History of Winnebago County and Hancock County Iowa
Vol. II  Chicago: Pioneer Publishing Company, 1917

R

Business enterprise, sound judgment and unfaltering industry find expression .in the life record of J. J. Rusley, now a valued and representative farmer of Mount Valley township, Winnebago county, living on section 11. He was born on the farm where he now makes his home and which he now owns, his natal day being February 12, 1873. His parents were John K. and Sarah (Jacobson) Rusley, both of whom were natives of Norway, where they were reared and married. In 1864 they came to the United States, settling in Dane county, Wisconsin, where they resided, however, for only two years. They then became residents of Freeborn county, Minnesota, establishing their home near Twin Lakes, where they lived for two years. In 1868 they arrived in Winnebago county, Iowa, and purchased the farm which now constitutes the home place of J. J. Rusley. There the father took up his abode and spent his remaining days, giving his time, thought and energies to the further development and improvement of the land until his life's labors were ended in death on the l5th of February, 1909. For three years he bad survived his wife, who passed away February 12, 1906.

J. J. Rusley obtained his education in the district schools, his time being divided between his textbooks and the work of the fields. In 1895, after reaching his twenty-second year, he took charge of the home farm and continued to operate the place until 1901, when he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 12, Mount Valley township. To this he removed and for eight years continued its cultivation. In 1909, after his father's death, he purchased the home farm and returned to the place of his birth. He has since lived thereon with the exception of two years spent in Joice, Worth county. However, he still retains the ownership of both farms and is regarded today as one of the substantial agriculturists and leading men of Mount Valley township. His property returns to him a gratifying annual income and in all business affairs he displays sound judgment and keen discrimination. In the spring of 1915 he removed to Joice and for two years he was there engaged in the buying and shipping of livestock but in the spring of 1917 returned to the home farm. He is now a stockholder in the Lake Mills Lumber Company and a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company of Joice.

In 1901 Mr. Rusley was united in marriage to Miss Tomine Ramsey, her father being T. T. Ramsey, a prominent agriculturist of Worth county, Iowa. They now have five children, namely: Truman, Selmer, Glenn, Irene and Ruth, the eldest being in his fifteenth year.

Mr. Rusley gives his political allegiance to the republican party and for four years he served as a member of the board of township trustees. He was also a member of the town council of Joice when residing there and he is a recognized leader in local party ranks. For two years he served as chairman of the republican central committee of Mount Valley township and he does all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of the party, believing that its platform contains the best elements of good government. He and his family are members of the United Lutheran church and are widely and favorably known in the community where they make their home. During an active business career Mr. Rusley has worked his way steadily upward and at all times and in every relation of life be has displayed those traits which make for honorable manhood and citizenship.

JOHN O. RUSLEY submitted by Gordon Felland

John O. Rusley, now successfully operating the farm belonging to the Old Peoples Home on section 27, Center township, Winnebago county, was born in that township, August 20, 1879, and is a son of Ole and Hannah (Christopherson) Rusley, natives of Norway. It was during his childhood that the father came to America with his mother, reaching this country during the Civil war, about 1863, and locating in Wisconsin, where the family resided for three years. At the end of that time the family removed to Freeborn county, Minnesota, where Ole Rusley grew to manhood, but after living there for five years came to Winnebago county, Iowa, and purchased land in Center township, which he farmed until 1880. He then sold that place and bought a tract of land in Grant township, which he operated for ten years. On disposing of that farm he purchased another in Mount Valley township, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred on the llth of May, 1894, when he was forty-five years of age. His wife survived him several years, passing away in January, 1910, at the age of seventy-three years.

John O. Rusley was reared and educated in Grant and Mount Valley townships and remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority, in the meantime becoming thoroughly familiar with agricultural pursuits. On leaving home he became interested in the creamery business, to which he devoted his attention for ten years, and then resumed farming, having for the past seven years had charge of the farm belonging to the Old Peoples Home on section 27, Center township. This tract was donated by Ole J. Cleven for the purpose for which it is now used and consists of two hundred and forty acres of valuable land, which Mr. Rusley has placed under excellent cultivation. He makes a specialty of raising thoroughbred Duroc-Jersey hogs and keeps thirty head of cows for dairy purposes. He is not only a progressive and up-to-date farmer but is a man of good business ability and is now a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company and the Lake Mills Creamery at Lake Mills.

In 1905, Mr. Rusley married Miss Andrena Honsey, a daughter of Peter and Anna (Wikeren) Honsey, who came to the United States from Norway at an early day and located in Worth county, Iowa, where Mr. Honsey farmed for many years, but in 1915 retired from active labor and removed to Lake Mills, where he died on the 13th of April, 1917, at the age of eighty-five years. His widow is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Rusley have three children, namely: Agnes, born March 12, 1906; Glen, born November 6, 1911; and Opal, born February 14, 1914. The parents hold membership in the United Lutheran church, and in politics Mr. Rusley is a republican.