Charles A. W. Colee

COLEE, OLIPHANT, HAYS, ROBINS

Posted By: Marthann Kohl-Fuhs (email)
Date: 3/24/2009 at 15:52:55

CHARLES A. W. COLEE, a native of Shelby County, Indiana, was born March 6, 1854, and is a son of Julius and Mary (Oliphant) Colee, natives of Indiana and North Carolina respectively. He was reared to the life of a farmer, and obtained his education In the common schools. At the age of fourteen years he went to learn the shoemaker's trade, which he followed four years. He then engaged with A. H. Hollenbeck, of Indianapolis, Indiana, as traveling salesman. He continued in this business six months, and then went to Champaign County, Illinois, and worked on a farm for two years; thence he went to Rock Island County, Illinois, and remained there for three years. There he was married August 30, 1876, to Miss Sarah Hays, a daughter of F. and Mary (Robins) Hays, who was born in Rock Island County, Illinois, July 16, 1852. They are the parents of five children Julius F., Mary Ina, Ida Fay, Orin Chatman and Charles A. After their marriage they settled on a tract of eighty acres of raw prairie in section 1, Greeley Township. Mr. Colee has added to his first purchase and now owns 120 acres of as fine land as lies within the borders of Audubon County. He has erected a beautiful frame residence in place of the small house first built upon the farm. He has also erected all the necessary buildings for stock and grain. The entire farm is seeded down to grass, and Mr. Colee devotes his time to stockraising and shipping. He also gives some attention to auctioneering, in which he is very successful. He is energetic and enterprising, and has risen to his present position of financial independence through his own efforts. Mr. Colee affiliates with the Republican party, taking an active part in the political issues of the county. He has been urged to accept various township offices, but is not an aspirant in that direction. He and his wife are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and always lend a helping hand in any work that will advance the cause of Christianity.

1889 BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF
SHELBY AND AUDUBON COUNTIES, IOWA
W. S. DUNBAR & CO., PUBLISHERS
113 ADAMS STREET, CHICAGO

pages 770-771