My Genealogy Hound

John W. Shiflett, a substantial farmer and stock-raiser of Pleasant township, owns three hundred and twenty acres on section 5 and in its further development and improvement his time is largely occupied. This farm is the visible evidence of his life of thrift and energy. He had no capital when he started out but as the years have gone by he has worked so persistently and earnestly that fate has accorded him success.

Mr. Shiflett is a native of Virginia, having been born in Rockingham county in the Shenandoah valley on the 4th of April, 1856. He has resided in Iowa since 1879 and in Union county since 1880. His father, David R. Shiflett, was also a native of Rockingham county and there married Eliza Ann Morris, who was likewise born in the Old Dominion. He provided for the support of his family by following agricultural pursuits and in 1866 he removed westward with his wife and children, establishing his home in Fulton county, Illinois, where he purchased land and carried on farming. There he continued to reside throughout his remaining days, making his home continuously upon the farm on which he first located. His first wife died in Virginia and he afterward married again.

J. W. Shiflett is one of two children born of the father’s first marriage, his brother, T. E. Shiflett, being now a resident of the state of Washington. The subject of this review was largely reared in Fulton county, Illinois, having been a lad of only ten years at the time of the westward removal of the family. His experiences in youth were such as usually fall to the farm boy who is trained to habits of industry and economy and who acquires his education in the public schools. When a young man he sought a home in Iowa, settling first in Page county, where he worked on a farm for about a year. He then removed to Union county in 1880 and has since made his home within its borders.

He was married, however, in Page county, July 26, 1879, to Miss Mollie Montgomery, a native of Ohio, who was reared in that state and in Mahaska county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Shiflett have three children: Thomas L., who is with his father in his farming and stock-raising interests; Frank, who is now doing for himself; and Belle, the wife of George Thomas, a farmer of Pleasant township. They also lost a son, Charles, who died at the age of five months.

Following his arrival in Union county Mr. Shiflett rented land in Union township, where he carried on general farming for several years. His first purchase, made in 1887, brought him forty acres of raw land. He knew that much arduous labor would be required to convert it into productive fields but he did not hesitate at this. He broke the sod, tilled the land and fenced his fields and from time to time added to his property until he now has three hundred and twenty acres, with two hundred acres in meadow land. He has added to and improved his house, has also built a good barn, has a windpump upon the place and the fields are well fenced. He has also set out fruit and shade trees, which add much to the value of the place and enhance its pleasing appearance. With his farming he raises, feeds and fattens stock, conducting an extensive business in this line, annually selling from two to five carloads of fat cattle and a large number of hogs.

Mr. Shiflett belongs to the Odd Fellows Lodge at Afton and is a Master Mason of the lodge at Thayer. For some years he has served on the school board and the cause of education finds in him a warm friend. He has never been an aspirant for office, although his fellow townsmen, recognizing his capability and his loyalty in public service, have called him to the offices of township trustee and highway commissioner. Politically he is a democrat. Today he is classed with the prosperous and well known farmers of Union county; at the time of his arrival here he was unknown and empty-handed. The years, however, have demonstrated his personal worth as well as his business enterprise and capacity and his life record proves that success and an honored name may be won at the same time.