Abigail Houston and George Shedd

DR. GEORGE SHEDD, son of REBEKAH ADAMS and ABEL SHEDD, was born May 13, 1810 in Rindge, New Hampshire,³³ and died January 3, 1892 in Ashland, Saunders, Nebraska. He is buried in Denmark Cemetery, Lee County, Iowa.⁶⁴⁶⁷

He married ABIGAIL HOUSTON on September 5, 1844 in Denmark, Lee, Iowa,³⁴³⁴ daughter of ZERVIAH FIELDS and JOHN HOUSTON. She was born April 2, 1815 in Lyndeborough, Hillsborough, New Hampshire,^{33, 1491} and died January 31, 1879 in Denmark, Lee, Iowa.¹⁴⁹¹ She is buried in Denmark Cemetery, Lee County, Iowa.⁶⁴⁶⁷

Biography of George Shedd
Personal Information
Education
Work History
Marriage Announcements and News
Newspaper Articles
Land Records
Obituaries
Cemetery Pictures

Census Records

Ancestor Report (John Adams Scott)

Children of ABIGAIL HOUSTON and DR. GEORGE SHEDD:

LT. GOV. HIBBARD HOUSTON SHEDD, b. January 27, 1847, Denmark, Lee, Iowa; m. KATHERINE LEIGH GRAVES on February 18, 1874 in Lockland, Hamilton, Ohio²³⁷³; d. October 6, 1905, Ashland, Saunders, Nebraska.
MARTHA REBECCA SHEDD, b. August 24, 1849, Denmark, Lee, Iowa; m. CHARLES ANDREW SWIFT on March 25, 1872 in Denmark, Lee, Iowa¹⁸⁵³; d. February 19, 1873, Denmark, Lee, Iowa.
MARY ZERVIAH SHEDD, b. August 24, 1849, Denmark, Lee, Iowa; m. WILLIAM CLEMENT SCOTT JR. on December 14, 1876 in Denmark, Lee, Iowa^{11, 3844}; d. August 8, 1900, Denmark, Lee, Iowa.¹⁵⁰²

Hibbard, Mattie & Mary Shedd

Personal Information

Abigail Houston and George Shedd were members of the Denmark Congregational Church, Lee County, Iowa. ¹⁴⁹¹

Education

George Shedd

attended Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, Sullivan, New Hampshire in 1834¹⁵⁰⁰
graduated from Dartmouth College, Hanover, Grafton, New Hampshire¹⁵⁰⁰
attended Union Theological Seminary, West Farms, New York, New York in 1840
attended Ohio Medical College, Dayton, Montgomery, Ohio between 1840 and 1841¹⁵⁰⁰
attended Medical Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio between 1841 and 1842

Work History

George Shedd

doctor in Lee County, Iowa
appointed Inspector of the Iowa State Penitentiary in February, 1855

Marriage Announcements and News

Davenport Daily Gazette, September 13, 1869³⁷⁵⁶

DR. SHEDD and wife of Denmark, Lee county, celebrated their silver wedding on the 6th inst. Two hundred guests were present and the gifts were handsome and valuable.

Newspaper Articles

Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, November 13, 1851¹⁴⁹⁵

REPORTED FOR THE HAWK-EYE.

The Second session of the "Southern Iowa Teachers Institute" convened at Denmark, Oct. 13th, and continued in Session 3 weeks.

Board of Instruction.

Prof. S. R. Sweet, N. York, Principal;

Prof's. Drake of Denmark, and Dorland of Salem, Assistants.

The Institute was organized into select Divisions under monitors, for practical exercises in the various branches of a good English Education. Instruction was given by the Principal in the philosophy of all the branches, and general exercises introduced in Phonology, Elocution, Composition, Punctuation, &c. Prof. Drake gave lessons in the Philosophy of the English Language. Prof. Dorland gave a course of Lectures on Chemistry and Astronomy, which were listened to with delight by the members of the Institute and many citizens. On the afternoon of Friday, the last day of the Institute, the Church was filled at an early hour by citizens and visitors from abroad.

