DUSHANE, John M.

DUSHANE, LANCASTER

Posted By: Larry Shoger (email)
Date: 12/26/2008 at 18:51:54

John M. DuShane is at present the clerk of Rock township, and has resided here since the fall of 1868. He was born at St. Georges, New Castle Co., Del., Feb 1, 1820. His parents both died before he reached the age of three years. He was taken by Sarah Egbert, a widow lady, who removed shortly after to Chester Co., Penn., where he grew to manhood, and was educated at a subscription school, the free school system not being established in that State. When seventeen years of age he was apprenticed to George Fitzsimmons, to learn the stonemason trade. Afer serving three years, he worked at his trade in Chester and Delaware counties for some time, then went to Philadelphia, where he worked at his trade for a short time.

He then attended bar at the Union Grove cattle yards, in the 24th Ward, for two years, and then served on Keyser's Independent Police, as lieutenant, in the 24th Ward for two and a half years. After leaving the police force he again worked at his trade, and built the entrance to the Woodland Cemetery in the 24th Ward. In 1857 he came west on a prospecting tour, coming through Chicago, Ill., Madison, Wis., Prairie du Chien, then down to the river to Cordova, a small town on the river twenty five miles above Rock Island, worked on a Baptist church in Cordova, and worked on a grist mill in Princeton, Scott Co., Iowa.

In the fall he returned to Philadelphia, and the following summer, 1858, he came west with his family and settled in Johnstown, Rock Co., Wis., and there followed farming until 1868 when he came to this county and located on section 16, Rock township. He had bought this land (240 acres) two years before, only twenty acres of which had been broken. He has since broken all the land, set out a grove, built the house in which he now lives, and made other improvements.

He was married in 1844 to Rebecca J. Lancaster, who was born in Chester Co., Penn., Jan. 10, 1824. They have had six children, four boys and two girls, all of whom are living - Anna M., John G., Edwin H., Ella C., George L. and Nathan T. DuShane. Nathan at the age of thirteen, had a severe attack of brain fever, from the effect of which he has lost his eyesight. He has been at the Iowa College for the Blind for the past three years.

(Taken from History of Mitchell and Worth Counties, 1884, page 477.)