Source: "Potrait and Biographical Album of Henry County, Iowa, 1888

"Jasper Lusk, a farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 36, Trenton
Township, Henry Co., Iowa, is a native of Greene County, Ill. He was born
March 17, 1832, and is the son of W. B. and Sarah (Dickson) Lusk, a sketch
of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Jasper, after his mother's death,
which occurred when he was two years old, lived with an uncle and aunt in
Illinois for six years, but in 1839 his father took him to live with him-
self, bringing his to Henry County. He was reared upon the home farm in
Tippecanoe Township, and at the age of twenty made an overland trip to Cal-
ifornia, where he remained for two years engaged in farming and mining.
With his father, he returned home by water, by way of Panama and New York.
After his return he obtained 240 acres of land on section 36, Trenton Town-
ship, which at that time was raw land, and upon this farm he still resides.
In 1857 Jasper Lusk was united in marriage with Annie Costlow, a native of
Pickaway County, Ohio. She was born August 3, 1837, and is a daughter of
James and Delia (Hildrith) Costlow. On the paternal side she is of Irish
descent, her father being a native of that county, and her mother a native
of New York. To Mr. and Mrs. Lusk have been born three children: James W.,
still residing at home; Florence, wife of Luther Gayer, of Kokomo, Ind.;
Myrtle Elnora, at home. In 1863 Mr. Lusk again crossed the plains with an
ox-team, and reaching Montana, he engaged in mining for two years, return-
ing home by way of the Missouri River. After his return he again resumed
his occupation of farming, which he has continued ever since. Mr. Lusk is
an excellent farmer, understanding the business thoroughly. He has 500
acres of land, mostly under cultivation, and his stock is of the best
grades in the marker, and he ships from one to three carloads of cattle
per year. He believes that stock to yield a good income must be well kept.
Upon the farm is a fine country residence worth $1,500. Mr. Lusk takes
great interest in all educational matters. Politically, he is a Democrat,
but is liberal in his views."