Shields, J. S.

SHIELDS, SMART, SHERIFF, BLACK

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 7/8/2019 at 17:22:24

BIOGRAPHY ~ J. S. SHIELDS

"Biographical and Historical Record of Ringgold and Decatur Counties, Iowa"
p. 475 (Lewis Publishing Company (1887)),

"J. S. SHIELDS, section 29, Grand River Township, is a native of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, born July 7, 1829, a son of John and Sarah (Smart) Shields. His parents had a family of seven children – John, Mary, William, James S., Joshua, Thomas and Robert. James S. resided in his native State until 1861, spending his early life on his father’s farm. He was married February 21, 1857, to Miss Mary E. Sheriff, who was born and reared in Lawrence County, a daughter of William and Jane (Black) Sheriff. In 1856 he visited Kansas and was in that State during the John Brown troubles, at Lawrence and Topeka, returning to Pennsylvania in time to vote for John C. Fremont. In 1861 he and his family moved to Mercer County, Illinois, where he lived seven years, and in 1868 came to Iowa and located in Grand River Township, Decatur County, on the farm where he has since lived, entering his land from the Government. His farm contains 240 acres of land, consisting of both prairie and timber, well adapted for grain and stock-raising. He has a comfortable house, good farm buildings, orchard, with an abundance of small fruits and native groves, also a fine vineyard. In politics Mr. Shields is a staunch Republican. He has always taken an interest in anything that pertains to the public welfare, especially in the cause of education, and has given his children the best advantages for obtaining any knowledge that will fit them for the business of life. Mr. and Mrs. Shields have a family of eight children – Sarah Jane, Florence E., Mary Paulina, Elizabeth, John S., William F., Harriet A., and Rosa L."

Submitted to the Decatur County GenWeb site by Christy Jay, email: Jaygenie@aol.com