SHAKESPEARE, Samuel

SHAKESPEARE, MARSH, ROBINSON, WILLETS, MAY

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 2/14/2014 at 13:28:49

History of Decatur County Iowa and Its People
Illustrated, Volumne II.

Prof. J. M. Howell and Heman C. Smith
Supervising Editors

The S.J. Clarke Publishing Company. Pp. 377-79. Chicago. 1915.

SAMUEL SHAKESPEARE

Samuel Shakespeare, who is one of the well-to-do and enterprising farmers of Hamilton township, was born in England, December 21, 1856. His parents, William and Sarah (Marsh) Shakespeare. are likewise natives of that country. In 1859 they emigrated with their family to America and located at Galesburg, Illinois. The father, who was a coal operator, owned and operated the first coal mines in the vicinity of Kewanee, Illinois, and was engaged in that line of business until his demise, which occurred October 24, 1864. His widow survived for a half century, dieing in October, 1914.

Samuel Shakespeare was largely reared and educated in Kewanee but in 1870 accompanied his mother and stepfather, James Robinson, to Geneseo, Illinois, the family home being established upon a farm in that locality. In 1874 removal was made to a farm near Chariton, Lucas county, and there the family resided until 1879, when they took up their abode in Lucas. Our subject was employed in the mines there and also conducted an undertaking business in partnership with his stepfather until 1885, when he entered the employ of the Great Western Railroad, working on the construction of the road. At the same time he gave considerable attention to agricultural pursuits and in December, 1891, he removed with his family to Decatur county, Iowa. For eleven years he rented land but at the end of that time purchased a farm which he operated for about nine years. He then sold that place and bought fifty-three acres inside the city limits of Lamoni and gave his time to the cultivation of that tract of land until the spring of 1915. He then sold that property and purchased two hundred and eighty-seven acres on sections 22 and 23, Hamilton township. He intends to erect modern buildings upon the place and to make other improvements. He is specializing in the raising of Hereford cattle and Poland China hogs and ranks among the efficient and successful stock-raisers and farmers of the county.

On the 6th of October, 1881, 31r. Shakespeare married Miss Hannah Willets, a daughter of Edward and Selena (Marsh) Willets, natives of England, who in 1864 located in Kewanee, Illinois, where the father became a coal miner. While living in England, however, he followed the baker's trade and also engaged in manufacturing horseshoe nails. His wife died on the 15th of May, 1914, when eighty-three years of age, after a very happy married life of sixty-five years. He is now eighty-three years of age and is living with our subject, with whom he has made his home for a quarter of a century. Mr. and Mrs. Willets became the parents of twelve children, two of whom died in infancy, the other ten growing to maturity and rearing families. Nine children survive. To Mr. and Mrs. Shakespeare have been born five children, namely: William E., a resident of Fargo, North Dakota; Ethel G., the wife of John C. May, a missionary of the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints, who was stationed for six years in the Society Islands, but is now residing at Independence, Missouri; Mary A. and Harry A., both at home; and James A., who met death by drowning near Lamoni on the 26th of August, 1905.

Mr. Shakespeare is a republican and has served as president of the school board of Fayette township for several years. His religious faith is that of the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints and he is a teacher in that church. He has been very successful in gaining financial prosperity and has also found time to devote to the advancement of the educational, moral and civic interests of the community and his integrity and public spirit have commended him to the esteem of his fellow citizens.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, February of 2014