CHAPTER 7G

Peter Brous

Elizabeth Sloch

 

Peter Brous

    Born:  17 December 1783

    Died:  4 November 1860, buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Perry Township, Marion

              County, Iowa.  Both tombstones spell in the name as  “Brous”

    Married:  Rebecca Sloch about 1815 or 1816 at or near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

    Parents:  unknown

 

Rebecca Sloch (Shock, Slouch, Slack, Schock)

                  (spelling of last name not well defined or in transition)

    Born:  31 December 1789 at Germantown, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

    Died:  28 June 1876 in Iowa and is buried next to Peter Brous. 

               Tombstone states died at 86 years, 6 months, 28 days.

    Parents:  Henry Shoch and Sarah Castor of Germantown, Philadelphia Co., Pa.

    Brothers/sisters:  Henry Shoch Jr. (20 October 1792); Elizabeth Shoch (24 December

               1795); David Shoch (24 October 1808); Edward Shoch (1 June 1811) 

               2^nd Edition: Morphew-Murphy Story, J.R. Murphy, 4/2001

 

     Peter and Elizabeth lived in the following known locations in America:

        1.  Philadelphia County, Oxford Township, Pa.  18?? to about 1825

        2.  Fairfield Township, Highland County, Ohio 1825 - 1844

        3.  Mahaska County, Iowa 1845

        4.  Marion County, Iowa, 1846 –

 

     “The Brous family were natives of Pennsylvania, from whence they moved to Ohio in 1825, and from thence to Mahaska County, Iowa in 1845.   ...Prior to May 1, 1843 whites were not allowed to settle in any part of the territory now embraced by the boundary lines of Marion County.  ...The Indians ceded to the government all their lands in Iowa on May 1, 1843 and the county was first settled in 1843.  North of Pleasantville the following among others, settled soon after the summer op 1845...Peter Brous.”  (From “History of Marion County, Iowa,” 1881)

 

     Peter settled 1846 in Marion County (Petty Township) along the high north bluffs of the Des Moines River.  Later he obtained land 6 miles directly south of Prairie City in order to have better farming land, but sold it in 1855.  In about 1850, his widowed daughter, Sarah Brous Worley, and her 3 children lived with them a short time before remarrying in 1854.  About 4 miles northwest of them was Vandalia, a town which in the 1860”s boasted of a population of 400, 2 hotels, and a newspaper.  Today the town is nearly gone, but the old village square remains with a church and about 20 old houses still being lived in.  Many old foundations may be seen recalling better times.

 

     Several miles south and slightly west of the Brous’s was Swan, Iowa which is a genuine ghost town, complete with abandoned houses and stores still standing.  In one corner of the old town are a few residents, but for the most part, the town lies deserted.  It appears that up to about 1000 people may have lived there at some time.

 

   

Children of Peter and Elizabeth Brous are:

 

1.  James M. Brous.  Born 5 April 1817 and married Mary Karr at Highland County, Ohio on March 21, 1839.  He is on the Marion County, Iowa census records for 1847, 1850, and 1860.

    

     “Perry Township being a rough, timbered region, wild game was quite plentiful at an early date, and even with the past few years wild cats and lynxes have existed there.  We may relate a little wild cat adventure, of which J.M. Brous was the hero.  It occurred in the spring of 1846 when Mr. B. was employed in making rails some distance from his house.  Observing a large elm stump, about 20 feet high, with a hole in it near the ground, he incautiously put his head in it to see what discoveries he could make.  And his discovery he did make caused him to withdraw his countenance as speedily as possible, for within a very short distance of it was a great mother wild cat and her three kittens.  Mr. B. had no gun, so he closed the hole securely, went for help, and soon the old cat was ousted from her den, killed by dogs and the kittens captured.  After being retained a short time they were not deemed a safe breed to adopt as a part of the domestic circle and were dispatched.”  (From: “Pioneers of Marion County,” by William M. Donnell, 1872)

