Dr. J. W. NUSUM, of Crescent City, was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, December 19, 1848. His father, George G., was born in Virginia, September 2, 1822, a son of Silas and Charlotte (FROST) NUSUM. Mr. Silas NUSUM was a native of Virginia, and served in the battle of November 4, 1791, under General Arthur St. CLAIR; was taken to Ohio, where he was in the massacre or defeat at Fort Recovery, in which seven men were taken captives. He and a man named George GALLAGHER narrowly escaped from being burned alive at the stake. GALLAGHER first broke loose and then set Mr. NUSUM free, and they then fought for their lives. They were, however, held captive for three years, and one day when, at Hanging Rock, Ohio, they were making their escape, GALLAGHER fell from the rocks and broke his hip; but he hid among the rocks on the banks of the Ohio River. NUSUM swam the river and escaped, the Indians being in hot pursuit. After night he swam the river back to where GALLAGHER was, made a raft of some logs, put him upon it and paddled him over to the other side, and thus succeeded in saving his life. He then carried him for three days before finding medical aid. He recovered and entered the practice of law, while NUSUM went into the mercantile business, which he followed until he died in 1847.

Mr. George NUSUM, brought up in the mercantile business in Morgantown, Virginia, following his father in that line, moved in his twentieth year to Freeport, Pennsylvania. He continued in merchandising from 1842 to 1853, when he came direct to Colesburg, Delaware County, Iowa, and was there engaged in merchandising and teaming for ten years. He then sold out all his interests there, moved to Des Moines, entered general merchandising again and so continued for about ten years longer. In 1862 he exchanged his property and business for 440 acres of land in Warren County, six miles west of Indianola, and engaged in farming and stock-raising. In live-stock he dealt extensively, shipping largely. The land had but poor improvements upon it when he first occupied it, but is now well equipped and in a fine condition. There are at present 620 acres in the tract; it is an immense stock farm.

In 1844, in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, he married Eliza KIMBALL, who was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1825, and they became the parents of seven children, the subject of this sketch being the second. He was reared to mercantile life also, but in his twenty-second year, in 1870, he started out for himself, and about this time, February 1, 1872, he was married to Miss Emma ARMSTRONG, of St. Charles, Iowa. Next year he began reading medicine, under the instruction of Dr. GRIMES, of Des Moines, who had been a surgeon in the late war, and is well-known as a skillful practitioner in Council Bluffs, where he followed his profession for several years. After studying in his office three years, Dr. NUSUM alternated between the office and Rush Medical College, Chicago, for about two years longer; then for another two years, from December, 1876, he was in partnership with Dr. James WAKEFIELD at Spring Hill, Warren County. He arrived at Crescent City December 4, 1878, bought property and opened practice. Taking great pride in his profession, he has an extensive and good paying patronage, even in Florence, Omaha, Council Bluffs, Missouri Valley and the surrounding country. He makes a specialty of eye and throat diseases; has saved many cases given up by other physicians.

He is a member of the M. P. Society, of Crescent City, in which he has held different offices. Is also a member of Lodge No. 49, I.O.O.F., of Bloomington, Illinois. Is an exemplary and enterprising citizen.

He is a well-settled Democrat, and has held about all the offices of his township. Is also a member of a library association. Mrs. NUSUM belongs to the Presbyterian Church of Hazel Dell.

Their children are: George G., who was born in St. Mary's, Warren County, Iowa, February 10, 1873; Maggie E., born at Spring Hill, April 14, 1878; Ivy L., born at Crescent City, December 5, 1881; and Vernie, born in Crescent City, May 27, 1890.

Contributed By: Mona Sarratt Knight