John Cruise, Jr.
John Cruise, Jr., has lived in
John Cruise, Jr., received his education in an old log school
house in the neighborhood of his home and when not in school assisted his father
with the work of the farm, remaining under the parental roof until he became of
age. He then rented land for three years, after which he bought a farm in
Oneida township and in 1862 took up his residence thereon. He lived there and
devoted his time to its cultivation until 1908, with the exception of eight
years. In 1893 he took the prize at the World's Fair for best exhibit of yellow
corn. In 1908 he retired and moved to Manchester, where he has since resided.
He is a man of sound business judgment and of absolute trustworthiness, and for
twenty-five
years has been administrator for
estates, settling up affairs to the full satisfaction of
the heirs. He owns three hundred and twenty acres of land in
In 1858 Mr. Cruise was united in marriage to Miss Eliza
Rogers, who was born in England, a daughter
of Thomas and Jane Rogers, who came to America in 1845 and settled in Du
Page county, Illinois, where they lived until 1854, when they made their way to Delaware county, Iowa, taking up their
residence upon a farm in Oneida
township. Both passed away in this county. Mrs. Cruise was one of a
family of eight children and became the mother of nine children: Clara V., the widow of S. M. Cook and a resident
of Cedar Falls, Iowa; Elmer F., who resided in Dubuque, where he died;
Harriett, the wife of A. Mclntosh, of Manchester; Lucy J., the wife of Thomas
McCormell, of Washington, D. C.; Cora M.,
now Mrs. W. C. Amsden, of Manchester; Louella J., the wife of L. B. Miller, of Minneapolis; Louisa, the wife of F.
Kenney, of Waterloo, Iowa; John L., of Atlantic, Iowa; and Martha A.,
who married Charles Leibe, of Earlville, Iowa. Mrs. Cruise died in April, 1884,
and was laid to rest in the Earlville cemetery.
In August, 1885, Mr. Cruise married Mrs. Fannie Pooley, the widow of
Samuel Pooley. By her first marriage she has three children: Fannie, the wife
of S. F. Hersie, of Cedar Falls, Iowa; Mary, who married G. F. Allen, of Spokane, Washington; and Samuel J., of Grinnell,
Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Cruise arc members of the Congregational church and
gladly support its work by liberal contributions and by giving of their time as
well. Mr. Cruise is a republican and has
held a number of local offices. He was county sheriff for eight years and
treasurer of Oneida township school district for twelve years, proving a capable and conscientious
official. Fraternally he was made a Master Mason in Square Lodge, No.
286, A. F. & A. M., at Earlville, in which lodge he is a past master. He is now a member of Manchester Lodge, No.
165, A. F. & A. M.;
the chapter, commandery and Mystic Shrine. His life has been one of well
directed and fruitful activity, and the high place which he holds in the
estimation of those with whom he has been brought in contact is but his just
due.
Back to Main Page
Back to Iowa AHGP
Back to AHGP