 

     “James M. Brous, farmer and attorney, ...is one of the pioneers of Marion County.  He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 5^th, 1817 and lived there until 12 years of age, and then removed to Highland County, Ohio and lived there until 1845, and then came to Iowa and settled in Mahaska County, where he remained until 1846, and then came to Marion County and settled in Perry Township.  He owns a farm of 180 acres, and in addition to his agricultural pursuits and various offices he has held, he has had quite an extensive law practice, and has a good reputation as a wise counselor.  He has held all the township offices, and at present is a justice of the peace.”  (From: “History of Marion County, Iowa,” 1881.) 

 

2.  Benjamin Brous, born 25 September 1824 and married to Jane Johnston of Miami County, Ohio in 4 May 1848 at Marion County, Iowa.   He is on the 1860 U.S. Census for Perry Township, Marion County, Iowa.

 

     “Benjamin F. Brous – farmer and stock-raiser, P.O. Swan.  Benjamin was born  September 25, 1824 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  When he was only 5 years of age his parents moved to Highland County, Ohio, where he was raised and educated.  In the fall of 1846 he moved to Marion County, Iowa and lived there until 1848, when he moved to Jasper County, and in 1852 he returned to Marion County, where he now resides.  Mr. Brous being raised in a timbered country, and thinking that was the only place to make a farm, he settled in the timber and by severe toil he now has a farm of 184 acres, 80 of which are in cultivation.  He also has one of the best houses in the township, being two stories and finished in the best of style.  He was a member of the board of supervisors nine years, township clerk about 5 years, assessor 6 years, justice of the peace 22 years, township trustee 6 years.  (From:  “History of Marion County, Iowa, “ 1881.) 

 

3.  Sarah Brous was born 10 October 1822 near Philadelphia, Pa., and died 17 January 1897.  She married 1^st to Jacob Worley on 28 July 1842 at Highland County, Ohio.  She married 2^nd to Matthew Wilson Jones 14 May 1854 at Marion County, Iowa (county record). 

 

4.  Elizabeth Brous was born about1820 and possibly married John C. Miller at Highland County, Ohio on 7 April 1842.  Elizabeth married James Miller 29 June 1848 in Marion County, Iowa. 

 

5.  Hannah M. Brous was born about 1828 and married William C. Harp on 11 March 1847 in Marion County, Iowa.

 

6.  Rebecca Ann Brous was born 1832/33 and married James Farlie on 11 December 1853 in Marion County, Iowa

 

7.  Eli Brous was born 9 October 1826 at Philadelphia, Lancaster County, Pa. and died 15 May 1892 at Hood County, Texas.  Eli married 29 August 1854 at Marion County, Iowa to Sarah Parker (2 May 1833 – 9 January 1890). He is on the 1860 U.S. Census for Perry Township, Marion County, Iowa.

 

                       CENSUS RECORDS FOR PETER BROUS

 

1810 U.S. Census for Oxford Township, Philadelphia County, Pa., page 52: Peter Brous

 

1820 U.S. Census for Oxford Township, Philadelphia County, Pa, page 88: Peter Brous

           1 male 0-<10; 1 male 26-<45; 1 female 0-<10; 1 female 25-<45

 

1840 U.S. Census for Highland County, Fairfield Township , Ohio, page 019, Peter Brouse

 

1847 Tax List for Marion County, District 18, Iowa, page 060, Peter Brouse 

 

1850 U.S. Census for Marion County, District 18, Iowa – all in one household

            Brouse, Peter, age 66, farmer, $2070 real estate value, born Pa.

                         Rebecca, age 61, Pa.

            Worley, Sarah, 28, Pa.  (reads 38, but not correct)

            Brouse, Eli, 32 farmer, Pa.

            Brouse, Rebecca, 17, Ohio

            Worley, Rebecca A. 7, Ohio

            Worley, John Wesley, 6, Ohio

            Worley, Mary Jane, 4, Ohio