SHAW, William C. (1827-1907)

SHAW

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/10/2021 at 23:15:34

William C. Shaw
(June 8, 1827 – May 17, 1907)

W. C. SHAW, Justice of the Peace of Hayes Township, Ida County, was
born in Oneida County, New York, June 8, 1827, a son of William B. and Laura (Reed) Shaw, natives of Connecticut. In an early day the parents removed to Oneida Cou8nty, New York, and in 1851 the father purchased a farm in Benton Township, Lake County, Illinois, which he improved. His death occurred there in 1879, and his wife died in 1869. They reared a family of seven children, five now living: W. C., our subject; Amoret, wife of Elijah Simmons, of Lake County, Illinois; Orrin, a farmer of Floyd County, Iowa, and a resident of Nora Springs, that county; Juliet, wife of Elisha Dow, of Oregon; and Lucy, now Mrs. Myron Brown, of Polk County, Nebraska.
W. C. Shaw, the subject of this sketch, was reared and educated in his native county. In 1848 he removed to Columbia County, Wisconsin, where he cleared a timber tract, and remained there until 1864. In that year be engaged in farming in Clayton County, Iowa, in 1864 went to Lake County, Illinois,
and in 1876 came to Ida County, Iowa. Mr. Shaw immediately purchased 160 acres of land in section 36, Hayes Township, which is now well improved, and to which he has since added 160 acres more, also giving his sons eighty acres each. He has a good barn, 32 x 78 feet, 16-foot posts, and has devoted two acres of his place to an orchard and shade trees. In his political views our
subject takes an active part in the Republican Party, and has held the position of Justice of the Peace since 1886. In Herkimer County, New York, in 1858, Mr. Shaw was united in marriage with Mrs. Ann L. Ladd, a native of that county, born June 1, 1833, a daughter of Cephus and Sophia (Locklin) Johnson, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of Vermont. In an early day the parents located in Herkimer County, New York, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Our subject and wife have four children, namely: William H., born July 14, 1859, married, and resides in Blaine Township, Ida County; Marion J., born March 24, 1862, wife of Walter C. Jones, of Silver Creek Township; Everett A., born October 29, 1864, at home; and Anna L., born October 26, 1874. Mr. Shaw has spent the greater part of his life on the frontier, and is one of the early pioneers of Hayes Township. He came to Ida County before the advent of the railroads here, has witnessed nearly the full development of Blaine and Hayes Townships, has passed through the grasshopper raid, and has always taken an active interest in everything for the good of his township or county. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church.
Source: Biographical History of Crawford, Ida, and Sac Counties, Iowa, 1893, p.337