Simeon Galusha

Among Newton's prominent and most highly respected citizens is Simeon Hicks Gallusha, one of the earliest settlers of this locality and for good many years a prominent figure in its political and official affairs.  His days of activity now over, he is leading a retired life as befits his years, having passed his seventy-seventh milestone, but up until the last fifteen years there were few men in all Jasper county whose lives were so full and 'varied as his, for he has been a most conspicuous actor in the drama of civilization as played here in this, one of the most favored sections of the great Middle West, having taken an active and influential part in its growth from the pioneer epoch to the opulent present.

 Mr. Galusha, like many of the leading businessmen of this part of Iowa, is a native of the old Empire State, his birth having occurred on April 14, 1834, in Cattaraugus County, New York.  He is the son of David and Manila (Hicks) Galusha, both natives of Vermont, the father born near Bennington and the mother near East Arlington.  David Galusha, who devoted his life principally to school teaching, was the son of Simeon Galusha and wife, an early New England family.  When Simeon H. Galusha was thirteen years of age his parents moved from New York to Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and there he received most of his schooling.  When he was twenty-one years of age he moved with his parents to Iowa, settling first at Marion, Linn County, in 1855. He had previously learned the trades of brick mason and plasterer, and he followed these lines most of his active life.  About a year after he came here he returned to Ohio, and after a short stay there came again to Iowa, this time locating at Newton, where he has made his home continuously to the present time, his life history and that of the town being closely interwoven.  Up to fifteen years ago hardly a brick building was erected that he did not build, wholly or in part; he helped erect the old Central school build, erected in 1858 and which has but recently been replaced by the stone building which now occupies its site; in fact, the major part of the town of Newton stands as a monument to his skill as a builder.

In the month of April 1858, Mr. Galusha was united in marriage with Harriett Newell, daughter of Samuel Fleming and Julia A. (Fugard) Newell, the former a native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and the mother of New Hampshire.  Mr. Newell was a carpenter by trade.  He came to Newton, Iowa, from Mt. Vernon, Ohio, in 1855, and here he became well known, was regarded as a very fine workman and was highly respected, and here his death occurred at the age of seventy-six years, his wife having died when forty-three years old.  Mrs. Galusha was born in Ohio on December 15, 1839; she being the eldest of a family of five children; the others are Jackson F., who was killed in one of the principal battles during the siege of Vicksburg, in Company C, Twenty-second Iowa Volunteer Infantry; Adaline, now deceased, married Henry McFarland; Margaret F, wife of John M. Steele, lives at Olympia, Washington; Elsworth L. owns and operates a ranch near Stockton, California.

 Mr. Galusha, of this review, was one of a family of seven children, namely:  Julius died in Wisconsin; Ruben died at St. Paul, Minnesota; David Henry died, it is presumed, during a yellow fever epidemic in the South, having been a soldier in the Third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war, at least he was never heard from after that; Delia, Lydia and Julia are all deceased.  The father of these children died at the age of eighty-four years, the mother, reaching the age of ninety-one years, and Grandfather Hicks lived to be one hundred years old. Mr. and Mrs. Galusha are the parents of six children, namely: Samuel Henry is living at Wichita, Kansas; he was formerly treasurer of Jasper county, Iowa; Edward died in infancy; Julius M„ who is now living in Des Moines, Iowa, was formerly department treasurer of Jasper county, and he is now manager of the Western Newspaper Union; David Murray, who lives at Memphis," Tennessee, is connected with the Western Newspaper Union; Reuben G. who is deceased, was associated with the Western Newspaper Union and A. N. Kellogg Newspaper Company at Chicago, Omaha and Wichita, as manager, and was a brilliant and forceful young man; Ned L., a brick mason and plasterer at Newton.

Simeon H. Galusha was a member of the Home Guards during the war of the Rebellion.  He was at one time department auditor of the county and he was township clerk for many years.  He was elected on the Republican ticket and served two terms as treasurer of Jasper County.  He and his wife belong to the Congregational church of Newton, she having been a member since the age of nineteen.

 Mr. Galusha was employed as bookkeeper in Morgan's store at Newton for several years.  He is the owner of two valuable and desirable properties in Newton.  Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has attained the Knights Templar degree in Masonry; all his sons except Ned are Masons.  The subject spent a few years in Los Angeles, California, for his health.