Born on 4 July 1817 in Blieskastel, Rhinefalz, Bavaria, Germany. He and his wife had a family of eight children. He died at 1AM, 25 April 1896, aged 79 years.
He fought in the Mexican-American war - a Captain in Co. "D" of Michigan Volunteers. In Civil War, he was liked by his commanding officer, Maj. Gen. Phillip Sheridan, who brevetted Nicholas to the rank of Brigadier General commanding the 36th Illinois regiment. This unit fought at Pea Ridge, Stones River, Chickamauga and Mission Ridge.

Buried with wife at Spring Lake Cem, Aurora, IL.

GEN. NICHOLAS GREUSEL, of Mt. Pleasant, was born in Bavaria, Germany, July 4, 1817, and before leaving the old country
received a fair education in German and
French in the schools of his native city of Blieskastle.
The Greusel's, consisting of father, mother,
brothers and sisters, emigrated to the United
States in the summer of 1833, and on arriving at
the city of New York strangers and penniless, the
eight larger children were told by their father that
they were now in a free country, that he had nothing
more than a parent's blessing to bestow, and
that they must commence the battle of life for
themselves, but that in case of sickness or misfortune,
such a home as he might be in possession of
should be theirs. Without knowing a word of the
English language, the future of these poor children
looked dark and gloomy. The boy Nicholas wandered
over the city for hours in search of employment,
when, after many failures and rebuffs, a
kind and benevolent lady admitted him under her
roof, and gave him shelter and work. The lady
who at this dark hour proved an angel of mercy to
him was the mother of Hamilton Fish, once Senator
from New York, and afterward Secretary of
State under President Grant. Here Nicholas remained
a year, and the following year worked in a
brickyard at Nasburg, N. Y., when the whole family
removed to the Territory of Michigan, reaching
Detroit by canal and steamer, Nov. 1, 1836. At
first such odd jobs as could be found were resorted
to, such as driving team, gathering ashes, etc., but
in the spring of 1836 he obtained a
permanent situation in the firm of Rice, Coffin &.
Co., in the business of lumbering, and remained in
their employ for eleven years, until the breaking
out of the Mexican War. Prior to this he had
served as Captain of the Scott Guards, a local military
company, and subsequently as Major of the
Frontier Guards, and was on duty during the Patriot
rebellion in Canada. At the municipal election in
Detroit in 1844, he was elected Alderman of the
Fourth Ward on the Whig ticket, and served in that
capacity two years. On the breaking out of the
Mexican War he raised a company for service,
which became Company D, 1st Michigan Volunteers,
of which he was elected Captain. Marching
to Springfield, Ohio, the company were sent thence
by rail to Cincinnati, and by steamer to New
Orleans and Vera Cruz, which latter place was
reached ten days after its surrender to Gen. Scott.
In the march upon the city of Mexico the Michigan
Volunteers were attached to the division of
Gen. Bankhead, which marched through Cordova
and Orizaba some distance out on the National
road to the Mexican capital. Their progress through
the country was almost a continuous battle with
bands of guerrillas and bodies of Mexican soldiery,
who swarmed from their mountain fastnesses. In
their encounters with the enemy, the Michigan Volunteers
acquitted themselves nobly, performing
successfully and well every duty assigned them.
The war being ended, in the summer of 1847 the
regiment returned home, arriving at Detroit July
12. At the outset Capt. Greusel's company numbered
105 men, and he returned with eighty-five, the
company having been better cared for and in better
health than any other in the regiment. Under his
economical management about $300 company
money was saved, with which he purchased new
shirts, shoes, blacking, and such articles of clothing
as were lacking, and when within a few hours' ride
from Detroit, directed his men to shave, wash,
and dress in the new outfit provided for them. The
other officers were astonished and somewhat chagrined
to find that his company were clean and well
dressed, while theirs were walking bundles of dirty
rags. On landing, Col. Williams placed Company
D in the advance in marching through the city
and the newspapers were filled with articles eulogistic
of Capt. Greusel and the fine appearance of
his veteran company.
The day succeeding his discharge and muster out of the service found him back in the lumberyard of Rice, Coffin & Co., attending
to business as of yore. Subsequently he
was elected Captain of the City Guards, and then
Lieutenant Colonel of the battalion; was appointed
Superintendent of the city water-works in 1849,
and was the first Inspector General of lumber for
the State of Michigan in 1850, which office he held
two years. An unfortunate investment stripped
him of the hard earnings of a lifetime, and he
again commenced at the lowest round of the ladder
of life to win his way to a competency, and to
fame. He next turned his attention to railroading,
and found continuous employment as a conductor,
first upon the Michigan Central, and then
with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad
Company, in whose employ the Rebellion found him.
