Janis' Genealogy Site
William Sheeder
Summary
- Born: 12 Sept. 1825
- Died: 19 Jan. 1900
- Father: Frederick Sheeder
- Mother: Elizabeth Shuler
- Spouse: Mary Keeley
Biography
A Memorial and biographical record of Iowa Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1896, pg 347
William Sheeder was born in Chester county, PA, Sep 12, 1825. Frederick Sheeder, Jr, his father, was born in Lebanon county, PA, March 22, 1799, son of Frederick Sheeder, Sr., a native of Prussia. The elder Mr. Sheeder emigrated to this country with his parents when he was seventeen years old. He served as a soldier during the war of 1812, or through a part of that struggle. Returning home on a furlough, he remained, and his son, Frederick Jr, took his place and carried a musket, although at that time only fifteen years of age. The father was a tailor by trade, late in life settled on a farm and was engaged in agricultural pursuits the rest of his days. His wife, nee Anna Holtman, was a native of PA, and they were the parents of 10 children, six sons and 4 daughters, named as follows: Frederick Jr, Henry, Mary, Samuel, Phillip, Caroline, Catherine, Sarah, Joseph, and Benjamin. The mother died in 1863. The father at the time of his death was over eitghty-seven years of age - 87y 7m 14d. He was a man of strong individuality and made a success of whatever he undertook. He bagan life when a young man without any captial whatever, by his own honest and earnest efforts amassed a fortune of $40,000, and his whole life was such as to gain for him the confidence and good will of all who knew him. His religious creed was that of the Lutheran church.
Frederick Sheeder, Jr., the father of our subject, was reared on a PA farm and educated in the Chester county schools. He married Miss Elizabeth Shuler, a native of Chester county, born Mar 2, 1797, daughter of William and Sarah Shuler. Mr. and Mrs. Sheeder were the parents of 2 children: Sarah Anna, who died at the age of 20 months, and William. The mother died April 14, 1830, at the age of 33. The father also died in the prime of life, his death occuring at 1:30 p.m. Dec 30, 1834, at the age of 35.
After the death of his parents William Sheeder made his home with his grandfather for four and a half years. Until he was 13, he attended the district school, and at that early age went to work as a teamster and made a full hand, driving a six-horse team and hauling limestone kiln, and each winter he hauled cords of wood. Between his 16th and 17th years he began work at the blacksmith's trade, entering upon his apprenticeship March 31, 1842, under Jesse Orr, of Chester county. For 4 years he remained with this man, working 3 1/2 for his board and clothing and the last six months receiving wages. After this he opened a shop of his own which he ran for a year. March 23, 1848, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Keeley, who was born Aug 28, 1830, daughter of Henry and Mary (Miller) Keeley, natives of Chester county, PA. In their family were nine children, namely: Elizabeth, John, Samuel, Henry, George, Mary, Robert, Lewis, and Hannah. Her father died in PA and after his death her mother came West to Iroquois county, Illinois, where she died at the age of 80 years.
April 17, 1855, Mr. Sheeder and his wife and 4 children started for Iowa. They traveled on PA Central RR to Rock Island, Illinois, tence by steamboat to Muscatine, Iowa, and from Muscatine Mr. Sheeder came by team to Guthrie county, landing here about the first of May. Here he entered 400 acres of Government land, 320 acres on section 5, of Baker township, and 40 acres elsewhere, and by the 17th of June his wife and family arrived. They lived in a tent for about 3 months, sleeping on the ground, until he built a log cabin, 12 X 16 feet, which had a clapboard roof. Afterward he built an addition to it of equal dimensions, thsi part being covered with lap shingles. In this log house six of their children were born. Years passed by and prosperity attended his labors on the frontier, and in 1869, he built his present home, a modern residence, 24 X 36 feet, 2 stories, with attic, kitchen, basement and cellar, all of brick. It occupies a pleasant site and is one of the attractive rural homes of this vicinity. His barn in 30 X 70 feet and has a rock basement. From time to time Mr. Sheder has continued to make additional land purchases until now he is regarded as the wealthiest farmer in the county and one of the most wealthy in the State. He owns 2, 201 acres of land in Baker township, 1,240 acres in Seeley township, 850 acres in Bear Grove township, and 281 acres in Union township, making a total of 4,572 acres in Guthrie county. Each year he pays over $1000 for taxes. Both general farming and stock-raising claim his attention and he takes especial pride in keeping a high grade of stock, horses, cattle, and hogs.
Mr. and Mrs. Sheeder are the parents of 10 children, nine of whom are living on their own land or their father's. Their names are: Silas, John, Eli, James, George, Anna, Domicilla, Willis, who died in childhood, Joseph and Wilmer. With the exception of 2 all are married. Domicilla is the wife of Samuel Chalphant, of Seeley township, this county. Politically, Mr. Sheeder is a Democrat and takes a commedable interest in public affairs, but has never sought or held office, his extensive farming operations and personal affairs occupying the whole of his time. He was reared a Lutheran, but is not identified with any church. Mrs. Sheeder was reared in the faith of the German Reformed Church. Although he has reached his three-score years and ten, time has dealt gently with him and he is yet well-preserved, both physically and mentally. Few men of Guthrie county have achieved as great success in a financial way as has William Sheeder.
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