Short Biography of James A. Shedd

James Adams Shedd was born in Dayton, Ohio, 21 Aug. 1837, when ten years of age went with his parents to Denmark, Iowa and was educated at the academy there. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted at the first call for three months' men in Apr. 1861 in Co. E, First Iowa Volunteers and was in the battle of Wilson's Creek. On 15 Sept. 1861 he enlisted for three years and was appointed sergeant in Co. I of "Bissell's Engineers"; during this service he took part in the capture of Island No. Ten. His arduous service and a severe attack of fever finally rendered him unfit for duty, so he received an honorable discharge before his enlistment expired and returned home. After his marriage in 1865 he settled in Fort Scott, Kan., where he engaged in mercantile pursuits until about 1874, and then became manager of a lead mine in Cooper County, Mo. He died while visiting his sister Mrs. Snively at Wathena, Kan., 8 June 1876.

He married first, in Denmark, Iowa, 28 Mar. 1865, MARY ELIZABETH TURNER, born there 14 May 1840, daughter of Rev. Asa and Martha (?) Turner; she graduated from the Denmark Acadamy in 1860. They had two children, and she died in Fort Scott, KS, 24 Sept. 1868.

He married secondly, at Fort Scott, 4 Jan. 1871, ALICE BIDWELL McVAY, born in Allegheny City, Pa., 27 Sept. 1841, daughter of JAMES TAYLOR and CATHERINE WILLIAMS (BIDWELL) McVAY; one child by this marriage. She married secondly, 21 Nov. 1883, CHARLES A. CONGER and settled in Seymour, Ia.

Source: "Daniel Shed genealogy : ancestry and descendants of Daniel Shed of Braintree, Massachusetts, 1327-1920" ¹⁷¹⁰