Columbia County PA Archives Biographies.....SHEW, James M. 1831 - living in 1899
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  Author: Biographical Publishing Co.
  
  JAMES M. SHEW, proprietor of the Bloomsburg Paper Company, manufacturing
  waterproof paper for cartridges and blasting, also for mining, packing, etc.,
  and one of the highly esteemed residents of the town, was born in Baltimore
  County, Md., September 9, 1831, and is a son of Joseph and Mary (Shew) Shew.
  
    Joseph Shew, the father of our subject, was born in London, England, and
  during his boyhood days came to the United States and located in Baltimore
  County, Md. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, was a farmer by
  vocation, and also followed surveying. He acted as constable for several years,
  and when the War of 1812 broke out offered his services in defense of his
  country and was probably an emergency man in the protection of Baltimore. He was
  wedded to Mary Shew, of Scottish origin but a native of Virginia, and a family
  of four children was born to this union, namely: Our subject; Henry, who died
  while en route for Denver, Col., on business in behalf of the Order of Railway
  Conductors, he having been a conductor on the Baltimore Central R. R. a number
  of years; Jacob, a machinist and engineer at Port Deposit, Md.; and Mary, wife
  of Charles Heiser of Baltimore, Md.
  
    James M. Shew, the subject of this biographical sketch, was but seven years of
  age when he began to serve an apprenticeship in the paper mills of Baltimore
  County, which were owned by William H. Hoffman who is now deceased. He remained
  in the mills for forty-four years, during which time he was promoted several
  times; in 1858 he was promoted to manager of the entire plant of four mills,
  Gunpowder, Marble Vale, Clipper, and Rockdale, all of which are located in
  Baltimore County, Md. Upon the death of William H. Hoffman, the proprietor of
  the mills, his sons fell heirs to the entire plant, and, wishing to reduce the
  expenses of the mills they lowered the salaries of the employees, and our
  subject was one who refused to accept a reduction in his pay and accordingly
  quit. He came to Scott township, Columbia County, Pa., and purchased a half
  interest in the Trench Paper Mills located in Fishing Creek township, and the
  firm name became Trench & Shew; later Mr. Trench sold his interest to J. H.
  Maize and the firm name was changed to Maize & Shew. After being connected with
  this paper company nearly two years, his former employers, the Hoffmans, wishing
  him to return to them, offered an increase over his former salary, and bought J.
  H. Maize's interest in the paper mills of Fishing Creek township, thus relieving
  our subject of the obligation of partnership, and Mr. Shew returned to
  Baltimore. After managing the Baltimore mills three and one-half years, he
  returned to Bloomsburg, and in 1892 became sole owner of the paper mills of that
  town. The mills are operated by the magnificent water power of the Fishing
  Creek. The mills have a capacity of two thousand pounds of paper per day and
  give steady employment to nine men. A few years ago our subject bought the
  Hulshiser shops near his home and does all kinds of blacksmithing and repairing.
  
    In politics Mr. Shew is a strong Republican, and his party gave him the
  nomination for associate judge and, although not elected, he received more votes
  than any other Republican that ran on the same ticket.
  
    On February 6, 1852, Mr. Shew was united in marriage to Anna Mary Fisher, a
  daughter of Lewis Fisher of York County, Pa., and to this union eleven children
  were born, namely: Sarah, deceased; Margaret J.; Lydia, wife of Robert J. Ruhl;
  Rebecca, who wedded John B. Kidd of Baltimore, Md.; Mary, wife of D. S.
  Richards, also of Baltimore, Md.; James U. M., whose sketch may also be found in
  this work; Josephine, united in the bonds of wedlock to George B. Smith of Scott
  township, Columbia County; Irene, wife of William M. Ent of Light Street, Pa.;
  Phoebe; and John W., a paper manufacturer of Bloomsburg. Mr. Shew is a member of
  the following fraternal orders: Washington Lodge, No. 265, F. & A. M., of
  Bloomsburg; Bloomsburg Chapter, No. 218, R. A. M.; Mt. Moriah Council, No. 10,
  R. & S. M.; Crusade Commandery, No. 12, K. T.; Orient Conclave, No. 2, Red Cross
  of Constantine; and Caldwell Consistory, S. P. R. S., 32° N. M. J. Mr. Shew's
  portrait accompanies this sketch, being presented on a previous page.
  
  
  Additional Comments:
  Extracted from:
  
  Book of Biographies of the Seventeenth Congressional District
  Published by 
  Biographical Publishing Company of Chicago, Ill. and Buffalo, NY (1899)
  
  
  
  
  
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