My Genealogy Hound

J. F. Surbrugg, one of the oldest farmers of the township, is a son of John and Elsie (Surhur) Surbrugg, who were born in Switzerland, and came to America after their marriage, locating in Ohio, where they followed farming and dairying. After residing there for some time they moved to Ripley County, Ind., then went to Columbus of the same State, where they resumed farming and dairying, and here the father died in 1888, at the age of seventy-nine years, still survived by his widow, who resides in that State. Nine of their ten children lived to be grown: Elsie, wife of Peter Shank, a farmer of Iowa; John, a farmer of Barton County, Mo.; Peter, a farmer of Indiana; J. F., our subject; Lizzie, wife of Jacob Brown, residing in Indianapolis, Ind.; Margaret, wife of Ephraim Ross, of Indiana; Rosa, the deceased wife of George Carter, of Missouri; Christopher, a farmer of Indiana; Solomon, residing on the old homestead in Indiana; and Godfred, a farmer residing near Columbus, Ind. J. F. Surbrugg only attended the common schools in his youth, and left home when very young. The first work he did after starting out in life for himself was farm work, his wages being paid by the month, but his father collected his pay until he was twenty-one years old. He then continued to labor by the month until the war broke out, when he enlisted in the Third Indiana Cavalry, under Capt. Cline, in Company K, and afterward served as orderly for Gen. Nelson for about sixteen months, when he was discharged on account of sickness. He was at Fort Donelson and Shiloh, being taken sick immediately after the latter combat, and was sent home by order of Gov. Morton. After recovering he went to Pomeroy, Ohio, and began working in a rolling-mill, remaining here between eight and ten months. He then went to Rock Island, Ill., and began working for a nurseryman, and from there joined the One Hundred and Fortieth United States Infantry, Company G, being under Capt. Wilmont, and after serving about six months was discharged, but again enlisted in the spring of 1864 in Company C, Fourteenth Illinois Cavalry, being on active duty until the fall of 1865. He was in the battle of Franklin. After the war Mr. Surbrugg went to Indiana, but after farming there one year moved to Rock Island, where he also farmed one year. He then sold his crops and moved to Iowa, and was there married in 1867 to Miss Mary Worthin, moving soon after to Barton County, Mo., where he purchased raw land, and made a home. At the end of one year he had his land inclosed, then sold out and bought eighty acres of unimproved land, which he also improved and sold. This farm cost him $5.50 per acre, and at the end of ten years he sold it at $25 per acre. Since that time he has resided on his present property, which consists of 200 acres, for eighty of which he paid $10.50 per acre, and for another eighty, $7.50. It is now worth $40 per acre, and is all in one body. He owns eighty acres in another tract. He and wife are the parents of three sons and two daughters: J. C., John W., H. E., Ada and Alice. Mr. Surbrugg is independent in his political views.