William Shields. Among the honored veterans of the Civil war and the prosperous farmers of Van Buren township, none stand higher in public esteem than William Shields, a native of that township, who was born on the old homestead, November 9, 1840. His early education advantages were meager as the nearest school house was four miles from his home and the path thither was mainly through swamps. The school house was built of logs contained slab seats and other primitive furniture, and few branches were taught. His first teacher was Joseph Drew, a very able instructor for those times. When not in school he tended stock in winter and worked on the farm during the summer months, using the old-fashioned sickle and scythe. At the age of sixteen he assisted thirteen grown men in mowing a field and held his own with any of them.

When the Civil war broke out Mr. Shields enlisted at Greenville, in August, 1861, in Company G, Forty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Newkirk, Colonel Wood and later under Colonel Gilbert. They went into camp at Camp Clarke, Springfield, Clark county where they spent two months and from there proceeded to Camp Piatt, West Virginia. After drilling six months they were ordered to the front and took part in the battle of Louisburg, where parts of the Thirty-sixth and Forty-fourth Ohio Infantry and the One Hundredth New York Cavalry, numbering nine hundred in all, met thirty-five hundred rebels with eight pieces of artillery, but captured seven hundred prisoners, wounded five hundred and killed a great many. After one year spent in West Virginia, they went to Kentucky, where they served as mounted infantry for six months taking part in many skirmishes in that state and Tennessee. After being dismounted they were in the breastworks siege of Knoxville for twenty days and were fed on crushed corn. After the battle of Lookout mountain resulted victoriously for the union troops, Thomas went to the assistance of the besieged at Knoxville. The rebels made a fierce onslaught but were repulsed and moved back to Smoky Camp followed by the Union troops. This was the last engagement in which Mr. Shields participated before re-enlisting at Strawberry Plains in the Eighth Ohio Cavalry. Being granted a forty days’ furlough he returned home and at the end of that time rejoined his command at Camp Dennison. From there they proceeded to Camp Piatt, West Virginia, and were under the command of General Sheridan in the Shenandoah valley, taking part in the battle of Cedar Creek. Mr. Shields witnessed General Sheridan’s famous ride, and saw him pull off his hat and shout to his retreating men, “Boys, come back and we’ll have everything on wheels till four o’clock.” In the engagement at Winchester many of our subject’s school mates fell. After the battle of Cedar Creek the Eighth Ohio moved back to Martinsburg and was engaged in skirmishing through the valley for over a week. About this time Mr. Shields was driving a team, and was at Wier’s Cave, Brown’s Gap when it was shelled by the rebels. His command was scattered, but after getting together again proceeded to Stockland setting fire to farm houses as they went, rescuing the inmates and with wagons conveying them to the railroad station when desired. They next went to Beverly, West Virginia, where many of the regiment were captured, but Mr. Shields escaped, as he had been sent that morning for a load of rations. On his return he got as far as Phillippi, when he heard the news and remained at that place one month. He then secured a horse and entered the ranks but his command took part in no other engagements. He was mustered out at Clarksburg, Virginia, at the close of the war, and was discharged at Springfield, Ohio, July 14, 1865.

Mr. Shields reached home July 15, and the following day resumed work on the farm. He remained under the parental roof until he was married, June 27, 1867, to Miss Maria Hathaway, who was born in Greenville township, a daughter of William and Lena (Amole0 Hathaway, and ten children blessed this union, namely: Edward, at home; Della, wife of Lewis Binkley; Wiley, who married Elizabeth McNutt and lives in Van Buren township; Deo, who died April 1, 1891, at the age of sixteen years; Lucy wife of Melvin Miller, of Van Buren township; Lewis, Maud, Orpha, Jennie and Treva, at home.

After his marriage Mr. Shields located on a farm of eighty acres in Van Buren township, which he had purchased, but two years later returned to the old homestead, where he spent three years. In the meantime he bought sixty acres of land in Van Buren township, adjoining his present farm, on which he located in August, 1869, and two years later removed to his present farm consisting of two hundred acres, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and improved with good and substantial buildings. On his return from the war he had twelve hundred dollars, which he invested in land, and being industrious, enterprising and progressive he has succeeded in accumulating a handsome property. For a tract of ninety-six acres he gave over nine thousand dollars, paying over four thousand dollars in cash. He always affiliates with the Republican party and gives his support to every enterprise which he believes calculated to prove of public benefit.