Nathan Hussey

Nathan Hussey

Portrait & Biographical Album

Mahaska County, Iowa

Published by Chapman Brothers, Chicago 1887

Nathan W. Hussey, leading farmer and stock-raiser of Garfield Township, is a native of the Buckeye State having been born In Mt. Pleasant, Jefferson County, Nov. 1831. He Is the son of Penrose, born June 22, 1800, and Susan (Wood) Hussey, born Jan. 5, 1805. They were natives of Maryland whence they emigrated when quite young, with their parents to Ohio where they became acquainted and were married Dec. 1, 1830.

Christopher Hussey the grandfather of Nathan W., was born July 23, 1767, and emigrated to Ohio In about 1804 during the troublous times in the early settlement of the state, and formed at one time a part of the garrison in the old fort at Cincinnati. He enlisted as a soldier in the War of 1812 and served under the celebrated Commodore Perry.

He married Miss Lydia Grubb, who was born Sept. 24, 1775. To them were born ten children, viz: Mary A., Penrosel, Ashael, Anna G., John G., Curtis G., Eliza M., Jane R., Hester G., and Joseph G., three of whom are living - Curtis, Jane and Hester. Grandfather Hussey lived a Christian, and died in the hope of a blessed Immortality Dec, 23, 1851at the ripe age of eighty-five years, His wife died August 25, 1847, aged seventy-two years.

Penrose Hussey, the father of our subject, was a tanner by trade and followed that occupation for many years but afterwards engaged in agriculture. He was the father of five children: Nathan W., of this county; Ashael H., of Mt, Pleasant, Ohio; Milton J. of Marshall County, Iowa; Lydia wife of William G. Hubbard of Columbus Ohio and Margaret W., wife of Isaac K. Ratcliff of Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, President and principal owner of a bank in that city. Penrose died Dec. 23, 1872 at the age of seventy-three years. Susan died June 6, 1877, aged seventy-two years. They were members of the Society of Friends, reared as such, and tenaciously adhered to that faith all their lives.

Nathan W. the son of Penrose & Susan Hussey was married May 30, 1855, Mt Pleasant, Ohio to Anne L. a daughter of Clark & Mary Terrell, She was born Dec.18, 1832. Of this union there were 2 children; Charles, July 30, 1857; & Lizzie, born April 7, 1861, now wife of Benjamin F. Shields of Chicago, Ill.

In 1857 Nathan Hussey emigrated to Jasper Co. Iowa, where he purchased land, Improving a farm, residing there one year. In 1858 he went to Minneapolis, Minn. and purchased land near that city and there remained until 1862 when he came to Oskaloosa. He remained there only a short time and then returned to Ohio, where he purchased and drove to this county a flock of 1600 head of sheep. In. 1864 he went to Mt. pleasant, Ohio where he had charge of woolen mill owned by his brother and Dr. Hussey, In 1866 he was employed by Dr. Curtis G. Hussey to take charge of a gold mine in Georgia. He spent two years there and then the mine proving a failure he abandoned It and went to Kansas City. Mo.

In 1870 he moved to Pittsburgh, Pa., where he became General Superintendent of a smelting establishment in that city. In 1875 he came back to Mahaska Co, where he has since resided in Garfield Township.

Mrs. Anne L. Hussey died at her home near Oskaloosa July 20, 1886, at the age of 53 yrs., 8 months, 5 days.

She was a consistent member of Friends Society and led the blameless life of a Christian woman. In her home she fulfilled the measure of a dutiful wife and mother, her going leaves the shadow of great sorrow over the entire household. The subject of this article is a most estimable man, prominent in the counsels of his church, a successful farmer and a leading and influential citizen.