EDWARD SHOESTALL

One of the most successful farmers and stockmen of Cedar county is Edward Shoestall, whose home is n Center township, adjoining the corporation limits of Tipton. He is one of the native sons of the county, his birth occurring in Fairfield township on the 27th of April, 1865, and his parents were Edward and Rosanne (Markle) Shoestall, who were born, reared and married in Pennsylvania. They continued to make their home in that state until coming to Iowa about 1850, at which time they took up their residence south of Tipton in Cedar county. Later they removed to a farm in Fairfield township, where the father died at the age of thirty-seven years. The mother is still living and now makes her home in Fort Madison, Iowa. Throughout life the father followed agricultural pursuits and just before his death purchased a farm. In his family were six children, namely: Albert; John, now a resident of Oklahoma; Joseph, of Nebraska; Mary, the wife of Henry Sutphin, of Fort Madison; Kate, the wife of Charles Curtis, of Nebraska; and Edward, of this review.

Our subject was only four years old when he lost his father and a year later the mother took her children to Clarence, where the family were reared. During his boyhood and youth he attended school and at an early age began his business career, working by the month as a farm hand at the age of fourteen years. He has always made his home in Cedar county with the exception of about a year and a half, and to agricultural pursuits he has devoted his time and energies. Success has crowned his efforts and he is today the owner of a very valuable and well improved farm of two hundred and twenty acres adjoining the corporation limits of Tipton in Center township and also has two hundred and forty acres in Linn county and one hundred and fifteen acres in Black Hawk county, Iowa.

In 1889 Mr. Shoestall was united in marriage to Miss Laura D. Winters, who was also born in Fairfield township, July 17, 1868, a daughter of David C. Winters, and they now have two children, Eva Ethel and Mabel Grace.

Mr. Shoestall has not confined his attention alone to agricultural pursuits but is one of the original stockholders in the Tipton Canning Company and is today a stockholder in the City National Bank of Tipton. He is also engaged in the stock business in partnership with J. W. Argo under the firm name of Argo & Shoestall and in all his undertakings has been remarkably successful. He takes a commendable pride in the prosperity that he has achieved, for it is due entirely to his own industry and good management. As an upright and reliable business man he has followed in the footsteps of his father, whose good name and credit assisted him on starting out in life for himself. Even after his father had been dead for ten or twelve years he was able to secure credit on account of being the son of Edward Shoestall, whose word was ever considered as good as his bond and whose integrity was never doubted. Our subject is a man of energy and progressive spirit and to these characteristics as well as to his honesty and business ability can be attributed his success.