Buena Vista County, IA
USGenWeb Project

Seward Crouse, who is one of the active and successful farmers, stock feeders and shippers of Buena Vista county, owns and operates a neat and well improved farm of two hundred and seventy acres on section 27, Storm Lake township, within one mile of Storm Lake.  He was born in Montgomery county, New York, March 31, 1S43, in the same house in which the birth of his father and grandfather occurred.  The Crouse family were pioneers of Montgomery county, New York, settling there as early as 1715.  The grandfather of our subject did valiant service as a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and Henry I. Crouse, the father, participated in the war of 1812.

Seward Crouse was reared in the county of his nativity and was afforded excellent educational advantages.  After putting aside his text-books he became engaged in the manufacture of shoes at Little Falls, New York, and was connected with that line of activity for twelve years.  In 1877 he removed westward to Cuming county, Nebraska, where he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land and, after opening up and improving the farm, successfully carried on agricultural pursuits for twelve years.  On the expiration of that period he sold the property and went to Bradshaw, Nebraska, while later he took up his abode in Kearney, that state.  The year 1892 witnessed his arrival in Buena Vista county, Iowa, where he purchased two hundred and seventy acres of land near Storm Lake and at once began to further improve and develop the place.  He has likewise erected thereon a substantial and commodious residence and two good barns, while an orchard which he planted enhances the attractive appearance of the property.  In addition to the work of general farming he also makes a specialty of fattening stock for the market, shipping from two to three hundred head of cattle and several carloads of hogs annually.  He is a stockholder and director in the Commercial State Bank of Storm Lake, is also interested in the canning factory and is recognized throughout the county as a most substantial, progressive and public spirited citizen.

In Omaha, Nebraska, in 1879, Mr. Grouse was united in marriage to Miss Julia E. Rupert, a native of Montgomery county, New York, who was reared in Illinois.  They have six children, namely: May; Harry, who is assistant cashier of the Commercial State Bank; Clara; Charles, a traveling man; John; and Gertrude.

Mr. Crouse cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1864 and has voted for every nominee at the head of the ticket since that time.  His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Universalist church and fraternally he is a Mason, being a charter member of the lodge at Little Falls, New York, and identified with the Blue Lodge, No. 181.  His success has been by no means the result of fortunate circumstances.  It has come to him through energy, labor and perseverance, directed by an evenly balanced mind and by honorable business principles.  In manner he is quiet and straightforward, saying exactly what he means and his word has become a synonym for business integrity.