In 1965 at the age of ten, his father died at the tail end of the Civil War at the Battle of Five Forks in Virginia.
In 1871 at age 16, his mother moved with James and his six siblings from Fredrick County Maryland to Marshall County in Iowa. Apparently, Rachel moved at the behest of a brother already living in southeastern Iowa. Most likely she was lured with the possibilities of free farmland and a chance to start a new life.
While his other brothers took up the plow, farming must not have been in James's blood. He found work at the local rock quarry in nearby Legrand while his brothers started farming land deeded to them by the state of Iowa. Their family was instrumental in helping start the Dunkard Church (The Church of the Bretheren) located across the road from their homestead.
James must have not gotten along with his mother. He moved out of her house and lived with his older sister Mary (herself an interesting character - see her Life Sketch) and her husband DMB Goodrich, whom she had married in 1876. This was how James met then married DMB's niece, Miss Euphemia "Effie" Elizabeth Goodrich in 1881. Their marriage produced six children; Grace Viola, Bruce Allen, Myrtle Anna, Clarence R, Maud Rachel, and Earl Wesley.
Eventually, James got into some sort of a disagreement with his employers at the quarry and decided to move his family to North Dakota to start a new life but this was not to be.
A few short years later James Jr. met his end in a heated argument with a neighbor. During this confrontation it appears that James reached towards his pocket so his killer raised his shotgun and pulled the trigger. James died from wounds to the skull, and passed away as he lay in his eldest daughter Grace's lap. James's assassin, Mr. G.B. Norton, turned himself in claiming self defense. It seems he was acquitted of all charges.
In 1965 at the age of ten, his father died at the tail end of the Civil War at the Battle of Five Forks in Virginia.
In 1871 at age 16, his mother moved with James and his six siblings from Fredrick County Maryland to Marshall County in Iowa. Apparently, Rachel moved at the behest of a brother already living in southeastern Iowa. Most likely she was lured with the possibilities of free farmland and a chance to start a new life.
While his other brothers took up the plow, farming must not have been in James's blood. He found work at the local rock quarry in nearby Legrand while his brothers started farming land deeded to them by the state of Iowa. Their family was instrumental in helping start the Dunkard Church (The Church of the Bretheren) located across the road from their homestead.
James must have not gotten along with his mother. He moved out of her house and lived with his older sister Mary (herself an interesting character - see her Life Sketch) and her husband DMB Goodrich, whom she had married in 1876. This was how James met then married DMB's niece, Miss Euphemia "Effie" Elizabeth Goodrich in 1881. Their marriage produced six children; Grace Viola, Bruce Allen, Myrtle Anna, Clarence R, Maud Rachel, and Earl Wesley.
Eventually, James got into some sort of a disagreement with his employers at the quarry and decided to move his family to North Dakota to start a new life but this was not to be.
A few short years later James Jr. met his end in a heated argument with a neighbor. During this confrontation it appears that James reached towards his pocket so his killer raised his shotgun and pulled the trigger. James died from wounds to the skull, and passed away as he lay in his eldest daughter Grace's lap. James's assassin, Mr. G.B. Norton, turned himself in claiming self defense. It seems he was acquitted of all charges.
Family Members
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Thomas H. Shelton
1842–1938
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Mary Margaret Shelton Goodrich Helmer
1844–1933
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Christena Whilhelmina Shelton
1849–1865
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Melvina Shelton Hausafus
1852–1928
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Charles Edward Shelton
1854 – unknown
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Erwin Ernest Shelton
1857–1951
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John Caldwin Shelton
1858–1932
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Emma Jane "Emily" Shelton Chrisman
1861–1955
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Joseph Hooker Shelton
1863–1954
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