SHIELDS, Henry - Putnam

HENRY SHIELDS, of Marion Township, one of the oldest living settlers of his locality, was born in Jefferson County, Tennessee, February 23, 1802, son of William and Agnes Shields, natives of Virginia, and of Irish ancestry. He was reared to manhood on a farm, and received a rudimentary education in the early subscription schools. His father helped to combat the Indians during the first settlement of Tennessee. He was married in Tennessee, October 12, 1826, to miss Jane K. Dick, daughter of Henry and Ellen Dick, natives of Virginia, who settled in Tennessee. To this union nine children were born, of whom six are living--Jacob, Ellen H., wife of the late Harrison Elrod, of Hendricks County, Indiana; John H. Shields, Mary A., wife of John a. Phillips, of Hendricks County; Louisa J., widow of Jacob Phillips, late of this county, and Elvira, wife of Joseph W. Elrod, also of this county. The deceased are--William, Prior L. and James H. Joseph W. Elrod was born in Wayne County, Indiana, October 19, 1835, a son of Joseph and Catherine Elrod. When a boy his parents removed to Hendricks County, Indiana, where he was reared to manhood. He was married May 29, 1864, to Elvira A. Shields, and their three children are--Walter D., Oscar O. and Ella. Mr. Elrod at present resides on the farm of Mr. Shields. In the fall of 1830 our subject immigrated to this county with his family, and for the first seven years lived two miles south of Greencastle. Early in the year 1838 he locate in the woods on section 12, Marion Township, having entered forty acres of land from the Government. He subsequently entered and purchased more, until at one time he owned 200 acres of land. At present he owns 160 acres of good land that is well cultivated. His first house was made of hewed logs, and after getting well settled in it he commenced to clear and improve his land in true pioneer style. His first crop was a small patch of corn. Each year he cleared a few acres more, until out of an unbroken wilderness he had produced a splendid farm, and now, in his declining years, he is reaping the fruits of a well spent life. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and for some time officiated as an elder of that church. Politically he is a Democrat. His wife died June 30, 1884, having shared his joys and sorrows nearly sixty years. He is now in his eighty-sixth year, and resides upon the farm where he first settled in Marion Township.