Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 915
WILLIAM H. DeCOU

William H. DeCOU, an enterprising farmer of section 7, Douglas Township, came to Harrison County with his parents a short time after the Civil War closed. Our subject was born in Norfolk County, Canada, February 10, 1845, and when ten years of age, accompanied his parents, who removed to Winneshiek County, Iowa, where they remained until 1866, and then came to Harrison County and bought land. The boys, William and Isaac, came here and put in the crops, then returned and assisted in moving the family, who arrived in June of that year. He remained under his paternal roof until 1870, at which time his father gave him part of his present farm, which he commenced to improve in 1870, breaking about forty acres and building a house 18x26 feet, one story and a half high. He removed to this house in 1872, and lived in the same for eight years, and then erected an addition 18x26 feet. The first crop he put in on his own place amounting to between sixty and seventy acres was speedily harvested by the grasshoppers. His renter had sixty acres of wheat yielding three bushels and a half.

Our subject was married to Miss Georgia PUGSLEY, July 4, 1871. Mrs. DeCOU was born in Athens County, Ohio, April 9, 1846, and when nine years of age removed to Harrison County, Iowa, where she remained until she was married. Three children have blessed this union � Frank H., Nellie R. and Leonard.

The grasshoppers again visited Harrison County in 1877, at which time they were kept fairly under control by various means devised. The most common of which was the digging of a trench into which they would fall. They also used a pan eight feet in length which was drawn by a rope attached to each end. The pan was provided with tar, into which the grasshoppers would jump and be killed. They also burned a great many of the grasshoppers by spreading straw on the ground and setting fire to the same at night.

Notwithstanding this plague, Mr. DeCOU harvested thirty-seven bushels of wheat per acres; oats, sixty bushels per acre, and corn, sixty-five bushels per acre, which speaks well for Harrison County soil. But this was only accomplished by a hard struggle upon the part of Mr. DeCOU and his hired men. He is the President of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company of Harrison County. Politically our subject is in full sympathy with the Republican party. In his religious convictions he favors the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a member.

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