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ELIPHALET M. SHAW is a farmer and stock-raiser residing on section 26, Jackson Township. the ancestry of this family date back to the coming of the Puritans,a nd the first of whom absolute knowledge can be obtained was Samuel Shaw, the grandfather of our subject. He was born in Maine, his ancestors having settled there while it was yet a province and a part of New Hampshire. Samuel Shaw served during the War of the Revolution, and was married after his return. One son only graced their union, Samuel, the father of our subject. Soon after the birth of the son, in 1793, his father died, and his widow married David French, who gave his stepson a good education, and reared him carefully. Mr. French was a farmer, and several children were born of this union with Mrs. Shaw, but their names cannot be given.
Samuel Shaw, Jr., learned surveying, which was turned to account later in life, he becoming Deputy Surveyor of Licking County, Ohio. He was engaged as coastguard during the War of 1812, belonging to what was known as the "Minute Men." He was married, in 1814, to Rebecca Pease, a native of Maine, and of Scotch ancestry. She bore him eight children—Samuel, Sarah, Hitty, Annis, Robert, Martha, Francis and William. the third, fourth, seventh and eighth are living, the two sons are residents of Scott County, Iowa; Annis, of
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Fulton County, Ill., and Hittie, of Nebraska. After the death of Rebecca Shaw Mr. Shaw wedded Susan B. Maxfield, also a native of Maine, of Scotch-Irish origin. Susan Shaw was the daughter of Eliphalet and Mary J. (McCrillis) Maxfield. Mary J. McCrillis was born in Ireland and wedded Eliphalet Maxfield in Maine. He was a farmer and tanner, operating both. They were the parents of Nathaniel, William, Rufus, Oran, Jane, Susan, Maria, Elizabeth and Hugh. Her parents, in 1837, removed to Knoxville, Knox Co., Ill., most of the family coming with them.
Samuel Shaw left Maine in 1817, and settled with his family in Licking County, ohio, where he followed the profession of surveying form many years. In 1825 he became a Free-Will Baptist minister, preaching regularly at Granville, Ohio, until the death of his wife in 1835. He then moved with his family to Mercer County, Ill., purchasing a farm, and for ten years constantly traveled and preached over the northwestern part of Illinois, from Bureau County to the junction of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. In 1836 Rev. Shaw returned to his native State and wedded the lady mentioned, who returned with him to Illinois. Samuel Shaw became a partner with his relative, Pat Pease, the former furnishing the money and the latter time, and about 14,000 acres of military land were purchased, but through defective titles and litigation both men became bankrupt. Samuel was less than fifty years of age, and had to begin at the bottom of the ladder to retrieve his fortune. He unfortunately met at this time with an accident which prevented his working, and for several consecutive years he taught school, walking on crutches, and also filled the pulpits of several Free-Will Baptist Churches in the vicinity. In 1852 he served as pastor of a church in Fulton County, Ill., and having been successful in retrieving a small part of his fortune purchased 100 acres of land in that county. With the exception of two years he remained there until 1865, when, at the age of seventy he relinquished the ministry and followed his children to Iowa, purchasing a farm near Washington, where he remained during his lifetime, reaching the ripe age of eighty-seven.
During his ministry Rev. Samuel Shaw was perhaps as widely known in the State of Illinois as any minister ever living within her boundaries. Over a score of special services were held at different churches in that State upon hearing of his death, and being a pioneer he was further endeared to all the oldest and best families. His death occurred in October, 1880. His wife is a resident of Washington, Iowa, and has reached her seventy-sixth year. She has borne her husband eight children, all born in Illinois: Eliphalet M., our subject; Elizabeth and Floramand, deceased; Louisa, now the wife of W. S. Reister, a merchant of Washington; Albert and Alfred, twins, the latter deceased. Albert entered the army at fifteen years of age, was a member of the 17th Illinois Regiment, and was later transferred to the 8th Regiment. He was wounded in the assault on Spanish Fort, and afterward discharged on that account. He wedded Minerva Davis, and is engaged in farming in this county. James B. wedded Emma Abbey; he is now a resident of Washington, manages his mother's farm and resides with her.
Of the first children born to Rev. Samuel Shaw, Samuel, deceased, was a minister of the Christian Church; he wedded Laura Goodall. Robert was a teacher for a number of years, studied law, and was later elected Treasurer of Rock Island County, Ill., and served in that official position at the time of his death, in 1856; his wife was Henrietta Haywood. Annis wedded Dr. C. H. Budd; they are residents of Canton, Ill. Sarah, deceased, became the wife of Henry Rucker, and after his death married D. M. Pierce, a merchant of Cambridge, Henry Co., Ill.; Hittie wedded Thomas Bigelow, and they are residents of Nebraska; Frank married Sarah Chapman, now deceased, and is a mechanic at Princeton, Scott Co., Iowa; William wedded Elizabeth Hanna, and is also a resident of the latter-named place.
Our subject was the eldest son of the second wife of the Rev. Samuel Shaw, and was practically in charge of the farm while his father was away engaged in the ministry. However, he secured a good education and a practical knowledge of agriculture. He was born Nov. 16, 1838, in Mercer County, Ill., and wedded Sally Wheeler, of Fulton County, Ill., but a native of New York.
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His marriage was celebrated Feb. 14, 1858. In the spring of 1865 he came with his family to this county, and began the improvement on his present farm, then a quarter-section of virgin prairie. After viewing the elegant improvements the stranger can scarcely conceive how it can be possible for such grand trees to have grown, and lands to present such a cultivated appearance in only a score of years. The proof, however, lies before us, but to do this required energy, tact and capital. Eighty acres adjoining his original farm on the south, and forty acres on the west, have since been added to his first purchase.
