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COLONEL JAMES S. HANSHAW

 

Colonel James S. Hanshaw, who has been an auctioneer of Taylor county for the past seventeen years, is a respected and prominent resident of Bedford.  His birth occurred in Iowa on the 17th of November, 1862, his parents being John and Elizabeth (Simes) Hanshaw, who were natives of Ohio.  James Simes, the maternal grandfather, was a native of Ireland and a farmer by occupation.  In 1840 he brought his wife and children to Iowa, locating in Jefferson county, where he purchased considerable land.  He there passed away at the age of ninety-two years, while his wife, Mrs. Rebecca Simes, was ninety years of age when called to her final rest.  They reared quite a large family.

 

John Hanshaw, the father of our subject, was a minister of the Methodist Protestant denomination and in 1851 became a pioneer preacher of Jefferson county, Iowa.  Twelve years later he married in this state and for twenty-five years followed his holy calling in Taylor county, his efforts proving an important element in the moral advancement of the communities in which he labored.  Sustaining a stroke of paralysis, he was then compelled to give up his work as a preacher of the gospel and lived retired in the western part of this county and Bedford until his death.  He died in 1907, at Green City, Missouri, when he had attained the age of seventy-six years. His widow still survives, being a well known and highly esteemed resident of New Market.  Unto this worthy couple were born eight children, namely: James S., of this review, William, who died at the age of thirty-two years; Dora, the wife of John Lindsey, of New Market, Iowa; Frank, who passed away at the age of fourteen yeas; Emma, the wife of Barton Rowe, of St. Joseph, Missouri; Anna, who also died at the age of fourteen; Ambrose, who follows merchandising in New Market; and Maud R., the wife of Claude Riley, of Green City, Missouri.

 

James S. Hanshaw spent the first eight years of his life in Wapello county, Iowa, and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Taylor county.  He received a good practical education in the district schools and remained on the home farm until he had attained his majority, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist.  On starting out in life on his own account he rented a tract of land, in the cultivation of which he was engaged for three years, at the end of which time he purchased eighty acres of (page 492) land in Polk township on credit and subsequently bought one hundred and sixty acres more in Gay township.  Alert, enterprising and energetic, he met with a gratifying and substantial measure of prosperity in the conduct of his agricultural interest and continued to make his home on his eighty-acre farm until 1898, when he came to Bedford and has here since resided, owning an attractive dwelling on West Main street.  He has sold the eighty-acre farm but still retains possession of his tract of one hundred and sixty acres.  For the past seventeen years he has given his attention to auctioneering and has been very successful as a crier of sales, his services being in demand in all parts of the county.

 

On the 26th of January, 1892, Colonel Hanshaw was united in marriage to Miss Emma R. Bailey, whose birth occurred in Polk township, Taylor county, on the 8th of July, 1867, her parents being Joseph B. and Sarah (Umbarger) Bailey, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Pennsylvania.  Joseph B. Bailey, who was of Scotch descent, was eleven years of age when he accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world, the family home being established in the state of New York, where he remained until 1851.  In that year he made his way to Illinois, where he was married in 1856, and in 1864 he and his wife came to Taylor county, Iowa, continuing to reside here until called to the home beyond. He was a farmer and blacksmith by occupation and was widely recognized as a most substantial, enterprising and progressive citizen.  He died at his residence in Buchanan (now Siam) on January 7, 1890, at the age of fifty-seven years, passing away in the faith of the Presbyterian church, with which his wife was also identified.  Her demise occurred on the 17th of February, 1888, when she had attained the age of forty-eight years, three months and fifteen days.  Their family numbered thirteen children, seven daughters and six sons.  The sons died in early life but the daughters all lived to be married.  Their record is as follows: Elizabeth J., the deceased wife of Charles Clayton; Mary, the wife of Fred Branson, of Clayton township; Sarah, the deceased wife of George Abbott, of Abingdon, Illinois; Mrs. Hanshaw; Othello, the wife of O. T. Miller, of Polk township; Cinda, the wife of O. B. Roberts, of Loveland, Colorado; and Josephine, the wife of John Branson, of Aliane, Nebraska.  Unto Colonel and Mrs. Hanshaw has been born one son, Carr C.

 

In his political views Colonel Hanshaw is a stalwart republican, believing that the principles of that party are most conducive to good government.  Both he and his wife are devoted and faithful members of the Baptist church and have an extensive circle of warm friends throughout the community.  Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and Knights of Pythias lodges of Bedford.