IAGenWeb Project

Shelby County
IAGenWeb




J. W. CHATBURN


Hon. J. W. Chatburn, proprietor of the Harlan and the Shelby Mills, was born at Sabden, England, in 1821; served an apprenticeship there as millwright, and in 1845 came to America; was engaged in milling at Philadelphia, Fa., five years; removed in 1850 to Kanesville--now Council Bluffs--Ia.; remained two years; removed to Harrison county and took a claim near the present town of Magnolia; built a mill in 1853, which was the first mill north of the Boyer river; remained there until 1869; then moved to near the present town of Woodbine, and built what was afterwards known as Dunmire's mill. In 1867 he built the Harlan mill, which he still owns, and in connection has a flour, exchange, sale and feed store in Harlan, which is managed by J. Hersey. In 1878, Mr. Chatburn erected the Shelby steam mills, at Shelby, which are run by Thomas Chatburn. Mr. J. W. Chatburn was elected county judge of Harrison county for two years, and is a member of the county board.

Transcribed February, 2018 by Cheryl Siebrass from: History of Western Iowa, Its Settlement and Growth, published in Sioux City, IA.: Western Publishing Company, 1882, pg. 416-417.