Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-11-26

(and there are SIX or eight ABOVE w
years. is DR.. r. II. Sheffield. who will
be So his next birthday. Approaching
closely DR.. Sheffield in longevity are
DR.. j. e. King the homeopathic dean
of Iowa, and w. J. Moir. dean of the
Hardin county bar. j. A. Balconr, the
oldest civil war veteran, also is with
them in years Mr.. NOR was 90 last
month, J. A. Balloon was SO last win
ter. and DR.. King was 80 last summer.
-
DR.. Sheffield is veteran of the
Mexican war having been in the hos
pital service during the period OF that
war. Born in Kentucky in 1923, after
malarial fever had taken eight of mis-
family. including his mother. inside or
two years, his father moved % Steu-
ben county, New York. He was reared
by an uncle until 20 years of age, at
which period he went back to Ken
lucky and enlisted for service i'll the
army At the end OF this service the
doctor went back to New York where
for thirty years he practlced medi>ine.
In 1875 be came to Clifford, bought Land
and entered upon the practice of his
profession there. He has been a sue
cessful man and acquired a competency
for the needs of life's twilight that has
fingered a quarter Of a century beyond
the biblical three score and ten. He Is
an interesting conversationalist ana
still transacts business in connection
with his land interests at Clifford. he
has travelled all over this country In
his time, and his recollection runs
back to the time when the western part
of the United States was scarcely
populated. Owing to a defect of hear
ing, the doctors chief pastime now is
reading. The TimesRepublican ana
his devoted wife are his two faithful
companions, and he reads nearly every
night until his eyes fail to serve him.
in early life the doctor took much
interest In politics and received many
political honors. He was delegate TO
the state convention at Syracuse, N.
Y, when the republican party was or
ganized and was one Of the followers
of Fremont in 1885, He was too old
for the draft in 1851 and was not liable
for military service In that memorable
conflict because Of his previous MILL
tary career In the Mexican war. but
at his own expense he paid stalwart
Young man as q substitute. The asea
doctor, for several terms served on the
Steuben county board or SUPERVISORS.
Walking the streets Of Eldora every
day attending to the details OF ms
personal affairs, with q step as eiast:H
as the average man at 90, Is DR.. j. Il
King, 90 years old who came to Hardin
county in 1851. No meeting OF the
State Homeopathic Medical Society is
complete without his attendance. How
ever, should the doctor fail to put in an
appearance at a state gathering OF the
doctors of his school, he generally IS
the recipient of teleSraphic greeting
from his fellows, expressive of their
friendship and hopes for continued lie
and health.
DR.. King was in California In 1897
when William Walker, one Of the most
brilliant soldiers of fortune In modern
times, organized a small army to go 10
Mexico and capture the country.
Walker then was practicinS lawyer
and DR.. King was personally acqua1nt-
ed with the adventurer who In 1851
was condemned and shot one Septem-
Der morning in 1850 on the shores OF
Honduras by the Honduran govern
ment.
The patriarch physician Is the Oldest
Master Mason In Hardin county, nav
ing Joined the fraternity flfty-two
years ago. No one Of the men who aid
ed in conducting him thru the myster-
les of the ancient order is now living.
He also Is the oldest member>of the
Eastern Star in Hardin county. He IS
the last Of q family Of eleven children
eight boys and three girls. HIS
mother lived to be 100 years old. He
Is popular among wide circle OF
friends. both old and young, and he
has clean personal habits that win him
ready welcome in any meeting OF
friends and acqua intances. He is
good feeder" and every year raises
garden that ranks among the best In
the city.
Robert Higginbotham, who settled in
Hardin county with his parents IN
Clay township in 1856, Is one OF the
four veterans Of the civil war who en-
listed in Eldora, served three years
and came back, residing here since MS
return. w. J. Moir swore him IN as
soldier for the union in 1868; ne fought
the fight and helped to win the victory
that has brought him peace and honor
ed old age which he has enjoyed to
the full since those troublous days. He
retired from the farm dozen years
ago, built for himself and his LIES
companion a cottage home on Wash
ington street highway he well
remembers since that first evcntful
day he with his father and family
traversed in 1856. on their arrival in
Eldora. He and his wife are still young
and handsome and neither shows re-
taxation of interest in the affairs OF
life.