Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 514
SCOTT C. ESHELMAN

It is the progressive, wide-awake man of affairs that makes the real history of a community. His influence as a potential factor in the body politic is hard to estimate. The example such men furnish of patient purpose and steadfast, integrity, strongly illustrate what is within the power of such to accomplish. There is always a full measure of satisfaction in adverting, even in a casual way, to their achievements in advancing the interests of their fellow citizens and in giving strength and solidity to the institutions which make so much for the prosperity of the community. Such a man is Scott C. ESHELMAN, a banker of Persia, Harrison county, Iowa. It is eminently proper that a review of his career be given among the representative citizens of Harrison county, the county of his adoption.

Scott C. ESCHELMAN was born August 8, 1860, in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and is the son of Dr. Jeremiah S. and Mary E. (FRAZEY) ESHELMAN. The former was born in1833 in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, the son of David and Sarah (JACKSON) ESHELMAN, and was reared on a farm. When he had reached his majority he went to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and began the study of medicine. He was graduated from the medical college and practiced until his death, which occurred in 1863. Dr. ESHELMAN's wife was born May 11, 1838, in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Noah and Elizabeth (MAKIEN) FRAZEY, natives of Pennsylvania and early settlers of Illinois, both now being deceased. They came to Ogle county, Illinois, where the mother taught school, having also taught in Pennsylvania. She died in Woodbine, Harrison county, Iowa, December 18, 1907. The FRAZEY family dates back for many generations and an accurate record is available since 1792.

Dr. Jeremiah ESHELMAN and wife were the parents of three children, Scott C., the subject of this sketch; Benjamin F., a dentist in Los Angeles, California, having received his dental education at Northwestern University in Chicago where he was graduated, and Lillie H. TALLMAN, deceased.

Scott C. ESHELMAN received most of his education at Lanark, Illinois, where his mother taught school for many years. He began his school days under his mother in the primary class. His father died when he was very young and he was thrown largely upon his own resources at an early age. When he was twelve years old, he began working by the month, receiving six dollars for each month's labor. Later, he came to Shelby county, Iowa, and engaged himself as clerk for Mr. Pomeroy. In 1837 [sic] he became a clerk and bookkeeper in the bank under Mr. Davis, and later, in partnership with Mr. Davis, owned a bank at Persia, Iowa, remaining with the bank at Persia for fourteen years, or until the death of Mr. Davis. Mr. ESHELMAN then moved to Woodbine, Iowa, to educate his children, but while there engaged in the real estate business until 1913, in which year he returned to take charge of the old bank at Persia. At this time the bank was reorganized and it is now known as the Persia Savings Bank. Mr. ESHELMAN is cashier, director and a stockholder in the bank. He owns one hundred and twenty acres of land in Douglas township, upon which he has made many improvements. He owns several pieces of residence property and town lots in Woodbine and in Persia and also in Shelby, Iowa.

Scott C. ESHELMAN was married in 1889 to Shelby, Iowa, to Clara I. BROWN, who was born March 27, 1868, at Orbisonia, Huntington county, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Robert and Lizzie (WAIGHT) BROWN, both natives of Pennsylvania. Her father was a carpenter. Mrs. ESHELMAN came to Yorkshire, Harrison county, Iowa, when eighteen years old and lived with her grandmother BROWN. Mrs. ESHELMAN's mother is still living.

Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. ESHELMAN, Howard, a graduate of the Woodbine normal school, who is operating his father's farm in Douglas township, and Mary E., who is unmarried and at home. She also is a graduate of the Woodbine schools.

In politics, Mr. ESHELMAN is an ardent Republican. He and his family are members of the Methodist church. Mr. ESHELMAN is a member of the Masonic fraternity. The family enjoys considerable prestige in Harrison county and Mr. ESHELMAN is one of its most highly respected and valuable citizens.

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