Most of the branches taught in the Institute were reviewed, and Lectures given by members of the Institute on Fractions, Percentage, Ratio and Proportion, Square and Cube Root, &c., followed by exhibitions of skill in the solutions of Problems. Select Divisions in Reading, Mapping, with a thorough review of the Lectures on Chemistry and Astronomy, and a general exercise in Elocution, closed the afternoon exercises.

The evening Exercises were continued until nearly 11 o'clock, interspersed with excellent music from the Choir and Glee Club of Denmark. The principal fault found with the exercises was that they were too short. The interest was fully sustained to the last, and might have been still longer. Remarks were made during the evening by citizens and strangers, a brief summary of which follows:

Rev. Asa Turner, of Denmark, said: "I expected to be pleased with the Institute, and my expectations are fully realized. Those who teach now will be inexcusable if they do not teach right.

When I was a Teacher, we had none of these advantages, and, therefore, had some excuse for our errors; but if you leave your marks of error and wrong, you will be without excuse. And I trust you will all profit by these exercises. A trust is acquired here which is worth a great deal. I am highly gratified with the promptness and skill exhibited in all the exercises. I am pleased with the system of Elocution taught in this Institute. It is right, and ought not only to be introduced into all our common schools and higher Institutions of learning, but into our families—for some are not inclined to talk plain. I express great satisfaction that Institutes have been introduced into our State, and I am satisfied it is our duty to sustain and perpetuate them."

Rev. Mr. Beeman of Montrose, said: "I will second all that Bro. Turner has said, and add "amen" to what he said on Elocution. I would say one great object of an Institute is to qualify Teachers to wake up the mind and keep it awake. This I am fully satisfied from what I have seen here, will be one good effect of this Institute."

Mr. Fox of Denmark, said: "I am highly gratified with the exhibition we have had before us. It prepares Teachers to communicate what they know, so as to be understood. The constantly increasing interest manifested by each member of the Institute is sufficient evidence of its great utility."

Dr. Geo. Shedd, Chairman of the Committee of Arrangements, said: "He could now rejoice in common with other friends of Education in the complete success of the Institute. The committee had labored faithfully to sustain it, and in common with other citizens, had made sacrifices, but they are amply compensated in witnessing the progress of the members of the Institute and in participating in the Evening Lectures and discussions; believing that much good would result to the cause of Education from these Institutes."

After the valedictory address, Prof. Sweet took his final leave of the Institute, alluding to the obstacles that had been overcome by the firmness of the committee and the smiles of a benignant Providence; rejoicing that this intellectual Telegraph, gathering as it does, improvements from the whole civilized world and concentrating them to a focal point within the reach of every teacher, had not only crossed the the great "Father of Waters," but may now be considered permanently established in the young and flourishing State of Iowa. He returned to his home after a long absence, not freighted with the gold of California, but with a richer treasure—the consciousness of having been an instrument in the hands of God, in adding at least one jewel to the Teachers treasury of knowledge, which he trusted would never be tarnished but grow brighter and brighter, and extend its radiant beams even to the shores of the Pacific.

Among the resolutions adopted at the Institute are the following:

Resolved, That the most efficient means of elevating the profession of Teaching is the "Teacher's Institute."

Resolved, That we learn with great satisfaction that it is the intention of Prof. Sweet to hold an Institute in the city of Burlington next Spring, and pledge our co-operation and support.

Resolved, That it is the duty of every Teacher in our land to become thoroughly acquainted with the elementary principles of our language, and to give instruction in Phonology or the elementary sounds thereof.

Resolved, That Sweet's Elocutionary Chart is the best work of the kind now before the public, and that no person should be permitted to enter a school house as a Teacher without it.

REPORT of the Select Committee on the State of Elocution in Southern Iowa. J. Vanvalkenburgh, Chairman.