A company recruited by him at Aurora, 111.,
was among the first to respond to the President's
call for troops, he being the first man to enlist in
that city, and on the organization of the 7th Regiment
he was commissioned as Major, and proceeded
with it to the front. This was the first
regiment raised in the State of Illinois. At the close
of the three months' service he was commissioned
Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment, which had reenlisted
for three years, and on Aug. 14, 1861, was
promoted to Colonel of the 36th Illinois Volunteer
Infantry, and served as such until Feb. 7,
1863. He was a brave and efficient officer, and
soon after the close of the war received the following
letter from Lieut. Gen. Phil. H. Sheridan :
Headquarters, Mo. Div. of the U. S. Army.
Chicago, Oct. 15, 1865.
CoL. N. Greusel,
Late of the 36th I11. Vol.
Aurora, III.
My dear Colonel: It gives me great pleasure
to summarize the service performed by you while
under my command. I first met you as Colonel
of the 36th Illinois Infantry. In the fall of 1862
your service was most valuable. At the battle of
Perryville, Ky., Oct. 8, 1862, while in command
of a brigade, you were quite gallantly leading
your brigade all the time, and on the campaign to
Nashville the excellent discipline your men maintained
was a model for all. In the battle of Stone
River, Dec. 31, 1862, while commanding your regiment,
and after the death of Gen. Sill, the Brigade
(1st Brigade, 3d Division, right wing), your
services were marked by bravery and good judgment,
and when you were compelled to leave us it
was much regretted, for it was felt that our cause
was losing one whom it could ill spare.
I am, my dear Colonel, yours truly,
P. H. Sheridan, Lieutenant General.
Gen. Greusel left the army on account of disability
by rheumatism, which he contracted on the
night of Jan. 2, 1863, at the battle of Stone River.
He had been fighting for several days, and had
no sleep nights, and on the night in question, in
company with Gen. Sheridan, occupied a brush shelter.
The wind shifted during the night, and in
the morning they were completely' covered with
snow, and he was unable to move, and was compelled
to resign in consequence, Feb. 7, 1863.
He was breveted Brigadier General, by recommendation
of Gen. Rosecrans, after Stone River.
Returning to Aurora, 111., as soon as he was able to
work, he was offered the position of conductor on
the Chicago, Burlington & Quiucy Railroad, which
he filled until Sept. 1, 1866, when he removed to
Burlington, Iowa, and in January following made
his home in Mt. Pleasant. He came to Iowa as
Roadmaster of the Burlington & Missouri River
Railroad, holding that position for three years,
when he retired from active life with the good
wishes, and greatly to the regret of his superior
officers on the road. He has in his possession a
valuable solid gold badge, in shape and size of an
annual pass, suitably inscribed, given to him in
1866 by James C. Sherman, President of the Conductors'
Association, which is one of his most cherished
souvenirs.
Gen. Greusel since his residence in Mt. Pleasant
has connected himself with the Masonic fraternity
here, demitting from the Illinois bodies. He is a
member of Mt. Pleasant Lodge No. 8, A. F. & A.
M. ; of Henry Chapter No. 8, R. A. M., and Jerusalem
Commandery No. 7, K. T., in which latter
body he has been Senior Warden for sixteen years.
In Detroit, Mich., in 1839 Gen. Greusel was
united in marriage with Jane Doumens, a native of
France. By this union there were twelve children,
eight of whom are now living: E. Stuyvesaut is assistant master mechanic at Plattsmouth, Neb.;
Josephine is the wife of Lafayette Langston; Elizabeth
F. is the wife of John A. White, a resident of
Aurora, 111. : Rachel married Fred Grouch, a resident
of Sandusky, Ohio; John 0. resides at Mt.
Pleasant; Nettie is still at home; Susie, wife of
Charles Martin, of Plattsmouth, Neb.; Phil. Sheridan
is employed on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
Railroad; Joseph R. enlisted in the 27th Michigan
Volunteers, and was killed while on the steamer
"Lyon," in 1863. In 1860 Gen. Greusel came to Mt.
Pleasant. The General and Mrs. Greusel are both
members of St. Michael's Episcopal Church at Mt.
Pleasant, of which he is a Vestryman. They are
highly respected by all who know them. By good
management and hard labor, they have obtained a
competency. Probably no man has held more offices
of trust, or served more faithfully his adopted
country, than has Gen. Greusel. His military abilities
are very great, as is shown by the letter we
give from Gen. Sheridan, which, coming from such
a source, is higher praise than any we could give.
Alone, unaided, by his own might he has conquered
all, and from humble beginnings he has won for
himself an honorable name and an enviable position.
The portrait of this brave and gallant soldier and
honorable man is given on an accompanying page.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Henry County, Iowa; ACME PUBLISHING COMPANY, CHICAGO:1888