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E.B. Shaw

E. B. Shaw, Cashier of the Fayette County National Bank and Treasurer of the Fayette County Savings Bank, of West Union, is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Carroll County, November 24, 1842. His parents are Nathan and Eleanor (Bell) Shaw. His father was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, September 13, 1820, was of German descent several generations remote and is now, with his wife, residing in Windsor Township of Fayette County, Iowa. The mother was born in Hartford County, Md., February 14, 1820, and the sketch of this worthy couple appears elsewhere in this volume.

Our subject was educated in the High School of Hanover, Ohio, and at the age of twenty years enlisted, on the 2d of October, 1862, becoming a member of Company G, 21st Regiment, Ohio Infantry and served until September 1, 1863. He took part in the battles of Stone River and Murfreesboro, Tenn., and in various skirmishes. On his return from the army he resumed his attendance at school for one term, after which he engaged in teaching, following that profession two terms. Subsequently he was employed as clerk in a drygoods store in Hanover; in 1867, when desiring to try his fortune in the West, he emigrated to Iowa, locating in West Union. On his arrival in this place, Mr. Shaw secured a position as salesman with Thomas & McMaster, general merchants and in January, 1871, was employed by S. B. Zeigler as cashier of the Fayette County Bank of this place, which position he filled until the bank was merged into the Fayette County National Bank in August, 1872, when he became teller of the new bank. In 1878 he was promoted to be assistant cashier, and on the 15th of April, 1886, succeeded to the position of cashier which he has continued to fill to the present time.

On the 14th of October, 1872, Mr. Shaw and Miss Sarah E. Dickey were united in marriage in West Union. The lady was born in Venango, Franklin County, Pa., August 18, 1854, and is a daughter of the Rev. J. W. Dickey, of Minneapolis. Two children were born unto them but the elder, a little son, Claude H., born February 5, 1874, died September 2, 1881; E. Blanche was born February 15, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Shaw are members of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is Republican but he has had neither time nor inclination to take an active part in political contests or to hold public office. He is a member of the Masonic Order with the rank of Knight Templar, belonging to West Union Lodge, No. 69, A.F. & A.M., Ansel Humphreys Chapter, No. 62, R.A.M., and Langridge Commandery, No. 47, K.T. He is also a member of Abernethy Post, No. 48, G.A.R. and in addition to the above mentioned orders he is connected in membership with all the mutual insurance associations represented in West Union.

Mr. Shaw is a stockholder in the Union Creamery Company of which he is secretary and treasurer. The company was incorporated in 1886, and is an outgrowth of a business which was established in 1879 by H.A. Holmes. The officers at this writing in 1890 are S.B. Zeigler, president; L. W. Beard of Decorah, vice-president; and E.B. Shaw, secretary and treasurer. The company operates creameries in West Union, Elgin and Clermont in Fayette County, and in Postville and Monona, Allamakee County, and does an annual business amounting to $300,000. Mr. Shaw is known as an active, enterprising business man, competent and faithful in the responsible position which he fills; and as a neighbor and friend, courteous, genial and companionable and always reliable.