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Fifield, William C. 1843 - 1935

FIFIELD, RANSOM, HUNTER, SHELMIDINE, HOWARD, GOLDSWORTHY, ELLIOTT

Posted By: Bill Waters (email)
Date: 4/25/2014 at 15:37:01

William C. Fifield, a veteran of the Civil war and an early settler in Winneshiek County, has been connected with the agricultural interests of Fremont Township since 1865 and since that time has become one of the largest landowners and most representative farmers in this vicinity. Throughout the entire period he has made his home upon his present farm and his individual prosperity, which is the result of his untiring industry, is counted an important factor in general development.

Mr. Fifield was born in Rutland County, Vermont, July 16, 1843, and is a son of William and Laura (Ransom) Fifield, natives of that state, where the paternal ancestors settled in very early times. The house which was built by the grandfather of the subject of this review is still standing and in good condition, although it is over one hundred and fifty years old. William Fifield, father of the subject of this review, was a machinist by trade and operated a foundry and machine shop in Vermont until the summer of 1854, when he moved to Winneshiek County and entered a quarter section of government land in Fremont Township. After improving this place to some extent his health failed and he was ever afterward an invalid, although he spent the remainder of his life upon his farm, dying in 1880. He was a man of excellent education, a college graduate, and for many years a school-teacher and when he first settled in Winneshiek County taught the little log cabin school. His wife survives him and makes her home with the subject of this review at the age of ninety-eight.

William C. Fifield acquired his education partly in Vermont and partly in Winneshiek County, being eleven years of age when his parents settled here. He remained upon his father's farm until September, 1862, when he enlisted in Company D, Sixth Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, for service in the Civil war. He was mustered out in November, 1865, and afterward returned to Winneshiek County. His father gave him forty acres of land in Fremont Township and to this he soon afterward added the adjoining one hundred and twenty acres. This farm he cleared and improved with characteristic energy and from time to time bought more land until he became one of the most extensive property owners in this vicinity. Much of his land he has divided among his children but he retains a fine tract of three hundred and twenty acres, which, owing to his able management, is one of the best improved and most valuable farms in the township. In addition to this he owns a slate mine in Vermont and he spends much of his time in that state.

Mr. Fifield married, on the 2d of June, 1869, Miss Malinda Shelmidine, a daughter of Date and Sarah (Hunter) Shelmidine, natives of Pennsylvania. The parents were among the first settlers in Winneshiek county and the father took up land in Fremont township, where the town of Kendallville now stands, engaging in the nursery business there during the remainder of his life. He served as a member of the county board of supervisors during the Civil war and was otherwise prominent in public affairs. His death occurred in 1878, he having survived his wife since 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Fifield have become the parents of ten children: Viva, the wife of William W. Howard, a farmer in Orleans township; Laura, who married Ray Goldsworthy, engaged in farming in Minnesota; Olive, the wife of Harry Goldsworthy, of this township; Linda, now Mrs. Andrew Elliott, of Monticello, Minnesota; Ethel, Vesta, Edna and Clinton W., who reside at home: Harry, who died in 1872; and Julia, who passed away in 1876.

Mr. Fifield belongs to the Methodist church and is connected fraternally with the Grand Army of the Republic. He gives his political allegiance to the Republican Party and from early manhood has been interested in public affairs. For thirteen consecutive years he served as township trustee and five years ago was again elected to this office, in which he is now serving. He has also been township assessor and in this and other positions of public trust and responsibility has proved conscientious, capable and reliable in the discharge of his duties. In Winneshiek County, where he has so long resided, he holds the respect and confidence of all who come in contact with him, being regarded as an able agriculturist and a progressive and public-spirited citizen.

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

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