Albert Coe Northrup (1827 - 1901)

A. C. Northrup, who was a veteran of the Civil war and also a prosperous farmer and stock dealer, resided at Garden Grove for many years and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. He was born in Peterboro, Madison county, New York, and there received his education and grew to man's estate. Some time before the Civil war he located in Decatur county, Iowa, becoming a resident of Garden Grove. At that time the county was in the frontier stage of development, there was only one store at Garden Grove and many of the conveniences of life that are now considered necessities were altogether unknown. Mr. Northrup devoted his energies to farming and also bought and shipped stock extensively, being very successful in that occupation, as he was an excellent judge of stock and studied the market carefully. He accumulated a competence and was recognized as a man of good business judgment.

Mr. Northrup was married December 20, 1863, to Miss Melissa Brown, who was born in Huron county, Ohio, a daughter of Hugh and Harriett Brown. In 1854 she accompanied her parents to this county and has since resided here. She is one of the most esteemed of the older residents of Garden Grove and, although she has reached the age of seventy-four years, she is still active and vigorous. She is a sister of Captain J. D. Brown, of Leon, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. The Presbyterian church finds in her a loyal and consistent member and she has always manifested much interest in its work. To Mr. And Mrs. Northrup were born six children: Mrs. Emma Shaw, who resides near Denver, Colorado; Lenore, the wife of J. F. Gill, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Mrs. Libbie Shaw, who resides near Garden Grove; Albert E., a member of the firm of Northrup Brothers, merchants of Garden Grove; Harvey L., also a member of the firm of Northrup Brothers, who is serving on the board of supervisors; and Clyde, a farmer residing near Van Wert, this state.

Mr. Northrup was a republican and never faltered in his allegiance to that party. Fraternally he was identified with the Masonic lodge and the post of the Grand Army of the Republic at Garden Grove. He enlisted from Decatur county in Company L, Third Iowa Cavalry, and for four years fought in the Civil war in the defense of the Union. While with Captain J. D. Brown he was captured by the rebels and during the four years that he was at the front he experienced all of the hardships and privations of the war. His demise, which occurred on the 22d of September, 1901, in Woodland township, was a loss to his many friends and to the community at large. He was seventy-one years of age but was still young in spirit and took much interest in all that happened. -Source: History Of Decatur County Iowa And Its People Prof. J. M. Howell And Heman C. Smith, Supervising Editors Illustrated; Volume II; Chicago The. S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, C. 1915 findagrave.com