Joseph Sheeder

As printed in 1907

JOSEPH SHEEDER.

The name of Sheeder is too well known in Guthrie county to necessitate a special introduction of the subject of this review to the readers of this volume, for since pioneer times the Sheeder family has figured prominently in connection with the agricultural development of central Iowa. Joseph Sheeder was born in Guthrie county on the 2d of August, 1866, and is today one of its leading farmers and stock-raisers. He is descended from Prussian ancestry, the family having been founded in America by his great-great-grandparents, who came to the new world from Prussia accompanied by their son, Frederick Sheeder, Sr., who was then seventeen years of age. He married Anna Holtman, a native of Pennsylvania, who died in 1863, while his death occurred when he had reached the age of eighty-seven years. He prospered in business and had accumulated a very desirable estate at the time of his demise. A\nien the second war with England was in progress he joined the American army and when granted a furlough visited his farm, when his son and namesake, Frederick Sheeder, Jr., volunteered to return in his place, though he was at that time only fifteen years of age. His birth had occurred in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, March 22, 1799. He married Elizabeth Shuler and they had a daughter, Sarah Anna, who died in infancy. The mother passed away April 14, 1830, and the father on the 30th of December, 1834.

Their only son, William Sheeder, father of Joseph Sheeder of this review, lived with his grandfather for four and a half years during his boyhood, owing to his parents' early death. He started out in life at the age of thirteen years as a teamster and when sixteen years of age began learning the blacksmith's trade, serving an apprenticeship of four years. He afterward conducted a shop of his own in the east for a year. On the 23d of March, 1848, he wedded Miss Mary Keeley, who was born August 28, 1830. On the 1 2th of April, 1855, they started with their four children for Iowa and William Sheeder secured four hundred acres of government land in Guthrie county. The family went through the usual experiences of pioneer life, living in a tent until a log cabin could be built. In later years this was replaced by a more modern, substantial residence and all the equipments and accessories of a model farm were added to the property. Mr. Sheeder became one of the wealthy agriculturists of Iowa, owning altogether forty-five hundred and seventy-two acres of land in Guthrie county and engaging extensively in raising high-grade stock. He voted with the democracy, but had neither time nor inclination for public office owing to the extent and importance of his business interests. He died February 19, 1900, when in his seventy-fifth year, and his wife passed away October 5, 1897.

Joseph Sheeder, who was one of the ten children born unto Mr. and Mrs. William Sheeder, was reared in the usual manner of farm lads. He early acquainted himself with the work of field and meadow and has throughout his entire life carried on general agricultural pursuits. He now lives on what is known as the Highland stock farm and owns and operates five hundred and ninety-two acres of valuable land in Baker township. He raises principally Hereford cattle, is also one of the most extensive stock feeders of the county and his business has

JOSEPH SHEEDER reached proportions which make his annual income a very gratifying one.

]\Mr. Sheeder was married March 20, 1895, to Miss Lulu Armstrong, who was born in Monroe county, Ohio, in 1872. Her parents, Bernard and Mary Armstrong, -severe natives of West Virginia and after living in Ohio for a number of years they came to Iowa in 1888 and later removed to Missouri, now making their home in Henry county, that state. In their family were eight children, including Mrs. Sheeder, who by her marriage has become the mother of five children, namely: Mary, born May 19, 1896; Bertha, born September 24, 1898; Neva, born December 3, 1901; William F., born March 19, 1903; and [name withheld], born April 19, 1906. The last named is deceased.

The parents are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and are much esteemed in the community, where they have a large circle of warm friends. Mr. Sheeder votes with the democracy, thus following in the political footsteps of his father. His life lias been uneventfully passed so far as ex- 'citing incidents go, yet his record is not without those evidences of good citizenship and honor in business which make a man respected and esteemed wherever he is known:and most of all where he is best known.

As printed in Past and present of Guthrie County, Iowa : together with biographical sketches of many of its prominent and leading citizens and illustrious dead (1907). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.