1905 History of Crawford County Kansas

Thirty-four years have come and gone since Isaac M. Shipman became a resident of Crawford county, and during this period he has witnessed much of the growth and development of southeastern Kansas. He has seen its wild lands reclaimed for the purposes of civilization and transformed from raw prairie into richly cultivated fields dotted here and there with comfortable and substantial homes, good school buildings and churches, while in the midst of the district have sprung up enterprising towns, enabling citizens to enjoy all the comforts and conveniences of the older east. Mr. Shipman, now making his home in Girard, is engaged in the breeding of Percheron and trotting horses and of jacks, and in former years he was closely connected with agricultural interests in the county.

A native of Fountain county, Indiana, Isaac Shipman was born on the 7th of April, 1842, and was a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Davis) Shipman, both of whom are now deceased, the mother having passed away in 1844, while the father survived until 1871. Isaac M. Shipman, reared in the usual manner of farmer lads, obtained his education in the common schools of Indiana and started out upon an independent business career when eighteen years of age by working at the cooper's trade in the winter months, while in the summer seasons he engaged at farm labor. In 1866 he removed from Indiana to Illinois, settling in Livingston county, where he engaged in farming for a year. On the 19th of October, 1867, he arrived in Crawford county, Kansas, and purchased a claim on Elm creek seven miles west of Girard. There he owned two hundred and eighty acres, which he transformed from its primitive condition into richly cultivated fields, while upon the farm he placed many substantial modern improvements. He was continuously engaged in the cultivation of the soil until March, 1895, when he removed to Girard, where he purchased a nice home, and at this writing has just completed an excellent barn thirty by thirty feet. In 1901 he sold his original farm to James Wylie, and purchased two hundred and thirty acres of land which is pleasantly and conveniently located only a mile and a half northeast of Girard. It is upon this place that he engages in the breeding of Percheron and trotting horses and jacks, and he owns some other valuable stock, while his annual sales reach a large figure.

On the 20th of August, 1863, Mr. Shipman was married to Miss Sarah C. McClure, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Songer) McClure of Fountain county, Indiana. The children born of this marriage are nine in number: Mary E., the wife of William Lamb, of Oklahoma; Lucinda A., the wife of Anderson Fox, of Crawford township, Crawford county; Sarah Anna, the wife of L. B. McClelland, of this township; Maggie A., the wife of William Dunlap, of Grant township; Henry, at home; Ida, the wife of A. McClelland, who is living on her father's farm; J. B., who was married October 3, 1903, and is living on his father's farm; Emily V., at home; and one child that died in infancy.

The parents are members of the Church of God and are deeply interested in religious work. Mr. Shipman has served as school director for three years and gives his political support to the Republican party, but has never been active in politics as an office-seeker, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business affairs, which, being capably conducted, have made him one of the substantial citizens of his adopted county.