For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 731
ALEX MCCULLOUGH. Alex McCullough, one of the well known and successful agriculturists of Orono township, Muscatine county, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, on the 12th of March, 1859, a son of John and Elizabeth (Gordon) McCullough. The parents were married in Ohio, of which state the mother was a native, the father was born in Pennsylvania, and they continued to make their home in the Buckeye state for some years, but in 1866 they came to Iowa and located on a farm in Orono township, Muscatine county, where they continued to live during the remainder of their days. They were hard-working, thrifty people who at the time of the father's death had acquired a farm of one hundred and twenty-two acres of finely improved and valuable land. They were the parents of nine children, who are as follows: William, who is a farmer residing in Louisa county, Iowa; George, also a farmer in Louisa county; David, living on a farm in the same county; John, who was born in 1850 and died in 1902; Margaret, the wife of C. F. Quimby, of Muscatine county; James, who was born in 1854 and died on the 11th of September, 1892, leaving a wife and one daughter, living in Johnson county, Iowa; Albert, residing in Columbus Junction, Louisa county; Alex; and Samuel E., living near Columbus City. The father passed away on the 9th of February, 1887, and the mother on the 18th of September, 1898.Alex McCullough was educated in the district schools of Muscatine county and at the usual age the work of the schoolroom gave way to that of the fields and he began assisting his father in the management of the farm. He remained at home until he was twenty-seven years of age, when he began farming for himself. The first four years he rented land but at the end of that period he had accumulated the necessary capital to enable him to buy land, and he purchased a portion of the farm where he now lives, which is upon the old town site of Fort Allen. Close application, diligence and careful supervision of details has resulted in Mr. McCullough's adding to his original tract so that he now owns one hundred and seventy acres of finely improved land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation. The buildings and fences are in good repair, he keeps a good grade of stock, all of which is well housed, and his well tilled fields are given the careful supervision which results in large and profitable harvests.
On the 27th of January, 1886, Mr. McCullough was united in marriage to Miss Anna E. Bliven, who was born in Louisa county, Iowa, in 1868, a daughter of Hiram and Anna (Gay) Bliven. The birth of the father occurred in New York state, February 24, 1835, but when only four years old accompanied his parents on their removal to Iowa. A year later he was deprived of his father by death and his mother subsequently married the late William Todd. On coming to this state the Bliven family located at what is known as the forks of the river, being among the first settlers of that locality. That region was then covered with dense forests and the Indians were far more numerous than the white inhabitants. For many years Mr. Bliven conducted a ferry near Columbus Junction but later engaged in farming until his health failed. For the last fifty years of his life he was a great sufferer but death released him from his pain April 11, 1909, and he passed to the great beyond where he had long wished to go. At the time of his death he was over seventy-four years of age and had survived his wife for thirty years and four months. Mrs. McCullough was a child of only eleven years when her mother passed away December 12, 1879. Though she was early deprived of a mother's love and care she has become a true type of noble womanhood. She is one of a family of seven children, the others being: Lucinda, the wife of Frank Pierce, of Columbus Junction, Iowa; Elnathan, also a resident of Columbus Junction; Hattie I., who married W. B. Gelatt, of Mason, Tennessee; John, living in Fredonia, Iowa; Belle, who died in 1903, in Columbus Junction; and Sarah, who died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. McCullough have become the parents of three children; Forest Glenn, whose sketch is given below; Lura E., who was born on the 1st of August, 1888, and was married January 27, 1909, to R. E. Tipton, of Conesville, Iowa; and Floyd F., who was born on the 31st of October, 1890, and has received a high-school education and lives at home.
The family hold membership in Grace Reformed church of Conesville and are active workers in the same, Mr. McCullough being supervising elder. His faternal relations are confined to membership in the Columbus Junction lodge, I. O. O. F. Ever since he acquired the full rights of citizenship on attaining his majority, Mr. McCullough has been identified with the republican party. He takes an active interest in all local political issues and has served in various township offices, being trustee for eight years. He has been assessor for two years and at the last election was given the same office for another term. He and his family are highly esteemed in Orono township and Conesville, where they are well known.
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