Person:Nimrod Lease (1)

Portrait & Biographical Album of Washington Co, IA:

NIMROD LEASE, dealer in general merchandise, Crawfordsville, was born in Hampshire County, Fa., and is the son of Henry and Lydia (Cadwallader) Lease, the former of German, and the latter of Welsh origin. The family emigrated from Virginia directly to Washington County, Iowa, in 1850, settling in the then village of Washington. By trade, Henry Lease was a blacksmith, but purchased town property and lands near the village, to which his attention was given. Seven children accompanied them to Washington County: Susan E., the wife of Jacob Sigafoos; Mary A., the wife of Nelson Long; Henry married Mary Baker; William is the husband of Ann Foolan; all were married in Virginia. Our subject, the youngest child, then twenty-one years of age, was the only one unmarried. The eldest son, John, had preceded this small colony, and with his wife, Harriet A. Stewart, had settled in this county in 1846. Near his land, the Lease family made a location, where they continued to reside for several years. The mother died in the autumn of 1865, and the father in 1869, both having lived long enough to see a large family married and well settled.

Nimrod Lease remained with his parents, until his thirtieth year, when his marriage with Mary A. Kurtz was celebrated. Her parents, John and Martha Kurtz, were native of Ohio, who emigrated to this State at an early day, settling in Henry County, where they remained during their lives. They brought with them seven children, three of whom are now residents of this county—Mary A. Lease, Martha A. Long, and Henry Kurtz, a farmer of Crawford Township. After his marriage in 1859, Mr. Lease engaged for five years in farming, at that time owning a large amount of land in Bremer County, Iowa. Later this was disposed of, and several tracts of land were purchased in Crawford Township. In 1865 he located in Crawfordsville and opened a general store, since which time he has continuously engaged in the mercantile trade. Twenty-two years of an active business life, coupled with the care and attention in person to the improvements on his farm, which has been supplemented by various other enterprises, have kept his mind alert and brilliant; at the age of fifty-eight, he still manages in a methodical way the largest business conducted by any man in the village. The first creamery operated in this county was built by Mr. Lease in 1879, and has been under his management and in successful operation to-day. It has a capacity of 1,000 pounds per day, but the average product has been for some time about 250 pounds. Most of his butter is sold in New York and Philadelphia, and in the Eastern markets it has always found a ready sale. This may be considered a successful venture, having been so long conducted under one management, and with the exception of the first year, without loss. The second year a cheese factory was added, which was operated for four years, during which time from 400 to 500 pounds of cheese were manufactured daily. Mr. Lease was also one of the firm composed of J. W. Crawford, R. E. Crawford, J. B. Crawford, N. L. Long, O. H. Schenck, J. B. Crooks, Joseph Sherherd, G. T. Auld, D. C. Campbell and N. Lease, who erected and operated for two years a canning factory, the first of its kind in the county. He was also a large shipper of eggs for two years, and is now a member of the firm of Hise Bros. & Co., of Washington, dealers in eggs and poultry, from which point they have, for months, shipped a carload of eggs per day. He was one of the first dealers and shippers of grain from Crawfordsville,

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and also the first dealer in lumber in the village, hauling the lumber by team from Ainsworth. He also enjoys the distinction of erecting and operating the first livery in the village, and yet owns the barn, as well as the Iowa House, conducted by his son-in-law, C. A. Paisley; the Central House, at Winfield, is also his property. He was one of the first Directors of the Burlington & Northwestern Narrow Gauge Railway, and one of its stock-holders. Nine children have graced the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lease, all born in this county; Margaret, the wife of W. M. Welsh, a farmer of this township; Susan C., the wife of C. A. Paisley; John H., Emma, Joe, Nimrod, Nellie, Richard and William. Mr. Lease is one of the charter members of the Winnemack Lodge No. 445, I.O.O.F., of Crawfordsville, in which he has passed all the chairs, and in which he was at first Past Grand. He is the present Treasurer of the lodge and has helped initiate every member made by the order in this lodge. In all public enterprises Mr. Lease has shown himself a liberal citizen, and with his family, enjoys the greatest confidence of the community in which he resides. As an early settler of the county, and one of the most extensive business men of his town, we are pleased to accord this sketch a deserved place in the PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM of Washington County, Iowa.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Henry Lease Jr. Lease, Henry Jr. Handwritten family information.
2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Iowa, United States. WPA Graves Registration Survey.