Isaac Grush, a resident of Pine Creek Township and the father of John Grush, who is represented by a sketch on another page of this work, is a settler of the county of Ogle of 1846. He is a native of Lancaster Co., Pa., and was born November 13, 1802. Philip Grush, his father, was also a native of that county and was himself the son of Christopher Grush, also a native of that state. Joseph Grush, the father of the latter, was a native of Germany and emigrated to this country from his native land with a colony, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1745. The progenitors of the family were of French nationality and were members of the Moravian Church. They left their native country on account of religious persecution and settled in Germany. From there their descendents came to America as has been related. Christopher Grush was a member of the United Brethren Church and was in its ministry. The parents of Isaac Grush died in their native state. They had four children and Isaac was the youngest. He grew to manhood in the state where he was born and received a common-school education. He was married in 1825 to Catherine Burns, a native of the state of Pennsylvania and who was born in 1810.

In the spring of 1846, Mr. Grush removed to Illinois and settled on the farm on section 10 on which he is at present residing. It was in an uncultivated condition and cost him $1.50 per acre, and contained 160 acres. He built a log house upon it, in which he resided with his family for 25 years. He is the owner of the original tract and also of 40 acres of timber. His wife died in 1842. By her he became the parent of 12 children, whom they named as follows: Philip, John, William, James, Mary J., Elizabeth, Emma, Catherine, Samuel, Hattie E. and Isaac. The child last named is deceased and it is supposed that James is not living.

In 1868 Mr Grush was married to Mrs. Catherine S. Eshleman, a native of Huntingdon Co., Pa., where she was born in 1841. She was the widow of David Eshelman, by whom she was the mother of two children: Minnie and Elsie. Virna V. is the only issue of the second marriage. Mt. Grush is a member of the German Baptist Church. In his political connection Mr. Grush is a Republican, and in the early days of his political life was a Whig.

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