Shannon, Mrs. Danie H.

SHANNON, STEVENS

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner
Date: 7/25/2006 at 15:50:53

SHANNON, MRS. DANIEL H.

Mrs. Daniel H. Shannon, whose maiden name was Alice E. Stevens, is a lady who has long been a resident of Rock Rapids, Lyon County, and here her modest virtues and kindly character are well known. She was born in New York and her father, Solomon King Stevens, was also born in New York, and died in Iowa in September 1876. Our subject was married to Daniel H. Shannon, who was born September 19, 1844 and died June 19, 1889. By this marriage she became the mother of three children: Winnie M., a carpenter and builder; Edwin C. is in the telephone business, and is living at home with his mother. The oldest child, George E. died July 22, 1876, when a little more than a year old.

Daniel H. Shannon, a native of New York, was in early life a clerk in a dry goods store, but later became interested in hardware establishment, and thoroughly mastered the business. Finally he became a partner with his brother-in-law in a hardware store at Marble Rock, which they conducted for about a year, when Mr. Shannon, disposing of his interest at that point, put in a stock of hardware at Elgin, Iowa. For some four years he confined himself to hardware, but then added groceries and continued some four and a half years longer. At the expiration of that period he sold out and removed to Rock Rapids, in March 1883. Here at first he engaged in the livery business, and then in a furniture store. This he sold, and constructing the Union block, filled one of his stores with a selected hardware stock. He was burned out in 1884, but not discouraged he resumed business on a larger scale. In 1889 he was burned out a second time, this time the shock proving so great, that he never resumed active business. He rebuilt his block of stores on Main Street, which, however, were not completed until after his death. Mrs. Shannon now rents them. She also owns another brick block on the business street, while the beautiful family home, which he completed before his death, is still occupied by her and her younger son.

Mrs. Shannon was very lonely after the loss of her husband, and to fill her mind became a nurse, an occupation that she was obliged to renounce after a trial of three years, as her health could not endure the strain. So she has returned to her home, and is now passing the evening of her days surrounded by the loving care and devotion of many friends, her children looking after with devoted filial affection.

Solomon K. Stevens, father of Mrs. Shannon, was born in New York, and early in life removed to Illinois, where he lived many years on a farm. When he died in Iowa he had passed his sixty-ninth birthday. His ancestry followed Yankee lines.

Source: Compendium of History Reminiscence and Biography of Lyon County, Iowa. Published under the Auspices of the Pioneer Association of Lyon County. Geo. Monlun, Pres.; Hon. E. C. Roach Sec’y; and Col. F. M. Thompson, Historian. Geo. A. Ogle & CO., Published, Engravers and Book Manufacturers. Chicago, 1904-1905

Transcribed by Roseanna Zehner, Darlene Jacoby and Diane Johnson