- WALTER SHULTS, a leading citizen and wealthy farmer of Turtle
Township, residing on section
- 10, was born in Montgomery County, N.Y., March 10, 1833,
and is descended from good old Revolutionary stock. His grandfather,
Henry SHULTS, was born in the same county, on the farm which
is still in the possession of our subject. He lived during the
Colonial days of our history when the Indians were very numerous
in that Western country and the men were obliged to carry their
muskets with them to meeting for fear of Indian treachery. He
met with many adventures during his life. At one time when cutting
grass in a field with his brother and a negro, he was surprised
and captured by a band of the red men. They had taken their guns
with them, but before they had time to reach their arms the Indians
were upon them. They were first warned of the approach by the
barking of their dog. Springing backward, Mr. SHULTS tried to
escape but the Indians had cut off his retreat, and with his
companions he was taken prisoner. Their dog was killed and they
were forced to eat its flesh, while during their confinement
they were also given horse meat. The brother died in captivity,
but Mr. SHULTS and the negro were at length exchanged and piloted
through the woods to their homes. The stump of the tree yet stands
on which their guns were leaning at the time of their capture.
His death occurred at the advanced age of ninety-six years.
- The SHULTS family is of Holland descent as is also the other
branch of the family. The parents
- of our subject were Daniel and Caty (LIPE) SHULTS. The father
was born, reared, lived and died on the old homestead in Montgomery
County, and followed the occupation of farming throughout his
entire life. He was liberal, free-hearted, and with his family
was the embodiment of generosity. In early life he was an ardent
supporter of the Whig party until the organization of the Republican
party, when he enlisted in its ranks, serving under its banner
until his death, which occurred at the age of ninety-one years
and four months. His wife departed this life in November, 1888,
at the age of eighty-six years, and was laid to rest in the family
burying ground in Montgomery County, N.Y. Both Mr. and Mrs. SHULTS
were members of the Lutheran Church, and were people highly respected
in the community where they resided. They had a family of twelve
children, seven sons and five daughters, and ten of that number
lived to mature years. John, the eldest, is a resident of New
York City; Alonzo, a retired farmer, is living Paw Paw, Mich.;
Daniel D. is a speculator of Little Falls, N.Y.; Walter is the
next in order of birth; Catherine, widow of Daniel D. SHULL,
resides with her children in Sac City, Iowa; Elanor is the wife
of John MOORE, a farmer of Fulton County, N.Y.; Elizabeth, single,
is a resident of Montgomery County, N.Y.; Sarah, who makes her
home in Paw Paw, Mich., is the widow of Harry HARRIS; Mary is
the wife of Charles HURDMAN, of Parkdale, Canada; Henry, Jacob
and Frazier are all deceased and were buried in Montgomery County,
N.Y.
- Our subject received his education in the common school of
his native county, and his early life
- was spent upon the farm. At the age of fifteen years he left
the parental roof and started out in life for himself, being
first employed as a clerk in a general store at Canajoharie.
For two years he was engaged in that capacity, when in 1852,
he went to New York City and entered a wholesale notion house
as salesman. He was next employed for two years as a clerk in
a country store, after which he returned to the old home where
he remained until the spring of 1861. He came West at that time
and settled in Rock County, locating in La Prairie Township,
where he engaged in farming on 120 acres of rented land. He made
his first purchase of land in 1867, when he became the proprietor
of a tract of 120 acres on section 21, La Prairie Township. He
removed to that farm and began its improvement, and in the course
of time placed it in a high state of cultivation. By subsequent
purchase he has extended its boundaries until it now comprises
200 acres. At one time he owned 500 acres of land in Rock County,
but has since disposed of 240 acres. In 1880 he removed to his
present home in Turtle Township where he owns sixty acres of
land on section 10, locating in the village of Shopiere. He also
owns the homestead farm in Montgomery County, of 145 acres, which
has been in possession of the family for three generations.
- On the 7th day of September, 1862, the marriage of Walter
SHULTS and Miss Rachel A.
- DOCKSTADER was celebrated. The lady is also a native of Montgomery
County, N.Y., and her parents, John F. and Catherine C. (WILEY)
DOCKSTADER, were born in the same place. They came with their
family to Wisconsin in 1852, but in 1862, removed to Mitchell
County, Iowa, where they yet reside. By the union of Mr. and
Mrs. SHULTS have been born four children - Katie May, Rosie Gay,
Walter F., and Elizabeth A., to whom they have given good educational
advantages and of whom they may well feel proud. On his arrival
in this county, Mr. SHULTS was in limited circumstances, but
he determined to make life a success and with characteristic
energy began his labors. It is entirely due to his own efforts
of industry and perseverance that he has become one of the wealthy
men of Rock County. He gave his whole attention exclusively to
his farming interests, was shrewd and careful in his business
and so reaped the just reward of his labors. He has never sought
or desired public office, in fact has steadily refused to accept
any such position. In politics, he is a Democrat, and his wife
is a member of the Congregational Church. They hold high rank
in the social world and are numbered among the county's best
citizens.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 932-933.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|