Shewmaker, Elba

SHEWMAKER, BARD

Posted By: Mary H. Cochrane, Volunteer
Date: 7/9/2019 at 08:03:50

Biography ~ Elba Shewmaker

Reflections of Grand River Iowa 1881-1981 "Early Pioneers" p. 21

Elba Shewmaker was born on the farm near Grand River in 1875. Elba attended high school in Grand River. His father died when Elba was 15 and he took over the farm. With the exception of two years spent at Hellman's Mercantile in Chicago, he spent his entire life in Decatur Co. In the fall of 1914 he was elected on the Republican ticket to the office of Decatur Co. Treasurer. Elba never married.

Transcribed for IAGenWeb.org, Decatur County

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. 7-8. Chicago. 1915

Elba Shewmaker
Elba Shewmaker, who since January 1, 1915, has capably served as county treasurer of Decatur county is a native son of Iowa, his birth having occurred on a farm in Grand River township, Decatur county, December 2, 1875, his parents being George and Emma (Bard) Shewmaker. The father was born in Jackson county, Indiana, and from that place came to Decatur county in 1869, after he had reached years of maturity. It was in the same year that Mrs. Shewmaker arrived in Decatur county with her parents, they having removed to this section of the state from Indiana. Her birth occurred in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1850. It was in this county that the young couple met and a year after their arrival they were united in marriage. They then located upon a farm in Grand River township, where the father was identified with agricultural pursuits throughout his remaining years. Prior to his removal to this state he had enlisted for service in the Civil war as a member of the Twenty-second Indiana Volunteers. He was very successful in business and took an active part in local affairs, having served from 1875 until 1878 as a member of the board of supervisors. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and died in that faith on the 16th of February, 1892, at the comparatively early age of forty-nine years. His widow also belongs to the Methodist church and now makes her home in Leon. To Mr. and Mrs. George Shewmaker were born three sons: Rolla, who is engaged in farming at Knowlton, Montana; Thomas E., who resides in California, where he also follows farming; and Elba, of this review.

The last named was reared on the home farm and assisted his father in the work of the fields during the spring and summer seasons, while during the winter months he pursued his education in the schools near his home, subsequently attending the high school at Grand River. He was a youth of about fifteen years at the time of his father’s demise and since then has ably managed the farming interests in Grand River township, the family still having in their possession the homestead comprising two hundred and forty acres. With the exception of two years spent in the inspecting department of Hillman’s mercantile establishment in Chicago, he has always lived in Decatur county.

It was in the fall of 1914 that Mr. Shewmaker was elected on the republican ticket to the office of county treasurer of Decatur county and, taking charge of the office on the 1st of January, 1915, he is now capably serving in that position. In his fraternal relations he is identified with the lodge of Odd Fellows at Leon. Having spent his entire life in Decatur county he is well known and his election to the position which he is now filling is indicative of his popularity in this section of the state. He has a social, genial nature, which gains for him the warm regard and friendship of all with whom he comes in contact.

Transcription for IAGenWeb ~ Decatur County