The faculty of speech is the noblest attribute of man; to excel in its use is the highest of human arts. The aristocracy of Eloquence is supreme and in a free country can never be subdued. There is in Eloquence, in painting to the life, that which breathes, speaks and enchants;—there is Eloquence in action, in the adaptation of the graces of the body to the harmonies of the mind.

This important art is very much neglected in Southern Iowa, owing to the want of suitable Books and competent Teachers.

We want works which will exhibit the principles of Elocution in all the simplicity of nature herself. Considering these truths the Committee feel no hesitation in presenting the following resolution:—

Resolved, That Sweet's Elocution founded as it is upon the philosophy of nature, should be introduced into ?? tools as a standard work on that art.

The Report was adopted.

GEO. SHEDD, President.

Wm. B. Cooper, Secretary.

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Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, December 24, 1859¹⁴⁹³

Christian Anti-Slavery Convention.

In accordance with previous call, a Christian Anti-Slavery Convention assembled at the Congregational Church in Denmark, Lee County, Iowa, December 16th, 1859. At 11 o'clock A. M. an eloquent address was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Jaques, of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, at the close of which Dr. George Shedd, of Denmark, Dr. Thome, of Primrose, and B. B. Johnson, of Burlington, were appointed a Committee to nominate permanent officers and a Business Committee.

This Committee, aftera a brief absence, submitted the following report, which was adopted:

For President, H. B. Spelman, of Burlington

For Secretary, Dr. George Shedd, of Denmark.

BUSINESS COMMITTEE.

Rev. A. Turner, Rev. Mr. Jacques, Rev. A. C. Williams, and N. S. Se??.

Adjourned at 2 o'clock P. M.

Convention met at 2 P. M., and, after a few appropriate remarks from the President on taking the Choir, was opened by prayer by Rev. A. C. Williams.

Rev. A. Turner, from the Business Committee, reported a brief preamble and a series of resolutiosn, which were taken up separately, discussed, during the afternoon and evening sessions, amended, in several particulars, and adopted, as follows:

PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS.

Believing that God made of one blood all nations of men that dwell on the earth and that Jesus Christ died for all men; and believing the African as truly possessed of all the attributes of humanity as the Anglo-Saxon and of the same inalienable God-given rights; therefore,

Resolved, 1st, It is no greater wrong for the colored man to enslave the white man than for the white man to enslave the colored man, and we are bound by the law of God to all the sympathy and Christian effort for the emancipation of the millions of colored men in our country, we should be it so many white men were held in slavery in their place.

2d. That while we admit the right of the slave to assert and maintain his liberty, we, as Christians, disapprove of all insurrectionary movements, and rely upon moral and religious influences for the overthrow of slavery.

3d. That the enslaving of the colored man in this country is such a violation of every natural right and of the laws of God, that it cannot long be endured. Slavery has no higher rights than that of the strong over the weak; a right founded in war and kidnapping, and perpetuated only by brute force.

4th. That Slavery and the Gospel are at irreconcilable enmity, each with the other, slavery requiring what the gospel forbids and the gospel requiring what slavery forbids.

5th. For the church to tolerate slavery in her bosom, or to allow her members to enslave their fellow men, is to do a grievous wrong to herself, to the enslaved, and especially to the slaveholder, as it lessens the hope of his repentance.

6th. That, imitating the noble example of the society of Friends, and a few other religious denominations in this country, every branch of the Church of Christ should first free itself from all support and connection with slaver; and then should utter its calm, emphatic and persistent remonstrance against the "sum of all villanies," on all proper occasions, and in all suitable ways; especially by disfellowshipping all who hold or treat men as property.

7th. We cannot expect our nation to become a just, righteous nation, and our rulers to rule in the fear of God, till the church sets the example of righteousness in her conduct towards the oppressed.

8th. The Fugitive Slave Law is iniquity framed into law, requiring what the law of God and the Gospel of Christ forbid, and making obedience to Heaven a crime and treason against the State.

