My Genealogy Hound

Colonel Carlton Shields needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for he is one of the best known men of Union county, having in his capacity as an auctioneer constantly widened his acquaintance and added to the circle of his friends. Moreover, he is one of the native sons of the county, having been born in Jones township, November 20, 1879. His father, James Shields a native of Muskingum county, Ohio, was born in 1848 and was a son of John Shields, Sr., who was likewise a native of Muskingum county. The grandfather of our subject removed to Iowa in 1865, casting in his lot with the early settlers of Jones township, Union county. Securing a tract of hitherto wild and undeveloped land he opened up a good farm and now owns and occupies an attractive farm property in Pleasant township. He is one of the best known and most highly esteemed agriculturists of the community and is a hale and hearty old man of eighty-seven years, being honored by all as a revered patriarch of the community.

James Shields, the father of our subject, was reared to manhood in Muskingum county, Ohio, but while still in his teens he ran away from home to enlist for service in the Civil war, joining the First Ohio Heavy Artillery, with which he continued until after the close of hostilities. He then returned to the north and joined his parents in Union county, Iowa. Here he assisted his father in farm work up to the time of his marriage. He wedded Miss Cornelia Williamson, who was born in Marion county, Iowa, a daughter of Thomas Williamson, who was born in Pennsylvania but came from Ohio to this state. James Shields carried on general agricultural pursuits in Jones township, owning and cultivating a tract of two hundred acres. He also rented and operated other farms and conducted a large and prosperous business. Subsequently he sold his Jones township property and removed to Douglas township, where he resided for a number of years, when he disposed of his farm there and went to Afton. Later he resided in Murray and afterward spent some years in Ottumwa.

Colonel Shields, whose name introduces this record, was reared to manhood in Union county and is indebted to its public school system for the educational privileges he enjoyed. He remained with his father upon the farm until he had attained his majority and subsequently he carried on farming on his own account for a few years. Afterward, however, he turned his attention to the machinery business in Afton, opening a store in 1891. The following year he became a grocery merchant of Afton and when he withdrew from that field of activity he turned his attention to auctioneering, in which he has been engaged for fourteen years. He resided at Blockton for five years and now makes his home in Afton. His business as an auctioneer has increased from year to year until it has assumed extensive proportions and he now cries sales in five counties. He sells farms, real estate, stock and merchandise and is one of the best known men in the county, conducting from one hundred and twenty-five to one hundred and eighty sales per year. He also deals in fine horses, buying, feeding and selling fine teams of roadsters. During the last two years he has served as marshal of the state fair and he is a member of the State Agricultural Society.

Colonel Shields has been married twice. He first wedded Marietta Mayer, a daughter of C. N. Mayer, a farmer and also county recorder of this county. They had one son, Earl Shields. For his second wife Colonel Shields chose Georgia Hedrick and they have one son, Wayne Marion. The second wife has also passed away.

Politically Mr. Shields is a republican where state and national questions are involved but casts an independent local ballot. He belongs to the Woodmen fraternity and is loyal to the fraternal spirit of that order. The variety of Mr. Shields’ business interests have brought him a wide acquaintance and a social, genial nature, and ready wit and a kindly spirit have made him very popular. He is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of the county, the name of Shields being known here through four generations. He is alert, energetic and determined and carries forward to successful completion what he undertakes and the success which he is now enjoying is well merited.