Emanuel Sulgrove

PRICE, SULGROVE, THOMPSON

Posted By: Kent Transier (email)
Date: 1/8/2010 at 11:56:02

“A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa”
The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, 1896

Emanuel Sulgrove, who is well known as one of the leading farmers and early settlers of Madison county, Iowa, dates his identity with this place from the year 1853, he having come to this State when a young man and established for himself and family a home, an acquired a competency. Of his life we are pleased to accord mention in this work.

Mr. Sulgrove is a native of Indiana and was born in Marion county, about five miles southwest of Indianapolis, June 15, 1830. His father, Eli Sulgrove, was of Southern birth, Rowan county, North Carolina, being his active place; he left the South, however when eight years old and with his parents removed to Ohio, where he was reared. On attaining manhood he took up his residence in Indiana, entering land in Marion county and improving a farm there, that place continuing to be his home until 1853, when he moved out to Iowa and settled in Douglas township, Madison county. Here he acquired title to a large tract of land, at one time owning no less than 580 acres. He died in Adair county, this State, when in his eighty-ninth year. James Sulgrove, his father, was an Englishman who came to this country when a young man, and was married in Ohio.

The mother of our subject was by maiden name Miss Naomi Thompson. She was born and partially reared in Tennessee. Her father, the Hon. John Thompson, supposed to have been of Scotch descent, was a minister in the Christian Church, and served as a Representative in the Iowa State Legislature.

The family, of which E. Sulgrove is a member, was composed of seven children, he being the third in order of birth and the eldest now living. He was reared in Indiana, received his education in the common schools of that State, and remained a member of the home circle until he attained his twenty-third year. In 1852 he was married and the year following his marriage he came out to Iowa and direct to Madison county, locating at first on section 16, of Douglas township, where he resided three years. Then he moved to his present location on section 9 of the same township, where he has 114 acres, all well improved, and the improvements all the work of his own honest toil and good management. In addition to his home place he owns forty acres in section 8.

Mr. Sulgrove was married in Marion county, Indiana, in 1852, to Miss Mary Price, a native of New Jersey, who at the age of six years removed with her parents from that State to Indiana, the long and tedious journey being accomplished with teams. Their happy union has resulted in the birth of seven children, as follows: David, Eli, John, William and Jane (twins), Elizabeth A. and Alwilda.

Ever since the Republican party was organized it has had as one of its quiet but stanch supporters Mr. Sulgrove. During the time of the Civil war he proved his loyalty to the Union by enlisting in its army and participating in the most sanguinary struggle this country has ever known. It was as a private in Company I, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, that he went to the front, in September, 1864, and he served until July 16, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. Among the engagements in which he took part was the memorable march to the sea with Sherman.

Mr. Sulgrove is identified with the Christian Church, while his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.