Betsy ( Worth ) Peasley, the former a native of New Hampshire, and the latter of the Green Mountain State. In 1853 he emigrated to Muscatine County, and engaged in farming in Bloomington Township, where he remained until 1857, when he removed to Hardin County, Iowa, and there engaged in the same occupation in connection with the grocery business. In 1861 he returned to Muscatine County, and in the spring of 1864 again embarked in the grocery trade at Muscatine, continuing in that line until the latter part of 1868, when he became a dealer in stock and grain. That line of business he continued for ten years, when, in 1878, as already stated, he began his present business.

The family to which Mr. Peasley belongs is of Scotch descent. His father was three times married. By his first union two children were born :by his second three children were born ;while by the third union our subject was the only child. The death of the father occurred in 1868, at the age of seventy-seven years, and his wife departed this life March 25, 1881, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years, while residing on the old home-farm in Bloomington Township.

After arriving at man's estate Mr. Peasley was united in marriage in Bloomington Township, on the 30th day of August, 1856, to Miss Lorenda A. Jones, a native of New Hampshire, and daughter of Ira and Martha ( Young ) Jones. She was the eldest in a family of six children, four of whom besides herself are still living : Henry P., who resides at Muscatine ; F. P., who was admitted to the bar in 1876, engaged in the practice of his profession until his death, which occurred in the month of August, 1886 ; M. P., who is living at Atlanta, Iowa, is a traveling salesman, and wedded Molly Cliffinger of Milan, Ill.; Addie B., is the wife if G. J. Mohler, a resident of Muscatine, and passenger conductor on the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railway ; Abbie M., married S. W. Goodhue, who is living in Lawrence, Kan. All of the children are natives of New Hampshire with the exception of the youngest daughter, who was born after the removal of the family to this State. The death of Mrs. Jones occurred Jan.2, 1873, and the following year the father too died, being called from this world Sept. 21, 1874.

When seventeen years of age, in 1854, Mrs. Peasley came with her parents to Iowa. For many years she has been prominently identified with the temperance interests of Muscatine and surrounding country. She began her work in February, 1874 during the time when the temperance organization of the women of this country was known as the Crusade. A noble band of forty ladies. on the first day of the Crusade, met in the Congregational Church and selected Mrs. Robbins to preside over the meeting, and in the capacity of President that lady served for ten years. For six weeks meetings were held daily, during which time they visited over forty saloons. Mrs. Peasley served as Secretary eleven of the fifteen years since the Crusade began. She has also served as President of the County Union for five years, and now holds the office of District President. The little band of women, from their prayful, earnest efforts, won for themselves the name of the " praying band." In 1874, at the State meeting, they took the name of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and since their organization they have met regularly once a week, having now a membership of 100. Mrs. Peasley has borne no inconsiderable part in the work of the society, aiding and encouraging others, and doing all in her power to advance its interests.


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