- JAMES P. SHIELDS, farmer Sec. 17; P.O. Janesville; born in
the village of Lyons, Wayne Co.,
- N.Y.; he is the son of James and Susan SHIELDS; his father
was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, 1802; at an early age, he
learned the trade of carriage-building; in spring of 1822, came
to St. John, N.B., where he was employed in the navy yard for
a short time; late in the same year, he went to Boston, Mass.,
where he worked at his trade until August, 1823, at which time
he took his departure for Albany, N.Y., where he sought and secured
employment at Gould's carriage-factory, where he remained for
years; he assisted in ironing-off the cars first run on the Albany
& Schenectady R.R., which was the first railroad ever built
in the United States. Married, about the year 1832, in Albany,
N.Y., Miss Susan SIMMONDS, who was born near Schenectady, N.Y.,
in 1804; the results of their union was seven children - John,
born April 25, 1834; William, Jan. 17, 1840; Charles, June 6,
1842; Robert, June 2, 1845; Almen, May 4, 1848; Fanny E., Jan.
18, 1850; James, Aug. 24, 1837. Their parents came to Wisconsin
in June, 1847; located in Rock Township; bought a farm of 240
acres, on which he worked industriously, and prospered finely;
his sons were industrious, and assisted him much; Mr. SHIELDS,
Sr., is still living on his farm in Rock Township; after a painful
illness his wife died in April, 1868; his daughter, Mary E.,
married Henry KAYLER, who is living on and managing the old homestead;
James P., the principal subject of this sketch, received a common-school
education; always was industrious; assisted his father on the
farm till the spring of 1861; at that time, his father bought,
in Harmony, 160 acres, 80 of which he gave to his son; James
appreciates this gift, and has made some handsome improvements;
built barn, granary, neat, tasty frame house; cozy home, and
managing eighty acres besides; raises a variety of crops; he
is prospering finely. Married, in Fort Wayne, Ind., October,
1863, Miss Anna HOPPLE, who was born in Allen Co., Ind., July
30, 1843; the results of their happy union has been five children;
four are living - Nevada, Penola, William, Emma. Mr. SHIELDS
is liberal in religion; has always voted the Republican ticket.
-
- Taken from "The History of Rock County, Wis."
(c)1879, pp. 895-896.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|