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         W. A. SHEW, a prominent farmer of Louisa county, residing on section 4, Grand View township, was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, Sept. 30, 1836, and is a son of John and Sarah (Possey) Shew, the parents both being natives of Virginia. They were pioneers of Pickaway County, Ohio, and the father was a farmer through life. His death occurred in 1875, at the age of sixty-three years. The mother died when our subject was a small boy. John Shew emigrated from Ohio to Iowa in 1839, settling in Muscatine, where he lived two years, and engaged in farming on rented lands. At the expiration of that time he came to Louisa County, locating in Grand View Township, where he purchased seventy-two acres of land, which he greatly improved, making it his home until 1871. Again returning to Muscatine County, he rented a farm for one year, and then moved to the city of Muscatine, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1875, as before stated. Mr. Shew was a public-spirited citizen, strong in his convictions, yet always ready to take a step in advance. In his political views he affiliated with the Republican party. To Mr. and Mrs. Shew were born three children, all yet living: Miranda, now the wife of David Kenouse, resides in Louisa County, Iowa; our subject; and Mary, wife of Philip McDaniel, a resident farmer of Grand View Township.

Our subject was reared upon a farm, and received his education in the common schools. At the age of sixteen years he left home and went to work in a sawmill, continuing in that employ for three years. At the expiration of that time, in 1857, he was united in marriage with Mary C. Snyder, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Frederick Snyder, who was born in Germany.

After their marriage Mr. Shew and his young . . .

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. . . bride removed to Putnam County, Mo., residing there for thirteen years, the husband engaging at house carpentering and farming. In 1862 he responded to the President’s call for troops, enlisting in the 45th Mounted Infantry of Missouri, and served two years, participating in many skirmishes, and also engaged in scouting expeditions. After his discharge Mr. Shew returned to this home, and engaged in farming and stock-raising for a few years, when he sold out and removed to Louisa County, purchasing forty acres of land on section 4, Grand View Township, where he still resides, but now is the owner of eighty acres of highly improved land. He makes a specialty of raising small fruit, in which business he is quite successful.

Mr. and Mrs. Shew are the parents of five children: Anna Mary, wife of William T. Kemp, of Port Louisa Township; Laura Ellen, who wedded William Murdock, a resident farmer of Bent County, Col.; Dora Isabel, wife of Jason Chandler, of this county; William Edward, residing in Grand View Township; and Frederick Snyder, who is still at home. Mr. Shew has been a member of the A. F. & A. M. since he was twenty-one years of age, and in his political views he is a stanch Republican. He is a great reader, is well posted on all public affairs, and is one of the enterprising and progressive farmers of Grand View Township.