During his lifetime the subject of this sketch was counted among Scott County's substantial citizens . He was a prosperous, enterprising farmer; and in his decease, which occurred on December 12, 1885, the community in which he had lived sustained a great loss. By his thrift and good management he accumulated an ample competence, and left to his family not only the rich fruits of his years of toil, but best of all, the heritage of an honored name. Jacob Brus was a native of Prussia. He was born near Essen on November 29, 1829, the son of Henry and Anne Brus. He immigrated to the United States in company with his parents in 1849, and settled with them in the State of Missouri. He remained there only about one year, and then, in 1850, removed to Davenport, Scott County, Iowa, whither his parents followed some three or four years later. They were hard working people, industrious and frugal, and from them Jacob inherited many of the sturdy qualities that characterized him. He acquired an ordinary education and during his boyhood and early manhood turned his hand to various kinds of work, farming, teaming, operating a threshing machine, steamboating, etc., and finally settled down to farming.
When a little past thirty-one years of age, on January 7, 1861, Mr. Brus married Eliza J., the daughter of John and Mary Robison. Her father was one of the early settlers of Scott County. He was a native of Warren County, Ohio, and was born October 9, 1809. With his parents he moved to Indiana, and in January, 1836, there married Miss Mary Oswaldt, and in the spring following removed with his young wife to Iowa, settling in Scott County, on the Mississippi river. One year later he located a farm in what afterward became Buffalo Township, and there lived, respected and beloved, until his untimely death, which occurred on August 15, 1850, as the result of a sad accident, he being thrown from a wagon which he was driving and which capsized, falling upon him. His widow died in 1881.
Three years after his marriage, in 1864, Mr. Brus purchased the Robison farm and lived there until his decease, after which it passed into possession of his widow, who still owns it. Of eleven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Brus, ten still survive. They are: John H., Anna M., Charles H., Rosa, William J., Edward T., Ella E., J. Theodore, Lena E. and Ida J. Flora M. died some years since.
Mr. Brus was a man of fine social qualities and had many warm personal friends. He was the soul of honor and in all his dealings with others sought to do as he himself would be done by. In politics he affiliated with the Democratic party. In religion he adhered to the Catholic faith.
BIOGRAPHIES