Andrew J[ackson] IMUS, one of the early settlers of Ringgold County, engaged in farming, on section 29, Liberty Township, is a native of Ohio, born in Coshocton County, October 10, 1840, a son of Horatio M. and Mary (DOLBIER) IMUS, the mother a native of Vermont. The parents came to Ohio when young and were united in marriage in that State. They subsequently removed to Illinois, and in June, 1854, came to Ringgold County, Iowa, settling in what is now Washington Township, where they probably built the first cabin in the county. It was twelve feet square, and built of hickory poles with puncheon floor. Soon after the IMUS family settled here, people began coming to the county to look for land, and their house was a sort of stopping place, sometimes their humble dwelling sheltering a dozen persons over night. The father met his death by drowning in May, 1854, in English Creek in Marion County, Iowa. He had started to cross the creek which was very high from the rain on the preceding night, taking with him his wife and one child in a two-horse wagon. As soon as getting into the stream the hind end of the wagon box was raised up, pitching him out against the horses when he and both horses were drowned. The wagon box floated down the stream with his wife and child for a quarter of a mile, when they were rescued after much difficulty.

The mother and her family settled in Washington Township, Ringgold County, as before stated, the mother subsequently marrying William Cavin, who now resides in Mount Ayr. The father had entered 400 acres of Government land in Ringgold County. Of the twelve children born to the parents, eight came to Ringgold County, seven sons and one daughter.

Andrew J., the subject of this sketch, received but a limited education in his youth in the district schools. He was but thirteen years old when he came to Ringgold County, and at the age of fifteen years he went to live with George W. LESAN, with whom he remained till about twenty-one years of age, and during this time he attended school for twelve months. On leaving Mr. LESAN he was given $125 for his services. He then entered the army, enlisting [at age 22 on August 9, 1862 as a Private] in Company G, Twenty-ninth Iowa Infantry, and was sent to the Western Department in Arkansas [November, 1862]. He participated in the battle at Helena and the running fight at Spoonville, and, being sick, he was captured by the enemy, when he was sent to Tyler, Texas, and placed in the stockade, where he was kept ten months, being without shelter all this time, and for his rations received a pint of corn meal and a half pound of beef. At the end of ten months he was paroled and sent to New Orleans, when he received a thirty days' furlough. He was mustered out of the service at Davenport [Iowa on May 23, 1865], where he received his discharge and at once returned to Ringgold County, Iowa.

The home farm in Ringgold County was then divided among the heirs, when our subject purchased two shares and engaged in farming, remaining on that farm till 1876. He was married in 1868 [May 10, Ringgold County], to Miss Cora BASSETT, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of I[mmer] B. BASSETT [and Isabelle W. (ARMSTRONG)], a resident of Ringgold County, and to this union have been born ten children – five sons and five daughters.

Mr. IMUS purchased his present farm in Liberty Township in 1876, where he has 160 acres of well-improved land, all under a high state of cultivation, and has since devoted his attention to general farming and cattle-raising. Mr. IMUS has served his township as school director, commissioner of highways and trustee, and has held the office of assessor four terms, two terms in Washington Township, and two terms in Liberty Township.

NOTE: Andrew Jackson IMUS was a farmer. He died March 5, 1921, Berryville, Carroll County, Arkansas. Sarah Corinthia "Cora" (BASSETT) IMUS was born July 13, 1850, Douglas County, Illinois, and died July 2, 1921, Barryville, Arkansas. They were interred at Berryville Memorial Cemetery in Arkansas. Andrew and Cora were the parents of twelve children:

1) Miles deLeon IMUS
    born 09 Feb 1869, Ringgold Co. IA; died 27 Apr 1953, Quilcene, WA
2) Eunice Bertha IMUS
    born 02 Aug 1870, Ringgold Co. IA; died 03 Feb 1956
    married 1st 08 Oct 1889 Joseph M. CAMPBELL (1864, IN -?)
    married 2nd Charles SPRINGER
3) Ada Sylvia IMUS
    born 17 Oct 1871, Ringgold Co. IA; Died 24 Jan 1957, San Andreas CA
    married John Edward MAIN 02 Apr 1890
              born 01 Jun 1856, Moravia IA; died 03 Jul 1931, Eureka Springs, Carroll Co. AR
4) Guy Carlton IMUS
    born 12 Sep 1873, Ringgold Co. IA; died 04 Dec 1961, Stehekin WA
    interment Chelan Fraternal Cemetery, Chelan, Chelan Co. WA
    married Aldah Myrtle TODD 10 May 1898
              born 21 Dec 1879, Mount Ayr IA; died 06 Mar 1968, Red Bluff CA
5) Nellie May IMUS
    born 10 May 1875, Ringgold Co. IA; died 12 Jan 1969, Tyler TX
    married 1st Tom MUSSELMAN
    married 2nd Mr. WILEMAN
    married 3rd Mr. PERKINS; 3 children
6) Hugh Ray IMUS
    born 02 May 1877, Ringgold Co. IA; died 09 Dec 1919, Berryville, Carroll Co. AR
    interment Berryville Memorial Cemetery, Berryville, Carroll Co. AR
7) Ralph Waldo IMUS
    born 03 May 1879, Ringgold Co. IA; died 08 Oct 1950, Leslie, Searcy Co. AR
    married Pearl BAKER 14 Jun 1908, Seligman, MO
              born 10 Jun 1888, Herds Switch MO; died 05 Jun 1973, Herber Springs, Cleburn Co. AR
8) Ray Stanley IMUS
    born 13 Oct 1881, Ringgold Co. IA; died 19 Dec 1957, Effingham Co. IL
    married Elsie HODGE
9) Mary Elizabeth IMUS
    born 07 Oct 1883, Ringgold Co. IA
    married Palous WA Lewis L. NOLIS, born 28 Apr 1884, Sloan IA; died 10 Feb 1952, Fairfax CA
10) Martha E. IMUS
    born 28 Jun 1886, Ringgold Co. IA; died 10 Jan 1887, Ringgold Co. IA
11) Minnie Ellen IMUS
    born 02 Apr 1888, Ringgold Co. IA
    married James Adolph ROSS 21 Aug 1905
              born 05 Jun 1884 Berryville AR; died 11 Apr 1958, El Centro CA
12) Florence Evol IMUS
    born 23 Aug 1891; died 09 Aug 1895

SOURCES:
Biography & Historical Record of Ringgold County, Iowa, p. 279, 1887.

Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System Database

Amercian Civil War Soldiers, ancestry.com

WPA Graves Survey

Transcription and note by Sharon R. Becker, January of 2009

Biographical Sketches Pages Index: A - F,   G - L,   M - R,  S - Z