Several of the resolutions above called forth spirited and searching discussion, which it is hoped will serve a good purpose in turning the public mind to fundamental principles and to christian duty.

H. B. SPELMAN, President.

GEORGE SHEDD, Secretary.

Denmark, Dec. 16th, 1859.

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Burlington Hawk Eye, July 13, 1876⁷⁴⁹¹

Citizens Meeting

As previously announced in The Hawk Eye, a meeting of citizens convened at Denmark Tuesday, to consider the interests and prospects of the Burlington, Keosauqua & Western Narrow Gauge railroad, and to aid and encourage the speedy construction of the road. A large attendance of representative men from Keosauqua, West Point, Augusta, Denmark and Burlington were present.

The meeting was organized by electing Dr Shedd, of Denmark, chairman, and E S Huston, of Burlington, secretary.

The meeting was favored with stirring addresses by a number of prominent gentleman, among whom were Gen A C Dodge, Hon John H Gear, Col John S David, and D N Smith, Esq, of Burlington, Vice president Baldwin, D C Beaman Esq of Keosauqua, Messrs Birkett and Hall, of Augusta, Dr Shedd, of Denmark, and Dr Evans, of West Point.

In the course of the meeting a resolution was adopted requesting the Hon John H Gear to rewrite and republish a pamphlet published by him last year in favor of the construction of narrow gauge roads.

After the mass meeting adjourned the directors held a meeting and chose an executive committee consisting of Charles Mason, Vice president Baldwin, Dr Evans, of West Point, D N Smith and L H. Dalhoft.

The tenor of all the remarks and proceedings was encouraging and the prospects for the speedy construction of the road are improving daily.

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Burlington Hawk-Eye, February 7, 1878¹⁴⁹⁶

THE DENMARK ROAD.

Enthusiastic Meeting at Denmark—Unanimous Action—Tax to be Voted—Petition Legally Signed.

OFFICIAL REPORT.

DENMARK, Iowa, Jan. 31 1878—EDITOR HAWKEYE, Burlington, Iowa:—Denmark to Burlington sendeth greeting. We feel like shaking hands, throwing up our cap and shouting hurrah!

A mass meeting was held here to-day, pursuant to notice, to disucss the question of voting a tax of three per cent, to aid in building the Burlington, Denmark and Keosauqua narrow gauge railroad. Although the weather was unfavorable we had the largest and most enthusiastic railroad meeting every held in Denmark.

On motion, Colonel G. B. Brackett was called to the chair, and R. N. Joy appointed secretary. Dr. George Shedd placed on the table a package of pamphlets entitled "Five reasons why the people of Iowa should encourage narrow gauge railroads," which were eagerly taken up by the citizens at the close of the meeting.

Mr. Chapman, the engineer engaged in making the survey, made remarks showing the feasibility of contructing such a road on the line contemplated, and expressed his surprise at the comparatively easy grade that was found from Augusta to Denmark—only fifty feet to the mile—by way of what is known as the Barb Hollow, striking the town plot on the noth side near the cemetery. He also stated that if this township voted the tax called for he had no doubt work would be commenced inside of thirty days.

It was suggested that the law of the 16th general assembly under which the road was chartered should be read, which was done and a pretty full discussion was had thereon.

A letter from Governor G. L. Epps with reference to the safety of townships voting taxes under that act, was read, assuring him that the law was made in the interest of the tax-payers and for their protection. Remarks were made by many of the prominent men of the town. A report being called for from the parties who were curculating the call for a special election to vote on the tax question, it was stated that there were now ninety (90) names on the petition, which is about two-thirds of the freehold electors of this township.

Mr. Howard, of Keosauqua, was present, and said that Keosauqua was awake to the enterprise, wanted the road, and when the time came for action they would do their duty. They were looking anxiously to see what would be the action of Denmark and the other towns at this end of the line.

