Wapello County IA Archives Biographies.....Prosser, John C. 1844 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ia/iafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 July 14, 2013, 7:17 pm Source: See Below Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher JOHN C. PROSSER. John C. Prosser is engaged in the cultivation of a farm of one hundred and eighteen acres on section 2, Center township, the place being situated on the Milner Street road, a quarter of a mile south of the city limits of Ottumwa, so that the advantages of town as well as country life are enjoyed by the family. His attention has been given to general agricultural pursuits since 1874. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 26, 1844, a son of John and Margaret (Gittens) Prosser. The father's birth occurred in South Wales and when he was eleven years of age he accompanied his parents, David and Margaret Prosser, to the new world. He was the third in order of birth in their family, the others being: David, William, Thomas, James, Elizabeth and Mary A. David Prosser, the grandfather, followed farming and merchandising after coming to the new world, and his last days were spent in Birmingham, Pennsylvania. John Prosser spent the greater part of his life in Pennsylvania and followed the occupation of carpentering. He was a very industrious man, working hard and saving his money. He was married in Pennsylvania to Miss Margaret Gittens, who was of English lineage and who died of cholera in 1849. To them were born four children: John C.; Christopher, of Center township; Margaret; and Mary Ann. The daughters died of cholera about the time of the mother's death. Later, in Sharon, Pennsylvania, the father wedded Eliza Bratt. The family resided at Sharon until their removal to the west, at which time they went down the canal and thence by railroad and the river to Keokuk, where they hired a man to bring them by wagon to Wapello county, where they arrived on the 13th of June, 1856. The father operated a ferry for about ten years where the Market street bridge in Ottumwa is now seen. He owned a tract of land on the river that covered the site of the park and later he engaged in the milling business on Soap Creek and at Port Richmond, now a part of South Ottumwa. His death occurred in Ottumwa in 1884 when he was in the sixty-third year of his age. John C. Prosser learned the carpenter's trade under the direction of his father and afterward went to St. Louis, where he was employed for a year. For three years he operated a ferry at Richmond and in 1874 turned his attention to farming. In connection with his wife he now owns one hundred and eighteen acres of land on section 2, Center township, only a quarter of a mile from the city limits of Ottumwa. He has brought his place to a high state of cultivation, the fields yielding to him splendid crops annually, owing to his practical and progressive methods. Everything about the place is kept in good condition, the farm is divided into fields of convenient size by substantially built fences and the latest improved machinery is used in planting, plowing and harvesting. In 1869 Mr. Prosser was united in marriage to Miss Exira C. Mulford, who was born in Morrow county, Ohio, December 24, 1849. In July, 1854, the parents drove across the country to Wapello county, where Mrs. Prosser has since resided. Her father, Lewis Mulford, was born in New Jersey, November 26, 1812, and it was in Ohio that he married Amy Miller, whose birth occurred in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, February 5, 1818. Mr. Mulford was a harness maker by trade and followed that pursuit for some years after he came to Iowa, vet for an extended period also carried on farming. He resided near Ottumwa and passed away in 1873, while his wife, surviving him for about seventeen years, departed this life in 1890. They were the parents of seven children, two of whom died in early life, while five reached mature years. The record is as follows: Harvey W. was killed at the battle of Champion's Hill while serving as a member of Company D, Seventeenth Iowa Infantry, in which he enlisted in 1861. Sarah is the wife of Samuel Holloway of Boise, Idaho. Mrs. Prosser is the next of the family. William died in Denver in 1899. Charles E. is living in Portland, Oregon. Florence and Frances both died in childhood. To Mr. and Mrs. Prosser have been born seven children: Charles Lewis, at home; Rosa May, who died at the age of five months; Edna Pearl, at home; Harry Otto, who died at the age of two years; Walter C., who died in infancy; Harvey John, of Ottumwa; and Herbert Hope, who died at the age of two years. Mr. and Mrs. Prosser have traveled quite extensively over the United States. Although reared in the faith of the democratic party, of which his father was a stanch adherent, Mr. Prosser gives his political allegiance to the republican party, believing that its platform contains the best elements of good government. For many years he has served as school director and has ever been much interested in the cause of education, recognizing that the public school is one of the bulwarks of the nation. For an extended period he has been a resident of this county and for forty years has been identified with its agricultural interests. Industry and energy are numbered among his salient characteristics, and it has been these qualities which have brought to him the substantial measure of success which he now enjoys and which enables him to travel and get much out of life. In all of his business dealings he has been strictly fair and reliable, and in other relations of life he has commanded and enjoyed the respect and good-will of his associates. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF WAPELLO COUNTY IOWA ILLUSTRATED VOLUME II CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1914 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/iafiles/ File size: 6.2 Kb