Richard L. Chew

RICHARD L. CHEW, living on section 31, Doyle Township, was born in Floyd County, Indiana, March 29, 1845, a son of Richard A. and Jane (McCutchen) Chew, the father a native of Floyd County, born August 18, 1817. They were the parents of fourteen children, of whom nine still survive – John W., Samuel F., Allen W, Lawson S., George H., Hannah R., Frances S., Emma J. and Richard L., our subject.  The father came with his family to Clarke County, Iowa, in the fall of 1854, and has since made his home in Doyle Township, where he has eighty-six acres of land under excellent cultivation. He has always followed agricultural pursuits. He is a member of the United Brethren church.  Richard L. Chew, whose name heads this sketch, was also reared to agricultural pursuits, which e has made his life work. He has lived in Clarke and Decatur counties with the exception of three years in St. Clair County, Missouri, and the time spent in the late war, since about nine years of age, he having come with his parents in 1854.  He enlisted in Company I, Fifth Missouri Cavalry, being in that company’s service about eleven months.  October 26, 1865, he was married to Margaret Shoe, a daughter of Christopher Shoe, who is living in St. Clair County, Missouri. Of the five children born to them but two are living –Frances A. and Albert A. In connection with his general farming Mr. Chew devotes some attention to stock-raising. He is meeting with good success in his farming, and has a good farm of 130 acres, where he resides. He has served his township as trustee. He is a member of the Methodist church. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Grand Army of the Republic.

SOURCE: Biographical and Historical Record of Clarke County, Iowa, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1886 p. 304-5