Elizabeth Strayer. Lucy and John had 2 children: Stella (m. George Hill) and Arthur. Lucy died in 1914.

Ella (b. 2 May 1858, Decorah) married Marion Abbey. Marion was first married to Alice Teeple. Marion and Alice had 2 daughters: Cora (m. Wm. McLain) and Myrtle (m. Mr. Stanley). Marion and Ella had 3 children: Bert, Kate and Edna. Ella’s second marriage (15 Jul 1917) was to Wesley Skinner.

Angenette (b. 14 Jun 1861, Decorah) married Fred Northup (brother of Nancy Northup Sheetz). Nettie died 14 Oct 1895. Fred disappeared in the Galveston, TX hurricane and tidal wave of 1900.

Malinda (b. 1865, Decorah) married Ferdinand Simmons 25 Dec 1883.

Aaron Monroe Sheetz was born 2 Mar 1842 in Powell's Valley. He married Nancy Loraine Northup (see Northup story) on 22 Feb 1866. They had 2 sons: Fred and Vernon. Aaron and Nancy bought a farm next to his parents’ and moved a slat and log house from Glenwood Twp. on to it. They farmed there until their son Vernon married and took over in 1906. Aaron and Nancy then moved to an acreage in Freeport where he kept busy with his large garden. Aaron died 14 May 1926.

On front porch of home, 1925-30. Back: Vernon amd Lila Sheetz. Front: Elsie and Naida.

Vernon Chancey Sheetz was born 10 Nov 1877 on the pioneer farm north of Freeport. He married Elsie Stuart Paley (see Paley story) on 20 Dec 1905 at her parents’ home in Ridgeway. Elsie was born 2 Aug 1880. They had 2 daughters: Lila Grace (see Frank Dolley and Kenneth Schneider stories) and Naida Florence (see Dodge story).

Except for 4 years in Texas where he was a grocer, store clerk, fisherman and carpenter and 3 years he and his wife lived in Ridgeway after leaving the farm, Vernon lived on the farm where he was born and grew up. Vernon was a modern farmer. He remodeled and added rooms to the house and installed electricity and running water. He also built several new outbuildings and expanded the fields and pastures by grubbing out trees and old fences. In later years Vernon had his hilly land laid out in contour strips to prevent erosion. Elsie was a true partner - helping with the field work and raising chickens. Vernon died 21 May 1947 and is buried in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Freeport. Elsie died 21 Apr 1980 at LaCrosse, Wl.

Lila was born 5 Oct 1910 on the family farm north of Freeport where she still lives. She first attended the Freeport school. After the fall term she changed to the Drake school because by walking through the woods the Drake school was closer. Lila attended Decorah High School and graduated from Upper Iowa Business School (1928). She is a life long member of the Methodist Church - serving as Sunday School Superintendent and teacher, Women’s Society President and Sec/Treas of the Freeport Church for many years. Lila is now Membership Secretary at the First United Methodist Church, Decorah and a member of the Senior Fellowship. She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge for over 50 years and the Upper Iowa River Preservation Assoc. Lila is a member of the Farm Bureau and the Decorah Genealogy Assoc. Her heart has always been in her family, home and farm.

Sheridan, Joseph and Beverly (Kampman)

(Ransome Botson)

Joseph Sheridan was born in Decorah, lA to Raymond John and Daisy Sydell (Smalley) Sheridan. He was baptized at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Decorah on 21 May 1950. His sponsors were John Wason and Beatrice Reagan. Joseph was confirmed at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Decorah 2 May 1965 by Pastor Palmer Russeth. He attended the Decorah schools and graduated from Thomas Roberts High School in 1968. He participated in wrestling, football and track. Joseph was in Boy Scout Troop 68.

Joseph began working during his high school years. At age 15 he worked on the remodeling of a building on Washington Street vacated by the Super Value Grocery store. The building was being prepared for the Gibson Discount Store. At age 16 he worked at the Smith Memorial Hospital in charge of ordering materials, etc. As a high school senior he worked part-time at the Miller Conoco Station and with a D.O.T. (Department of Transportation) surveying crew. He spent one semester at North Iowa Area Community College in Mason City. Then he was employed at the following jobs: as a plasterer’s assistant during construction of the new Preus Library at Luther College; helped in construction of floors for the new Winneshiek Co. Memorial Hospital; helped build the new gas station southeast of the West Decorah Bridge; helped at Bradley Auto Sales; worked at Thornton Feed store; and from Jul 1970 to Apr 1976 worked for the Iowa