Shupe, Isaac C.

SHUPE

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 17:43:38

ISAAC C. SHUPE
born Jan 7, 1832, Ohio

Isaac C. Shupe - This gentleman is another one of the pioneers of Warren county, Iowa, and for the past eight years has lived retired in the pretty little city of Lacona. Glancing back over the past forty years, and to the time when Mr. Shupe settled here in 1856, we find that but few improvements had then been made within the borders of Warren county. Indianola, her seat of government, then contained only one store and a few houses. The site now occupied by Milo was then a wild country, and with no improvements thereon; even its soil had not been turned. Today Indianola contains several thousand inhabitants, and is regarded as a city of culture and refinement. Milo is fast coming to the front, and is a fair example of the progress made all over Warren county. And what of Lacona? In 1856 she boasted a store which was the property of William J. and John M. Cochran, and among the few families in the town were the Clevingers, James Polit, Samuel Meyers, and J. Bryan living in small houses. At this writing Lacona has substantial business houses, fine churches, and good schools, and her many beautiful residences with their pretty lawns and attractive surroundings are all indicative of education and refinement as well as wealth. And in the development which has been carried forward here during these years, Isaac C. Shupe has played no small part. Indeed, he has been a prominent factor in various ways in promoting the town's best interests. He has today, as he has had for many years, property on her market at reasonable rates, so as to encourage an increased population, and not necessarily to advance self interests alone. The beautiful acres south of the depot and many fine residence lots in the heart of the city represent a part of his property here. Born of poor parents in Allen county, Ohio, January 7, 1832, Mr Shupe's early advantages were of a necessity limited. The little schooling he had was obtained in one of the rude log school- houses of Ohio. His father a farmer, Isaac was reared to farm life, was early inured to hard work and became familiar with every detail of agricultural pursuits as carried on there in the 40s [1840s]. His father was Jacob J. Shupe and his good Christian mother was before her marriage Miss Cynthia Ann Meyers. In their family were five sons and three daughters, whose names in order of birth are as follows: Elzina, who has been thrice wed and widowed as many times, resides on her farm in White Breast township, Warren county, Iowa, the names of her consorts being Enoch Brower, Nathan Miller, and Jonathan Beard. Isaac C., with whose name we introduce this sketch, was the second; Henry was kicked by a horse and died from the effects of the accident; Emanuel is a farmer of Marion county, Kansas; Arthur is a well-known resident of Indianola; Jacob, for a number of years a blacksmith of Corning, Iowa, is deceased; Millie Jane is the wife of John Nossman, a farmer of Marion county, Iowa; and Elizabeth married James Poling and lives on a farm in White Breast township this county. The honored father, Jacob J. Shupe, was born and reared in Pennsylvania, and when a young man accompanied his parents from that State to Ohio, where they died some years later. Fairfield county, Ohio was for many years the home of Jacob J. He began his career as a blacksmith apprentice, to which trade he owed his start in life, but he later settled down to farming and became the owner of land in Ohio. In 1858 he followed his son Isaac C. to Iowa, the latter having come West two years before, and on his arrival here the father purchased farm, on which he resided until his death. He died in the sixty-eighth year of his age. His good wife, too, has passed away, and they rest side by side on land owned by their son Isaac, the spot being marked by an appropriate monument.
Allen county, Ohio, was for some years, or until 1856, the home of our subject. At that time, as already stated, he came out to and made permanent settlement here, purchasing on his arrival a farm in White Breast township, where for years he carried on extensive operations. In connection with his agricultural pursuits he was largely interested in buying and shipping stock, Ottumwa and Chicago being his markets, and both his crops and his stock netted him a good revenue. From time to time he carefully invested his accumulations, and now in his declining years he has a competency and is surrounded with all that goes to make life happy in this favored little town where he has retired. Mr. Shupe was married March 16, 1854, to Miss Nancy Claytor, a native of Fairfield county, Ohio, and a daughter of Samuel Claytor. Their children are as follows: John W., born in Allen county, Ohio, March 10, 1856, is a resident of Lacona, and engaged in stock-buying; Samuel is farmer of Warren county, his location being on section 20, of White Breast township; Eliza Ann is the wife of Samuel B. McFarland, the popular landlord at Liberty Center, Iowa; William J. is a farmer on section 19, of White Breast township; Clement L. V. is a farmer of the same township; and Ida O., and Charles O., twins. Ida O. is the wife of Henry Davis, a resident of Andover, Missouri; and Charles O. has tonsorial parlors in Lacona; while “the baby,” Miss Sallie E., is attending the school in Lacona. Politically, Mr. Shupe affiliates with the Democratic party, his first presidential vote having been cast for Franklin Pierce. The family worship in the Christian Church. Though sixty-three years have passed over the head of Mr. Shupe they have left their impress but lightly on his form and he appears to be yet in the vigor and strength of manhood. Source: A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa, Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1896, vol.1, p.500