Nimrod David Lease ¹

  General Notes:

Notes for Nimrod David Lease:
Nimrod, dealer in general merchandise, Crawfordsville, was born in Hampshire Co., VA and is the son of Henry and Lydia (Cadwallader) Lease. His father Henry was of German origin and Lydia was of Welsh origin. The family emigrated from Virginia to Washington Co., IA in 1850, settling in the village of Washington. By trade, Henry was a blacksmith, but purchased town property and lands near the village. Seven children accompanied them to Iowa, Susan, Mary, Phoebe, Lydia, Henry, William and John. All were married in Virginia, but Nimrod. The eldest son, John, had preceded this move with his wife Harriet A. Stewart in 1846. The family settled near John's land where they resided for several years. Lydia died in 1865 and Henry died in 1869. Nimrod married in his thirtieth year, Mary A. Kurtz, daughter of John and Martha Kurtz from Ohio. Nimrod farmed for five years after his marriage. He sold his land in Bremer Co. and purchased land in Crawfordsville. He then opened a general store The first creamery operated in this county was built by Nimrod in 1879. It has a capacity of 1,000 pounds per day, but the average product has been for some time about 250 pounds. Most of his butter is sold in New York and Philadelphia. In the second year he added a cheese factory which operated for four years during which time 400 to 500 pounds of cheese were manufactured per day. He was also a member of the firm that erected and operated for two years a canning factory, the first of its kind in the county. He was also a large shipper of eggs for two years and is now a member of the firm of Hise Bros & Co of Washington, dealers in eggs and poultry. They shipped a carload of eggs daily. He was one of the first dealers and shippers of grain from Crawfordsville and also the first dealer in lumber, hauling it by team from Ainsworth. He erected and operated the first livery in the village and yet owns the barn, as well as the Iowa House, conducted by his son-in-law, C. A. Paisley; the Central House, at Winfield is also his property. He was one of the first directors of the Burlington & Northwestern Narrow Gauge Railway and one of its stockholders. He and his wife had nine children, all born in Washington County. Nimrod is one of the charter members of the Winnemack Lodge No. 445, I. O. O. F., of Crawfordsville and the present Treasurer. ²

Nimrod married Mary Anne Kurtz, daughter of Unknown and Unknown, on 3 Mar 1859 in Washington, Washington County, Iowa. (Mary Anne Kurtz was born on 13 Aug 1835 in Warren County, Ohio, USA, died on 24 Jan 1923 in Crawfordsville, Washington County, Iowa and was buried in New Crawfordsville Cemetery, Crawfordsville, Washington County, Iowa.)

  Marriage Notes:

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