Walter Shults
Surnames: Dockstader, Harris, Hurdman, Lipe, Moore, Wiley
WALTER SHULTS, a leading citizen and wealthy farmer of Turtle Township, residing on section 10, was born in Montgomery County, N.Y., March 10, 1833, and is descended from good old Revolutionary stock. His grandfather, Henry SHULTS, was born in the same county, on the farm which is still in the possession of our subject. He lived during the Colonial days of our history when the Indians were very numerous in that Western country and the men were obliged to carry their muskets with them to meeting for fear of Indian treachery. He met with many adventures during his life. At one time when cutting grass in a field with his brother and a negro, he was surprised and captured by a band of the red men. They had taken their guns with them, but before they had time to reach their arms the Indians were upon them. They were first warned of the approach by the barking of their dog. Springing backward, Mr. SHULTS tried to escape but the Indians had cut off his retreat, and with his companions he was taken prisoner. Their dog was killed and they were forced to eat its flesh, while during their confinement they were also given horse meat. The brother died in captivity, but Mr. SHULTS and the negro were at length exchanged and piloted through the woods to their homes. The stump of the tree yet stands on which their guns were leaning at the time of their capture. His death occurred at the advanced age of ninety-six years.
The SHULTS family is of Holland descent as is also the other branch of the family. The parents of our subject were Daniel and Caty (LIPE) SHULTS. The father was born, reared, lived and died on the old homestead in Montgomery County, and followed the occupation of farming throughout his entire life. He was liberal, free-hearted, and with his family was the embodiment of generosity. In early life he was an ardent supporter of the Whig party until the organization of the Republican party, when he enlisted in its ranks, serving under its banner until his death, which occurred at the age of ninety-one years and four months. His wife departed this life in November, 1888, at the age of eighty-six years, and was laid to rest in the family burying ground in Montgomery County, N.Y. Both Mr. and Mrs. SHULTS were members of the Lutheran Church, and were people highly respected in the community where they resided. They had a family of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters, and ten of that number lived to mature years. John, the eldest, is a resident of New York City; Alonzo, a retired farmer, is living Paw Paw, Mich.; Daniel D. is a speculator of Little Falls, Herkimer Co., N.Y.; Walter is the next in order of birth; Catherine, widow of Daniel D. SHULL, resides with her children in Sac City, Iowa; Elanor is the wife of John MOORE, a farmer of Fulton County, N.Y.; Elizabeth, single, is a resident of Montgomery County, N.Y.; Sarah, who makes her home in Paw Paw, Mich., is the widow of Harry HARRIS; Mary is the wife of Charles HURDMAN, of Parkdale, Canada; Henry, Jacob and Frazier are all deceased and were buried in Montgomery County, N.Y.
Our subject received his education in the common school of his native county, and his early life was spent upon the farm. At the age of fifteen years he left the parental roof and started out in life for himself, being first employed as a clerk in a general store at Canajoharie. For two years he was engaged in that capacity, when in 1852, he went to New York City and entered a wholesale notion house as salesman. He was next employed for two years as a clerk in a country store, after which he returned to the old home where he remained until the spring of 1861. He came West at that time and settled in Rock County, locating in La Prairie Township, where he engaged in farming on 120 acres of rented land. He made his first purchase of land in 1867, when he became the proprietor of a tract of 120 acres on section 21, La Prairie Township. He removed to that farm and began its improvement, and in the course of time placed it in a high state of cultivation. By subsequent purchase he has extended its boundaries until it now comprises 200 acres. At one time he owned 500 acres of land in Rock County, but has since disposed of 240 acres. In 1880 he removed to his present home in Turtle Township where he owns sixty acres of land on section 10, locating in the village of Shopiere. He also owns the homestead farm in Montgomery County, of 145 acres, which has been in possession of the family for three generations.
On the 7th day of September, 1862, the marriage of Walter SHULTS and Miss Rachel A. DOCKSTADER was celebrated. The lady is also a native of Montgomery County, N.Y., and her parents, John F. and Catherine C. (WILEY) DOCKSTADER, were born in the same place. They came with their family to Wisconsin in 1852, but in 1862, removed to Mitchell County, Iowa, where they yet reside. By the union of Mr. and Mrs. SHULTS have been born four children - Katie May, Rosie Gay, Walter F., and Elizabeth A., to whom they have given good educational advantages and of whom they may well feel proud. On his arrival in this county, Mr. SHULTS was in limited circumstances, but he determined to make life a success and with characteristic energy began his labors. It is entirely due to his own efforts of industry and perseverance that he has become one of the wealthy men of Rock County. He gave his whole attention exclusively to his farming interests, was shrewd and careful in his business and so reaped the just reward of his labors. He has never sought or desired public office, in fact has steadily refused to accept any such position. In politics, he is a Democrat, and his wife is a member of the Congregational Church. They hold high rank in the social world and are numbered among the county's best citizens.
From The Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wis., publ, 1889 - page 932, 933