Shearer, John W.

SHEARER, PATTERSON

Posted By: Gary Norris (email)
Date: 2/5/2013 at 07:17:27

The History of Poweshiek County, Iowa
Des Moines: Union Hist. Co., 1880.

SHEARER, JOHN W.—Jackson Twp—pg 663-4. Retired farmer. A native of Scotland. Was born in Eberdeenshire in April, 1827. He was raised on a farm until sixteen years of age; he was then apprenticed for four years to learn the shoemaker’s trade. Two years before his time expired his employer died. He then hired himself to another shoemaker for one year for forty-five dollars. After that he worked with the same man three years at job work. In 1851 he started business for himself, which he continued successfully until 1853, when he emigrated to the United Stated, landing in New York in August. He stopped there but a few months when he worked his way westward as far as Ohio, working in different places at his trade, until 1854, when he still came west, crossing the Mississippi river on the ice. He worked about one year in Cedar and Linn counties, he then came to Montezuma and opened a shoe-shop, which he continued until 1859, when he gave his attention to farming. He opened up a farm in Lincoln township, and has given his attention principally to farming ever since, and owns a well improved farm of 240 acres. In the fall of 1862 he bought nineteen head of young cattle, paying an average of $13.50 per head, and the following spring sold them for $35.00 per head. Mr. S. is a man of good business qualifications, and by good management has placed himself above want. He was married in Montezuma to Miss Belle Patterson, December 1, 1878. She is also a native of Scotland.