----Source: 1918 History of Clark County, Wisconsin, page 478

JOHN SCHIER, who is farming 160 acres of land in Section 21, Lynn Township, with good financial results, is a native of Wisconsin, of German ancestry, having been born in Manitowoc County, Dec. 18, 1860, son of Mat and Wilhelmina (Picaroon) Shier. The parents, born in Germany, on coming to this country, settled in the woods of Manitowoc County, where they began pioneer farming, like other early settlers, using an ox team. The father was of the Catholic faith in religion, while the mother was a Lutheran. They had six children-Mat, Rosa, Lizzie, Minnie, Augustus and John. John Shier was the second born child of his parents. His education was limited, as he had little opportunity to attend school.

At the age of 21 years he struck out for himself, finding employment in a mill in Manitowoc County, in which occupation he continued for eight years. In 1884 he married Mary Larman, of the Township of Toocreeks, and in 1892 came to Clark County with his family, which then included five children-Clara, Henry, Hattie, Oscar and Richard. Locating in Lynn Township, he worked for the railroad ten years, and then bought a tract of eighty acres in Section 21, the land being covered with stumps, logs and brush, and destitute of buildings. To remedy these conditions meant years of hard labor, which he began by erecting a small frame house of somewhat rough construction. In the course of time a barn 36 by 70 feet was put up and the original dwelling gave place to a good brick house of five rooms. Mr. Shier also doubled the size of his farm by buying eighty acres more land, and has cleared it all. He raises good stock, and is doing a successful business, which happy result he has achieved by persevering effort.

He has served as a member of the school board of his district and is a man well respected in the township.

Besides the five children already mentioned, he and his wife have had four others, who were born in Clark County-Lydia, Mabel, Eddie and Minnie, the last mentioned being now deceased.