Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 851
SAMUEL B. SHIELD

Samuel B. SHIELD, a merchant doing business at Missouri Valley, came to the place twenty-one years ago, and began clerking for S.B. JACKSON, then with E.W. MEECH, and later with Charles CONNOLLY, all of whom were engaged in the grocery business. He spent three years with these three firms. In 1873 he was engaged with the Northern Pacific Railroad in the work of construction. After this he returned to Missouri Valley, and formed a partnership with E.W. MEECH in the grocery business, the firm being SHIELDS & MEECH. They continued in business until 1876, at which time our subject bought his partner out and one year later formed a partnership with C.A. WALKER, which existed four years, when he bought WALKER out, and one year afterward formed a partnership with L.E. MASSIE, the firm being SHIELDS & MASSIE, which was finally changed to S.B. SHIELDS & Co., and so remains to this time.

Mr. SHIELDS was born at Washington, Warren County, New Jersey, March 4, 1840. He is a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (EMERY) SHIELDS. The SHIELDS were of Irish descent. The grandmother's name on the SHIELDS' side, was COLEMAN. Our subject was the seventh of a family of five sons and three daughters. Seven of the children are still living. Mrs. ARNDT, of Missouri Valley, is one of the sisters; one brother lives in South Amboy, NJ; one in Belvidere, NJ; one in Wilkesbarre, PA, and one sister at Dover, NJ, and another in Washington, NJ.

The father was a farmer, and died several years ago, aged sixty-seven years. His wife died at the age of fifty-four. Our subject's brother David died at the age of twenty-nine years at Scranton, PA.

Our subject obtained his education at common schools, after which he remained one year on his father's farm, and then began business for himself at Hyde Park, PA. From there he went to Pittston, PA, and from there to Binghampton, NY. He then returned to Washington, NJ, and from there came to Missouri Valley, Iowa.

He was married January 29, 1850, to Linda B. YARD, who was a native of the same county in which our subject was born. Two of Mr. SHIELDS' brothers married sisters of his wife. Mrs. SHIELDS' parents are both deceased. Mr. And Mrs. SHIELDS are the parents of three children�Whitfield, died in infancy; Ebner E. Ellsworth at the age of eight months; Lela A. was born October 23, 1868, at Washington, NJ, and is still at home.

Politically, our subject is a Democrat. He belongs to Valley Lodge, No. 232, A.F.& A.M.

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