Shea, William R.1881 -

SHEA, WATERS, WEISER, WALTER, FITZSIMMONS

Posted By: Bill Waters (email)
Date: 3/7/2014 at 21:32:28

WILLIAM R. SHEA

On the roster of county officials in Winneshiek county appears the name of William R. Shea, who was elected to the position of county auditor on the 5th of November, 1912. His birth occurred in Decorah, Iowa, on the 17th of June, 1881, his parents being Daniel and Mary A. (Waters) Shea, both of whom were natives of New York. The father was born in Schenectady, New York, on the 18th of February, 1855, and when a youth of fourteen came west with his parents, the family settling in Winneshiek county, Iowa, on the 17th of March, 1869. He attended the Breckenridge Institute at Decorah and his excellent training in this institution is indicated in the fact that he later became one of the best teachers of this county. He first taught in the country districts and subsequently became an instructor in the West Side school, where he made an excellent record and won a reputation which led to his nomination and election on the democratic ticket as county superintendent of schools, in which position he ably served for six years or from 1885 until 1891. Prior to this time he had studied law in the office of Levi Bullis and had been admitted to practice in Iowa courts, but it was not until 1892 that he became an active practitioner at the local bar. Among his professional brethren he was known as an able attorney and safe counselor. He served the city as its legal adviser for four years and had just begun to enjoy a gratifying and lucrative practice when stricken with disease. His political allegiance was given to the democracy and he was well known as an active worker in the local ranks of his party. Several years prior to his death he became afflicted with what then seemed a trivial ailment but which specialists later declared to be incurable cancer. He passed away on the 4th of April, 1908, when fifty-three years of age. The period of his residence in Winneshiek county covered almost four decades and his acquaintance was a very wide one.

On the 28th of December, 1875, Daniel Shea was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary A. Waters, by whom he had eight children, six of whom survive, namely: May; William R., of this review; Mrs. Jennie Weiser, of Minneapolis, Minnesota ; Parnell; Lester; and Bernadine Walter, the eldest son, passed away soon after attaining his majority, while the third daughter, Marjorie, died in 1904.

William R. Shea was reared and educated in Decorah, attending the parochial school, the Decorah high school, Valder Business College and normal school. Going to St. Paul, Minnesota, he was there employed as clerk in a railroad office for some time and subsequently accepted a position as bookkeeper in that city. From St. Paul he made his way to Seattle, Washington, where for some time he was employed as clerk in an abstract office. After returning home he accepted a position as deputy county auditor in 1911 and on the 5th of November, 1912, was elected county auditor of Winneshiek county. In that capacity he has already proven himself an able official and one eminently fitted for his duties.

On the 18th of January, 1911, at Mason City, Iowa, Mr. Shea was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Fitzsimmons. Fraternally he is identified with the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, being now esteemed loyal knight of Lodge No. 443, of the latter organization. He is a democrat in politics and a Catholic in religious faith. His salient characteristics are such as are worthy of emulation and have gained for him the respect and good-will of a large circle of warm friends.

Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark publishing Company 1913

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