My Genealogy Hound

William Woods McCullough, who dates his residence in Union county from 1877 and now makes his home in Creston, was for a long period identified with the raising of grain and stock. He is now engaged in business as a dealer in farming implements and buggies and is enjoying a good patronage. A native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, he was born in October, 1854.

His father, David C. McCullough, was also a native of that county and the family comes of Scotch-Irish ancestry. The father followed the occupation of farming as a life work and in 1856 became identified with the agricultural interests of Iowa, settling in Des Moines county, where he purchased land and developed a farm. In 1865 he removed to Van Buren county, this state, where he resided up to the time of his retirement from business life. He was an energetic agriculturist, prosperous business man and engaged quite extensively in the raising of sheep and other stock. He led a life of intense activity and soon after he had put aside business cares he passed away, dying at his home in Fairfield, this state. He was a member and elder of the Presbyterian church, deeply interested in its work and upbuilding, and his political support was given to the democracy. He died in 1893 at the age of sixty-seven years and for three years was survived by his wife, who passed away in 1896 at the age of seventy years. She, too, was of Scotch-Irish descent and bore the maiden name of Rebecca Frances Woods. Her birth occurred in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, while her last days were spent in Iowa, and in the faith of the Presbyterian church she passed to her reward.

The family of this worthy couple numbered seven children, of whom William W. is the eldest. The others are: Samuel W., a farmer and stockman of Keosauqua, Iowa; Rebecca M., the wife of John McGreer, a farmer of western Nebraska; Bettie M., who died in 1891; Anna F., the wife of John F. Teal, a farmer who has fourteen hundred acres in wheat at Cooperstown, North Dakota; Minnie, who died in childhood in 1864; and Martha L., the wife of Jesse F. Knowles, a contractor and large realty owner at Stockport, Iowa.

William Woods McCullough, reared on his father’s farm, divided his time between the work of the fields and the duties of the schoolroom. He acquired a district-school education and devoted his energies to general farming until the spring of 1896. He became a resident of Union county in 1877, at which time he took up his abode in Platte township, then a young man of about twenty-three years. There he improved a farm of one hundred and twenty acres and year by year continued its cultivation until 1896, when he retired from agricultural pursuits and removed to Creston. He had made a business of raising stock and grain and met with fair success as an agriculturist. Taking up his abode in the city he engaged in the implement business and at different times has been associated with partners but for some time past has been alone in business. He is now occupying a store in Pott’s Opera House block, where he has a fine line of farm implements and buggies. A liberal patronage is accorded him and his trade is constantly growing.

In 1876 Mr. McCullough was married to Miss Mattie N. Custer, who was born in Van Buren county, Iowa, and died in 1877 at the age of twenty-six years, leaving one child, John, who is traveling for a supply company in Nebraska and Colorado. In 1884 Mr. McCullough was married again, his second union being with Florence A. Turner, whose birth occurred in Union county in 1859, a daughter of George and Nancy Turner. They have one child, George T., now a traveling salesman.

The parents are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr. McCullough belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Woodmen of the World, the Odd Fellows society, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is an exemplary representative of these organizations. He votes with the democracy, has served as assessor of Platte township, and has held other local offices, the duties of which he has discharged with promptness and fidelity. He is always found a stanch supporter of his principles, whether in business, political or private life, and his close adherence to high ideals has made him a most respected resident of Creston.