The following resolution was unanimously adopted by a rising vote and will speak for itself:

Resolved, That this meeting is in favor of voting the tax in aid of the railroad.

To-morrow there is to be a meeting at Augusta which many of our citizens design to attend. Yours, etc.,

Royal N. Joy.

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Burlington Daily Hawk-Eye, June 4, 1880¹⁷⁰⁶

Dr. George Shedd, formerly of Denmark, who recently has made Nebraska, passed through town yesterday on his way to Denmark to visit. He was a citizen of this county for forty years.

Obituaries

Burlington Hawkeye, March 6, 1879¹⁴⁹¹

OBITUARY

Death of Mrs. Dr. Shedd, of Denmark.

SHEDD - Died January 31, 1879, Mrs. Abbie, wife of Dr. George Shedd, of Denmark, Iowa.

Abigail Houston was born in Lyndboro, New Hampshire, April 2, 1815. At an early age she manifested a deep interest in the subject of religion, and when ten years old she gave her heart to the Savior. In 1832 her parents removed to Lowell, Massachusetts, where they resided till 1843, when the family came to Denmark, which place was then in its infancy. In the following year Miss Houston was married to Dr. Shedd, and the thirty-five years of her married life were passed in this place.

Mrs. Shedd was the mother of three children, one of whom, a daughter, preceded her mother to the spiritual world, while a son and daughter remain to comfort their sorrowing father under his bereavement. Our departed friend was an earnest and devoted member of the Congregational church of Denmark, and was deeply interested in its welfare and prosperity. In all the relations of life, as daughter, sister, wife, mother and friend, she was truly conscientious and faithful.

Thus has closed an earthly existence, made happy by trust in the Lord, by the ministrations of a loving and devoted husband, and by that sweet peace granted to those whose lives have been spent in the service of their Lord and Savior. And she was dearly beloved. Her place in the social circle is felt to be vacant, but we have the remembrance of her life and example, which will long remain with us.

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Nebraska State Journal, January 5, 1892

THE DEATH ROLL

Dr. George Shedd.

Ashland, Neb., Jan. 4. —-[Special.]—-

Dr. George Shedd, well known throughout all Iowa and Nebraska, died about 5 o'clock yesterday morning at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Will Scott. For years he had been fighting against bronchitis and recently received a severe attack of paralysis from which he had never fully recovered.

His body was taken to his old home in Denmark, Ia., for interment yesterday evening.

Dr. Shedd was born in Rhinge, N. H., May 2, 1810. He was one of the early originators of the republican party in Iowa and was a nominee on the first republican state ticket of that state. He was an intimate friend of Senators Grimes, Wilson, Harland, McCleary and early republican workers. He was also one of the strongest abolitionists of his time. Ten or twelve years ago he removed to Nebraska and has since dwelt with his son, ex-Lieutenant-Governor Shedd and his daughter, Mrs. Will Scott, both in this place.

Cemetery Pictures

Denmark Cemetery, Lee County, Iowa

Census Records

Date	Location	Enumerated Names
September 12, 1850¹⁷¹²	Denmark, Lee, Iowa	George Shedd Abigail Houston Hibbard Houston Shedd Mary Zerviah Shedd Martha Rebecca Shedd
June 20, 1860⁴	Denmark, Lee, Iowa	George Shedd Abigail Houston Hibbard Houston Shedd Mary Zerviah Shedd Martha Rebecca Shedd
August 6, 1870¹⁷⁰⁸	Denmark, Lee, Iowa	George Shedd Abigail Houston Hibbard Houston Shedd Mary Zerviah Shedd Martha Rebecca Shedd Abigail Fields
June 3, 1880²⁹²	Ashland, Saunders, Nebraska	George Shedd
June 3, 1880²⁹²	Ashland, Saunders, Nebraska	Hibbard Houston Shedd Katherine Leigh Graves Harrison Graves Shedd Ralph Wayne Shedd George Clifford Shedd George Shedd