John Birss

BIRSS, YULE, GRAY

Posted By: Joanne Williams (email)
Date: 7/7/2007 at 18:02:26

History of Cedar Co., Iowa, 1879

Center Township

Birss, John, farmer, Sec. 10; P.O. Tipton; born in Scotland, Nov. 9, 1818; lived there twenty-nine years, and lived in England two years, then came to this countryin 1849; started to California and after getting out on the plains was taken sick and walked back to Cedar Co.; arrived here in harvest time, 1850; he bought the farm where he now lives the same year, and has lived here twenty-eight years; it was all Government land between here and Round Grove, Scott Co.; he began life with nothing and now owns 330 acres of land; has held school and road offices in this town. Married Miss Ann Yule, from Scotland, in 1851; she died in 1865; they had five children, four of them living--Ann, Ellen, Mary, John. Then married Margaret Gray, from Scotland, in 1867; they have six children--Charles, George, William, Kate, Margaret, Martha.