SHANKS, John

SHANKS, SHARP, THOMPSON, CREIGHTON, COLEMAN, YOUNG, WHITNEY, HARMON, SCHOHNER, RICHARDS, CHAPMAN

Posted By: Jennifer Gunderson (email)
Date: 3/14/2021 at 19:32:10

John Shanks, an enterprising and industrious farmer of Portland township, Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, has put all modem improvements on his three hundred and twenty acre farm and has brought his land to a high state of cultivation. Mr. Shanks was born in Chicago, Illinois, August 29, 1852, a son of John and Helen (Sharp) Shanks, both natives of Scotland. John Shanks Sr. was born near Glasgow, March 28, 1828, and is now living in California.

He came to the United States in 1849, at the age of twenty-one years, and located in Chicago, where he lived some time after his marriage. In 1862 he moved to Elgin, Illinois, where he engaged in mercantile business, conducting a store there and at Dundee until 1869, when he sold out and moved to Iowa, crossing the Mississippi at Dubuque and being taken over the ice in an old stage. He located in Waterloo and conducted a general store there for three years, then purchased a farm in Black Hawk county, where he lived many years. Helen Sharp was born in 1S38 and died in 1860, having borne her husband children as follows: John; Jennie, wife of James Thompson, of Nora Springs, Iowa; Joseph K., of Nora Springs; R. S. and George P., of California. Mrs. Shanks came to the United States at the age of nineteen years. After her death Mr. Shanks married Mary Creighton, also a native of Scotland, and to this marriage nine children were born, of whom six survive, namely: William and James, of California; Mrs. Nettie Coleman, of Chicago; Joseph, of Idaho; Grace and Ethel, of California. In 1893 Mr. Shanks and his wife moved to Pomona, California, where he owns land and has an orange grove.

The boyhood of John Shanks Jr. was spent in Chicago and Elgin. Illinois, and Waterloo. Iowa, and he received a common school education, working in his father's store when old enough to be of assistance. When the family moved to Black Hawk county, Iowa, he helped on the farm until his marriage, then rented a farm and began on his own account. In 1880 he moved to Cerro Gordo county, where he rented land fifteen years, then purchased his present farm, which he has improved in many ways. He has erected modern buildings and is successful in his operations. He has made a specialty of raising and feeding stock and is considered one of the leading farmers of the community. He is actively interested in public affairs, is a Republican in politics and served four 3 years as school director. He and his wife have many friends and stand high in the estimation of their neighbors.

On March 5, 1879, Mr. Shanks married Mary O. Whitney, born in Ogle county. Illinois, May 14. 1861. daughter of Alanson and Delinay (Young) Whitney. Mr. Whitney was born in Prescott, Canada, and his wife was also a native of Canada, he born November 13, 1830, and she March 14. Ig38. She died September 22, 1909, and he now lives at Shell Rock. Iowa. They moved from Canada to Ogle county, Illinois, in 1858 and about seven years later moved to Black Hawk county. Iowa. Mrs. Shanks is the oldest of their nine children, all of whom are living, namely: Mrs. Shanks, Mrs. Elizabeth Harmon, of Joplin, Missouri; C. A., of Quinby, Iowa; Mrs. Bertha Schohner. of Glenwood Springs. Colorado; Mrs. Cynthia Richards, of Shell Rock, Iowa; S. B. and C. N. of Waverly, Iowa; Rosco, of Janesville, Iowa; and Buren, of El Paso, Texas. Children as follows have blessed the union of Mr. Shanks and his wife: John A., of Portland township; Mabel H. wife of Carroll Chapman, of Nora Springs, Iowa; Arthur I., of Nora Springs; Olive May, at home; Charles R. of Nora Springs; and Ray W. and Kenneth S. at home.

Source: WHEELER, J. H. History of Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. Vol. II. Lewis Publ. Co. Chicago. 1910. Transcribed by Jennifer Gunderson (Mar 2021)