Howard-Cass County IN Archives Biographies.....Shewmon, Joseph 1843 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 16, 2006, 3:21 am

Author: Jackson Morrow

JOSEPH SHEWMON.

   Agriculture has been the true source of man's dominion on earth ever since
the primal existence of labor and been the pivotal industry that has controlled,
for the most part, all the fields of action to which his intelligence and energy
have been devoted. Among this sturdy element of Howard county whose labors have
profited alike themselves and the community in which they live is the gentleman
whose name appears at the head of this sketch, and in view of the consistent
life record lived by the subject since coming to this section of the country, it
is particularly fitting that the following short record of his career be
incorporated in a book of this nature.

   Joseph Shewmon was born in Preble county, Ohio, May 3, 1843. His father was
Christian Shewmon and his mother was Anna Fall in her maidenhood, both natives
of Preble county, Ohio, where the former passed away. The latter was called to
her rest from Galveston, Cass county, this state. They became the parents of
seven children, of whom our subject was the sixth in order of birth. They are
remembered as people of much sterling worth who fought the obstacles of life
courageously, and won, teaching their children the valuable lessons of
persistency, economy and honesty, which principles have been dominating factors
in their subsequent lives.

    Joseph Shewmon, our subject, was reared in Preble county. Ohio, attending
the neighboring schools in the winter months and assisting his father with the
farm work on the old homestead until the tocsin of war sounded, which our
subject could not hear without heeding, consequently, feeling that it was his
duty to sever home ties, give up the prospects of business and defend his
country's honor, enlisted May 2, 1862, in Company H, Ninety-third Ohio Volunteer
Infantry, and rendered gallant service with his regiment for three years, not
caring to return from the front until the war was over. Among the more noted
engagemnets [sic] in which he was involved were that sanguineous battle of
Chickamauga and Stone River. At the former our subject was taken prisoner
September 18, 1863, and was held a year and a half, during which time he was
confined at Richmond, Virginia, Andersonville and Florence, South Carolina, also
Danville, Virginia, where he was afflicted with the smallpox, which caused the
loss of his left eye; but notwithstanding this sore affliction, Mr. Shewmon does
not regret his service to his country.

   After the war our subject returned to Indiana, locating in Cass county, where
he engaged in the saw mill business until 1883, when he settled in Clay
township, Howard county, buying eighty acres of swamp land which he improved by
years of patient labor, transforming it into a valuable farm on which he has
erected numerous convenient and substantial buildings.

   Mr. Shewmon was united in marriage in Cass county, December 25, 1867, to Mary
M. Shaffer, who was a native of Clinton county, Indiana. Four children have been
born to this union as follows: Charles, Hattie, who is the wife of Archie Vint;
Daniel. Mary B. is the wife of Joseph Mills.

   The subject is well versed in political subjects and has held the office of
township trustee for two terms, having been elected on the Republican ticket
which he has always supported. This office was filled to the entire satisfaction
of all concerned, for it was looked after as carefully by Mr. Shewmon as if it
had been his own private business. He has always taken an active interest in all
township offices.

   The subject is a prominent member of the Dan Pratt Post, No. 50, Grand Army
of the Republican, at Galveston, having been commander of the organization for
some time. By virtue of these honorary offices at the hands of his fellow
countrymen in his township, we must conclude that our subject holds a high
position of honor and trust among them else he would not have been called upon
to fill such places, which usually go to men of sound moral and business
principles.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF HOWARD COUNTY INDIANA
BY
JACKSON MORROW, B. A.
ILLUSTRATED
VOL. II
B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

(circa 1909)

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