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Jasper County, Iowa
Historical and Genealogical Data Exchange
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James
Trussel The
people of Independence Township, Jasper County, point to James Trussel as one of
their most valued citizens, admiring him for his continued interest in the
affairs of the locality and for his high moral character, for his life among
them for nearly a half century may well be likened to an open book. Mr.
Trussel was born in Kosciusko County, Indiana, June 2, 1844. In March 1853, he
came with his parents to Iowa, located in Buchanan County and there followed
farming. Purchasing additional land
in Fayette County, the family moved from their log cabin which they had occupied
when first beginning life in the new country to a more commodious frame dwelling
located on the new purchase. Retaining
the farm in Buchanan County, the elder Trussel thereby became a landlord in each
of them. It was the formation
period of Iowa, and it can be truly said that this was one of the real pioneer
families. Their neighbors were few
and developed farms infrequently seen. Their
trading points were Dubuque and Iowa City.
In 1864 the family moved to Independence Township, Jasper County, and
have made this their home continuously to the present time, becoming active in
the development of the same. Marshall
Trussel, father of James of this review, was born in Vermont in 1805 and died in
Independence Township, Jasper County, Iowa, in 1865. Elizabeth (Belt) Trussel
was born in Licking County, Ohio, and died in Missouri at the age of eighty-four
years, having made her home with the subject of this sketch for a period of
twenty-five years, after the death of the father.
There were six children in her family, as follows:
Phineas, deceased; Aquilla lives in Kansas; Mary Pitkin is deceased;
Elizabeth White lives in Independence, Missouri; Emma White is residing in
Independence, Missouri. James
Trussel was married in Des Moines, Iowa, to Lydia Ellen Morton, who was born at
Fredonia, Licking County, Ohio, December 9, 1843, and her death occurred on
March 11, 1880. This union resulted
in the birth of three sons and two daughters, as follows: A. M., a well known
and successful business man of Baxt.er, Jasper County, was born August 16, 1866,
and has lived here practically ever since, having grown to manhood and attended
the public schools here. In 1890 he
left the farm and came to Baxter, working at the carpenter's trade with W. H.
Bair, who was one of the successful contractors of this town.
For four years they were associated in this work.
In 1894 Mr. Trussel purchased the barber shop in Baxter and with the
exception of one year, operated the same to April 1, 1912, when he sold out.
In addition to the shop and equipment he owns the building adjoining and
the undivided one-half of another good business house here; he also owns an
interest in three hundred and twenty acres of choice land in Saskatchewan,
Canada. He
is a Socialist in political belief, but not in an offensive way.
He has been a member of the town council.
Fraternally, he belongs to Baxter Lodge No. 168, Knights of Pythias, of
Baxter, to which his father, James Trussel, also belongs.
S.
C. Trussel, the second child born to the subject of this sketch, now deceased,
was born in Independence Township, this County, May 29, 1868, and died November
15, 1891; Carrie Sherrard, born September 20, 1869, lives in Salt Lake City,
Utah; Herman, born June 26, 1875, lives in Baxter; his wife was born in
Independence Township. May 29, 1868, and died October 5, 1908; Grace E. Bowen,
born May 26, 1879, lives in Houston, Texas.
All these children were born in Jasper County except Herman, whose
birth-place was in Adair County, Iowa. He
is a member of Baxter Lodge No. 168, Knights of Pythias, Baxter, Iowa.
By occupation he is a traveling salesman for the Sharpies Cream Separator
Co., of Chicago. Mrs.
Lydia Ellen (Morton) Trussel was born at Fredonia, Licking County, Ohio,
December 9, 1843. Her father, Marcus A. Morton, was born in Middleborough,
Massachusetts, April 3, 1800, died at Valparaiso, Indiana, December
18, 1855. Marcus A. Morton was
married at Granville, Ohio, February 4, 1830, to Lydia Nicoll, where their
eldest children were born: George M. Morton, November 7, 1830, residing at Le
Moyne, Ohio; William W. Morton, born May 22, 1832, died at Newton, Iowa, May 20,
1901; Hiram N. Morton, born January 8, 1834, died at Winterset, Iowa; Sarah L.
Morton, born December 18,1836, of Horton, Kansas; the following children were
born at Fredonia, Ohio: Elizabeth Morton, November 1, 1838, residing at Newton,
Iowa; Silas W. Morton, born April 21, 1840, died at Council Bluffs, Iowa,
December 19, 1907; Lysander Morton, born April 29, 1842, died at Fredonia, Ohio,
October 22, 1842; Lydia Ellen, of this sketch, born December 9,
1843, died at Newton, Iowa, March 11, 1880; Julia E. Morton, born September
14, 1846, residing at Chicago, Illinois; Martha H. Morton, born April 22, 1848,
died at Council Bluffs, Iowa, March 17, 1889.
Mrs. Trussel's mother, Lydia (Nicoll) Morton, died at Newton, October 14,
1860. She and the children arrived
at Newton October 10, 1856. She
owned the farm five miles northeast of Newton.
This farm remained in the family until 1901. Marcus Morton was of English
descent, his wife was of Scotch descent. James
Trussel, the immediate subject of this sketch, was again married, his second
wife being Hester A. Sego, who was born in Ohio and who is now living in Baxter,
Iowa. There were three children born to this union, namely:
Earl, born August 20, 1888; Ray, born November 24, 1890; Hazel, born August
25,1895. Mr.
Trussel followed farming until 1891, when he worked at the carpenter's trade,
but the past fourteen years he has conducted a shoe shop in Baxter.
Politically, he is a Socialist. He
filled the office of constable of his Township for four years in a very
creditable manner. He is the owner
of the business block where he maintains his shop, the other half being owned by
his son, A. M., mentioned above. The Past and Present of Jasper County, Gen. James B. Weaver, Editor-In-Chief, 1912 B.F. Bowen Co., Indianapolis, IN, p. 1221. |
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