BISHOP, Sylvester Burk - 1912 Bio (1857-1914)

BISHOP, HUFFMAN, BERRY, HUBLEDAL, HEALDE, GRAMMER

Posted By: Debbie Nash (email)
Date: 10/19/2003 at 17:51:49

From the History of Jefferson County - 1912, Volume II
Pages 96-97

SYLVESTER BURK BISHOP

“Sylvester Burk BISHOP, a resident of Liberty township, is the owner of a valuable farm of two hundred and twenty acres on sections 22 and 23. It was in this township that he was born on the 8th of April, 1847 (sic - 1857), his parents being John and Mary E. (HUFFMAN) BISHOP, who were pioneer residents of this section of Iowa and witnesses of almost the entire growth and development of the state. The father was a native of Virginia, coming here at a very early age and spending the remained of his life in this locality. His wife was the first white child born in Van Buren county. In their family were seven children: Talbott, of Libertyville; Sylvester B.; Ann, the wife of Samuel BERRY, of Culbertson, Montana; Robert, who died at the age of forty-seven years, leaving a widow and four daughters; Dr. Carl BISHOP, a practicing physician of Glasgow, Iowa; Mary, the wife of Harl HUBLEDAL, of Rock Island, Illinois; and Emma, who was the twin sister of Mary and died in infancy.

Sylvester B. BISHOP was reared upon the old home farm, acquiring his education in the common schools and aiding in the work of the fields through the summer months and after his school days were over. He continued with his father until twenty-four years of age and then went to Custer county, Idaho, where he spent four years, being employed as an amalgamator in the Custer Mills. On the expiration of that period he returned to Iowa and three years later, on the 10th of March, 1888, was united in marriage to Miss Emma HEALDE, a native of Liberty township, and a daughter of John and Malinda (GRAMMER) HEALDE, both of whom are now deceased. The young couple began their domestic life upon a rented farm in Liberty township and for six years Mr. BISHOP continued to cultivate land that he leased. He then purchased his present property comprising two hundred acres, constituting a valuable tract on sections 22 and 23. He and his brother, Dr. Carl BISHOP, are administrators for their father’s estate of three hundred and twenty-six acres and they have sold forty acres which was formerly a part of the father’s property. Mr. BISHOP is a progressive agriculturist and the farm which he owns has been well improved by him. He has added all the equipments and accessories of a model property of the twentieth century, utilizing the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields, while large barns and outbuildings furnish ample shelter for men and stock. The fact that his place is known as the Long View Stock Farm indicates that stock-raising is the principal feature of the farm. He has extensively engaged in feeding both cattle and hogs and also breeds horses, having two stallions, both a draft and roadster. Upon his place at present he has thirty-two head of high grade horses. The water supply of the place is furnished by two fine springs which are seemingly inexhaustible. Mr. BISHOP also has a silo thirty-two feet high and eighteen feet in diameter. Everything about his place indicates his progressive spirit. He fed last year three carloads of cattle and one of hogs and his annual sales of stock bring him a good return. He is interested in the Farmers’ Elevator Company at Libertyville and also in the Eldon Fair, together with the fairgrounds at Fairfield. He is regarded as a progressive business man, unfaltering in the accomplishment of what he undertakes, and thoroughly reliable in all trade transactions.

As the years have passed seven children have been added to the family of Mr. and Mrs. BISHOP, Healde Judson, Mabel Cleo, Florence, Sherman, Clarence, Charles and Margaret. The daughter Mabel has for the past seven years been successfully engaged in teaching school. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Libertyville and Mr. BISHOP is a republican in his political views but has never sought or desired office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs which, carefully conducted, have brought him substantial and well merited success.”

I am copying this for genealogical benefit and am not related to said individuals.