Shadrach "Shade" Burleson, 1805-1883

BURLESON, HOUGHTON, DENNISON

Posted By: LuAnn (Wentworth) Goeke (email)
Date: 6/3/2011 at 20:10:47

S. BURLESON, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 20; P.O. Nashville; one of the best-known men in Jackson Co., and the oldest settler now living in this part of the county; is familiarly known as "Shade Burleson" of "Buck Horn; " he is a native of the State of Vermont, and was born in the town of Pownal, Bennington Co., Sept. 19, 1805; he grew up to manhood there; when 19 years of age, he went to Waterford, N.Y., and lived there and in Troy ten years, and ran a freight packet on the Erie Canal. On the 8th of February, 1824, he was united in marriage to Miss Eunice J. Houghton, in Waterford. In 1836, he started for the West, coming from Detroit through Chicago, to Galena, by stage, and arrived there in September; he had to walk one-half of the distance from Detroit; they remained in Galena during the winter, and the following spring came to Jackson Co., and arrived here April 6, 1837; he made the claim where he now lives, and located upon it, and has lived on this over forty-two years, a longer time than any person has lived in this part of the county, if not in the whole county, on the claim made by themselves; he and his wife used to make mittens out of deer skins, and had a demand, at $1 a pair, for all they could make; he was an excellent marksman, and it was no trouble for him to secure game, if he could get sight of it. In the winter of 1839, he got $20 in money, and started for Galena with his team, after provisions. When he reached Bellevue, they were having a shooting match for a bear-ten chances, at $5 each; he went and borrowed a rifle of Hugh Kilgore, and paid $5, and won the bear; he put the bear up again at $5 a chance, retaining one chance for himself, and won it again; he then sold the bear for $25, on condition that he would not shoot again; he went on to Galena, bought his provisions, including, among other things, a barrel of pork, and when he reached home, and his family found he had some meat, they cried for joy, and immediately opened the pork and found it was spoiled, and entirely unfit for use; the oxen were yoked up immediately, the barrel of pork was rolled on the sled, and although it was nearly sunset, the team was started for Galena, where the meat was exchanged for a good barrel, and it was brought home and thoroughly enjoyed; there are very few men who have endured as much, and overcome as many obstacles as Mr. Burleson; he has carted dressed pork to Bellevue, and sold it for 75 cents per hundred, and could not get cash nor groceries in payment, but could only get shelf goods; he has started on foot with his ploughshare, to have it sharpened, and walked forty to fifty miles, with only just money enough to pay for having it sharpened, and when he could get no boat, would swim rivers and streams; the interesting incidents and happenings, and the anecdotes he can relate of his experience in the settlement and early history of this county, would fill many pages of this volume. As the fruit of the labors of himself and his wife, he now owns 400 acres of good land, finely improved. On the 8th of February, 1874, Mr. and Mrs. Burleson celebrated their golden wedding, it being the fiftieth anniversary of their married life; after living together for fifty-five years, Mrs. Burleson died in April, 1879. She was a woman of great personal worth, and her loss was felt the most by those who knew her best, and her death was mourned by the whole community. Mr. and Mrs. Burleson had six children, four of whom are living - William, Charles, Frank, Emily, now Mrs. Dennison (all living in this county). They lost two children, Mary and Harriet; Charles was in the army; he enlisted in the 31st I.V.I. - 1879 History of Jackson County, Iowa - Pg 641-642