J. W. Shick

J. W. Shick was born in Georgetown, Brown County, Ohio, August 18, 1819. His father, Peter Shick, was born in Philadelphia in 1791, and his grandfather came to America from Germany. His mother was Elizabath (Woodruff) Shick, a native of Brown County, Ohio, born of English parents. Mrs. Shick was the third of a family of eleven children, five of whom are now living, and are scattered over the United States. He was educated in his native State. When he became of age he purchased the old homestead on which his father had lived six years, the youngest of the family were born, and on which his father died in 1835. It contained 100 acres. His father had settled on it in 1829, had reclaimed it from the bush, and, at his request, was buried on it. After living on this property five years, Mr. Shick sold out and went to Davis County, Iowa, where he bought eighty acres of improved land, farmed it for two years, then sold, and in the same neighborhood bought 100 acres. On this property he made his home for twenty years.

    In 1861, when the bar broke out, he enlisted in Company G., Second Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served during the war. He made that remarkable march with General Sherman from Atlanta to the sea. On this march he was detailed to the ambulance corps, and drove the mail ambulance for General G. M. Dodge, of Iowa. On his way from Dallas, Georgia, to Kingston, after the mail, his team ran away and he was thrown from the wagon and run over, his left ankle being badly injured, also right shoulder and knee slightly. He has, to some extent, been a cripple ever since. At the time of General Lee's surrender, he was in the hospital from the effect of this injury, where he was discharged on surgeon's certificate of disability July 10, 1865. He returned to his home and engaged in agricultural pursuits on his farm and, in winter, also taught school. In 1877 he sold his property and came to California. In Inyo County he bought 116 acres of land, and resided there ten years. He then sold and came to Santa Paula, where he bought the house in which he now resides with his family. He has received a small pension, dated from the date of discharge.

    Mr. Shick was married in 1843, to Miss Eleanor A. P. Clark, a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of Mr. John Clark. They had one child, Elizabeth, born in Ohio, and is now the wife of Thomas Bates, of Missouri. Mrs. Shick died in 1845. For he second wife he wedded Catharine Srofe, a native of Ohio, and daughter of Elijah Srofe. Her father was born in Ohio, and was the son of a soldier of the war of 1812, who was wounded in the battle of Lundy's Lane. By this wife he had four children, two of whom are living: Mary A., born in Ohio, now married to A. J. Humphrey, and resides in Davis County, Iowa; David T., born in Davis County, Iowa, resides at his father's old home. This wife died in 1855. Mr. Shick's next wife was nee Martha J. Mohler, also a native of Ohio. She lived only a short time after marriage, her death occurring in 1858. He was afterward married to Annie M. Torrence. She, too, was a native of Ohio, and her death occurred a year after her marriage. Mr. Shick's present wife was formerly Mrs. Catharine Tull, widow of Mr. W. Tull, of Davis County, Iowa, and daughter of Mrs. Thomas Clark.  They have had four children,  three of whom are living. Their eldest son, T. M., lived to be twenty-three years of age, and was murdered by one Henry Brown, who was convicted of the crime and sentenced to imprisonment for life. Ida May, and Rena C. and Francis M. were born in Davis County, Iowa, and now reside with their parents. Mrs. Shick is a member of the Baptist Church, and her husband of the Christian Church. He is a worthy member of the G. A. A. In Davis County, Iowa, Mr. Shick held every township office, and was Justice of the Peace for eight years. In Salt Creek, that county, he served as Postmaster. Notwithstanding his advanced age, seventy-one years, he is still hale and hearty, and bids fair to enjoy a long life in his happy California home.

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