ROBERT BAGSHAW, BRIDGE WATER
Mr. Bagshaw is one of the largest and most prosperous farmers in Victoria township, his homestead being located on section 14, and besides having this valuable piece of property he owns an entire section of land in Canada. He is a vigorous and typical Englishman, born in Derbyshire, March 18, 1845. In 1860 he emigrated directly to Grant county, Wis., where he worked on a farm until 1873, when he became a permanent resident of this county. In the winter of 1874-5 hepurchased the southeast quarter of section 14, broke out the land, erected good buildings, planted and developed an orchard, and otherwise founded a modern and valuable homestead.
The parents of Mr. Bagshaw were Thomas and Grace (Barker) Bagshaw, also natives of Derbyshire. The father was a farmer and sheep grower, and both he and his wife died in England -- the mother in October, 1855, and the father in 1876, They were the parents of two sons and a daughter, the brother of Robert still residing in England. The sister is dead. Thomas Bagshaw, the grandfather, was born in the same house which was the birthplace of Robert and there he passed his entire life as a farmer.
Robert Bagshaw was married to Elizabeth S. Walker, a native of Illinois, in the year 1873, and of the children born to them, Robert J. resides at home; Hugh F. lives in Canada; Alice E. is deceased; Alfred E. is also a resident of Canada; Lula F. is the wife of T. Hogan; Mabel C. is Mrs. Frank South; Charles L. lives at home; and Ada M. and Abraham W., twins, also reside at the family homestead. Mrs. Bagshaw's parents were John and Jemima (Dawson) Walker, natives respectively of Derbyshire and Yorkshire, England. Her parents came to the United States about 1853 and located in Jo Daviess county, Ill., where Mrs. Bagshaw was born. The family subsequently moved to Grant county, Wis., and in the fall of 1873 located on section 23, Victoria township. There the mother died in 1875. The father now resides in Knox county, Neb.
When Mr. Bagshaw settled in Victoria township, his land was quite unimproved, but he not only erected modern buildings and cultivated his land according to up-to-date methods, but planted groves of trees and developed the property into a good substantial homestead. It may be stated that the old Morman trail passed over his farm. Mr. Bagshaw is an independent in politics, and has been honored with a number of local offices. Both he and his wife are identified with the Church of England.
From "Compendium and History of Cass County, Iowa." Chicago: Henry and Taylor & Co., 1906, pg. 254-255.
