Edward Bisdee

BISDEE, HEWLETT, SHAW

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/10/2011 at 08:16:46

EDWARD BISDEE is a fine representative of the self-made, self-educated man, and the work that he has accomplished has placed him among the well-to-do farmers who have borne so prominent a part in building up the financial prosperity of the state of Iowa. A native of England, he was born in Somerset County, December 18, 1829, and is the son of Edward and Hannah (Hewlett) Bisdee, also natives of that place. Grandfather Edward Bisdee was a farmer in England. The father of our subject emigrated to the New World, and was accompanied on his journey by his wife and eleven children. They made their home in New York State, and there continued to reside on a farm which the father had purchased, and which comprised one hundred and sixty acres. This was in 1831, when our subject was but eighteen months old.

The parental family included fourteen children, two of whom died in England. Those living besides our subject are: Harry, Thomas, Phoebe A., Sabrina, Sidney, Samuel, Caroline, Maria, Fannie, Ellen and Alfred. The mother of these children was reared and given a good education in England, and at her death, which occurred in her fifty-eighth year, she was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The father of our subject when a young man enlisted in England as a member of the London Benwell Volunteers. He was a man of broad information, and exerted himself to give his large family of children the best advantages for obtaining an education. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was in every way worthy of the high regard paid him. In politics he was in early life a Whig, but later joined the Republican party.

Edward Bisdee was only eighteen months old when brought to America by his parents, and in New York State he was given a good education in the schools of his locality. In his twenty-ninth year he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A., daughter of Orin and Julia Shaw, natives of Vermont. Their union has been blessed by the birth of the following children: Fred, who is deceased; Grace, Ada, Berta and Edward. They have all been given excellent schooling and are fitted to occupy honorable positions in life. Mrs. Sarah Bisdee, who was a highly respected lady, departed this life at her home in 1887, when in the fifty-eighth year of her age.

Prior to coming to this state, our subject worked a farm on shares in New York, but feeling that he could make better headway in the west, in the fall of 1861 he removed here and purchased the property where he is residing, and which comprises eighty acres. It is one of the choice farms in this township, and is well developed and supplied with substantial improvements. Although Mr. Bisdee devotes his time mostly to private duties, he has been called upon to fill various offices of trust, and has at all times given entire satisfaction. In politics he always casts a Republican vote.

Source:
Portrait and Biographical Record
of Jasper, Marshall and Grundy Counties, Iowa
1894