Bio: Shidell, Adam (1923)

 
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Surnames: Shidell, Abbey, Searls, Grant, Krause, Hollinghead, Shorey, Paulson, Becker

----Source: History of Wood County, Wis. (1923) pages 553-554

Adam Shidell, now deceased, who spent many useful years as a resident of Wood County, was born in Alsace-Lorraine, April 25, 1843, and came to America with his parents about 1857. The family settled in Fond du Lac County, Wis., and from there at the age of 18 Adam Shidell enlisted in Company A of the 14th Wis. Regiment to take part in the Civil War. He served for four years and .took part in much of the hard fighting of the war, being twice wounded. At the close of the war he returned to Fond du Lac County and was there married on April 2, 1866, to Lucinda M. Abbey, who was born in Canada, Sept. 20, 1848, daughter of Charles and Phoebe (Searls) Abbey. Her parents were natives of Canada and England respectively. Charles Abbey was born in Hope, Canada, Sept. 20, 1825. He remained in his native place till he was about 35 years old, operating a farm after growing to manhood. Then in 1860 he came to Wis., locating in Fond du Lac. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted for service in the Civil War, becoming a member of Company A, 14th Wis. Volunteers. His regiment was assigned to Grant's army and Mr. Abbey was killed before Vicksburg, May 22, 1863. His wife was left with five children, namely: Lucinda M., now Mrs. Adam Shidell; Isaac, now residing at Superior, Wis.; William, of Dodgeville, Wis.; Mary J., now Mrs. A. Krause of Norton, Kans.; and Charles W., of North Dakota. Mrs. Phoebe Abbey died Feb. 7, 1903. For awhile after his marriage Adam Shidell continued to live in Fond du Lac County, doing farming and teaming.

Later he went to Waupun, where he engaged in farming, and in the spring of 1881 he came to Wood County, where he had previously purchased 80 acres of wild land in Section 14, Sherry Township. On his first coming here he lived in true pioneer state in an old logging shack that was on his farm. During the following years he went through the struggle that is the lot of him who essays to build up a farm from wild land in a primitive country. He worked first for several years as fireman and night watchman for the Sherry Lumber Co., going into the woods during the winters to work in the logging camps. Gradually, however, the results of Mr. Shidell's persistent, untiring work in the development of his property began to make themselves shown, and in the end a fine farm emerged, with 70 acres of rich soil cleared and modern buildings erected, including a fine brick house. He operated this property until his death, Sept. 4, 1919, which resulted from his being gored by a bull while engaged in his duties about the farm. The mother still makes her home with her son Dixon. Mr. and Mrs. Shidell were the parents of 11 children: Emma J., born Dec. 24, 1866, now Mrs. George Hollinghead, of Woodland, Calif.; Willie A., born Feb. 22, 1869, now living at Milwaukee, Wis.; John J., born Oct. 7, 1870, residing at Portland, Oregon; Isaac E., born Dec. 15, 1872, who died Nov. 19, 1874; Wallace I., born Oct. 27, 1876, now living in Marathon County, Wis.; Neta M., born June 18, 1879, now Mrs. Charles Shorey of Marathon County, Wis.; George A., born Nov. 14, 1882, who died April 18, 1883; Ida B., born Sept. 18, 1884, now Mrs. Matthew Paulson of Marathon County, Wis.; James A., born Oct. 2, 1886, now living at Hope, N. D.; Dixon, born Aug. 20, 1888, a sketch of whom follows this; and Blanche, born May 3, 1891, now the wife of John J. Becker of Rudolph Township, Wood County.