Ten children have graced the union of this couple, the first four being born in Illinois: Bertha; Jasper L., now the husband of Martha Turbot; Euphemia, Rose, Cora, Ida, Susan, Allie, Edna and Maude complete the family. Bertha, Euphemia and Cora are teachers of this county. The first-named has been engaged in teaching almost constantly for twelve years. All will as they grow older complete their education. From 1873 to 1875 Mr. shaw was assessor of this township, and is a worthy representative of an honored father, not only in this, but in the States of Illinois, Ohio and Maine.
THOMAS J. BEARD resides upon section 6, Oregon Township, where he is the owner of 167 acres of fine land, and is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Venango County July 14, 1848, and is the son of Thomas and Mary (McKinley) Beard, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch-Irish descent. They came to this county in 1865, and now reside in Washington. They reared a family of four children: James, a farmer residing in Reno County, Kan.; Thomas J., the subject of this sketch; Cyrus, an attorney at law, residing in Harlan, Shelby Co., Iowa; Calvin, of Washington.
Our subject grew to manhood on a farm in his native State and received but a limited education in the common schools, which he supplemented by reading and observation. He came to this county in 1865, and on the 30th of October, 1872, was united in marriage with Miss Aggie Wright, a daughter of John and Alice A. (Matthews) Wright, who were natives of Ireland. She was also born in that country, but when two years old was brought by her parents to America. Four children have blessed their union, three of whom are now living—Eva, Nellie A. and Mary G. The other died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Beard are members of the United Presbyterian Church. He is regarded as one of the best and most influential citizens of Oregon Township. Farming has been his lifelong occupation, and in this work he has been remarkably successful. The home farm consists of 167 acres, all of which is under a high state of cultivation, and well improved in every respect. As a citizen he is held in high respect by all who know him.
WILLIAM SOUTER is a native of Perthshire, Scotland, born Oct. 28, 1810, and is a son of James and Jane (Scott) Souter, both of whom were also natives of Scotland. He was reared on a farm, and received but a common-school education. In the spring of 1831 he came to America, landing in New York May 2 of that year, after a voyage of five weeks and four days, on board the British brig, Eliza, a small sailing-vessel. He at once proceeded to Greene County, Ohio, and there settled about seven miles east of Xenia, where he rented a farm and lived seven years. He then moved to La Porte County, Ind., where he was engaged in farming four years, buying eighty acres of raw land, which he partially improved. In the fall of 1842 he sold out and came to Washington County, Iowa, and settled upon section 1, township 75 north,of range 8 west, and attachment to Washington Township, where he purchased eighty acres of land which he improved, and on which he lived until 1876, when he removed to the farm of his son-in-law, W. J. Hamilton, where he still lives.
On the 26th of May, 1829, Mr. Souter was united in marriage with Miss May Valentine, also a native of Scotland, and a daughter of John and Ann (Chalmers) Valentine. Seven children blessed their union: John died in infancy; Elizabeth died in
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in 1848, at the age of seventeen; Bell D. is now the wife of George F. Latta, of Linn County, Kan.; Mary Ann died April 15, 1863, at the age of twenty-seven; Nancy W. died in infancy; Kate M. was the wife of John Eldredge, of White County, Ind.; she died in 1871, at the age of thirty-two years; N. J. is the wife of W. J. Hamilton.
Mr. and Mrs. Souter are members of the United Presbyterian Church. In politics, he is a Republican, and has voted with that party since its organization in 1856. In early life Mr. Souter learned the trade of a weaver with his father in Scotland, which occupation he followed for a number of years. Coming to this country a poor young man, without means, and with only strong arms and a willing heart, he has toiled on until old age finds himself and wife well provided for with respect to this world's goods. No man in Cedar Township has more friends or enjoys the esteem of his friends to a higher degree than William Souter.
W. J. HAMILTON is engaged in general farming and stock-raising on section 35, Cedar Township. He is a native of County Dery, Ireland, was born June 1, 1841, and is the son of William and Jane (McAllister) Hamilton, both of whom were natives of County Tyrone, Ireland. When but eighteen years of age, he came to America, and settled in Ohio, where he engaged as a farm hand til March 1865, when he came to Iowa and settled in Washington Township, Washington County, where he purchased eight acres of land which he subsequently sold, and purchased 160 acres on section 35, Cedar Township, where he has since continued to reside.
Mr. Hamilton was married, Feb. 28, 1867, to Miss N. J. Souter, a native of Washington County, Iowa, born June 1, 1845, and daughter of William and May (Valentine) Souter, who were natives of Scotland. (See sketch of William Souter.) To them five children have been born: Nettie M., Jan. 17, 1868; Bessie B., July 10, 1871; Howard B., Oct. 15, 1874; Viola A., March 22, 1879, and Carrie S. Oct. 23, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton are members of the First United Presbyterian Church of Washington. Politically, he is a Republican and a Prohibitionist. He is at present one of the Trustees of this township. The father of Mr. Hamilton died in 1862, at the age of sixty-five. He was a carpenter by trade, and a man of fine ability intellectually. His mother died in 1852. They were both members of the United Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Hamilton served his adopted country during the war of the Rebellion, being a member of the 132d Ohio Infantry. Landing in this country in 1859, a poor boy, he went to work, and through his own exertions, has acquired a fine property, and is now considered one of the well-to-do farmers of Washington County. As a citizen, he is esteemed by friends and neighbors in a high degree, while his home is a most hospitable one.
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