Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 679.
 
ISAAC F. SHOWN 

     follows the related occupations of farming and stock raising in Wheeler
county, his estate of four hundred acres being located some six miles west of
Richmond, on the Fossil stage road.  He was born in Johnson county, Tennessee,
on March 10, 1835. His father, Joseph Shown, was also born in that county, the
date being February, 1803. He was well-to-do and prominent man and his father,
Leonard Shown, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania and
fought in the Revolution. The mother of our subject was Mary (Wills) Shown, a
native of Johnson county, Tennessee, and descended from prominent and wealthy
people. After completing the common school training, our subject studied in the
Taylorsville Academy, then worked on a farm until the Civil war broke out, when
he was detailed to work in the confederate iron works. He continued in that
capacity until he found an opportunity to escape then hurried to the federal
lines and enlisted in Company D, Thirteenth Tennessee Cavalry and served until
September 5, 1865, fighting for the stars and stripes. During that time he was
in fourteen severe engagements and acquitted himself as a brave and faithful
soldier. In March, 1866, Mr. Shown was elected sheriff of Johnson county and
served six years. Then he served two years as trustee and again was elected
sheriff and continued for two years. In 1884 he determined to change his
residence and accordingly sold all his property in the east and journeyed to the
Pacific coast. He finally selected government land where he now resides and
purchased there until he has four hundred acres.  He raises general crops and
handles stock. In 1896 Mr. Shown was elected assessor of Crook county, Oregon,
and served two years ; then he was re-elected, but as Wheeler county was cut off
about that time, he was appointed assessor of Wheeler county, and upon the
expiration of his term was again elected to that position. This makes Mr. Shown
a service of nearly twenty years in various county offices, in all of which he
has shown an uprightness and efficiency that have commended him to the public.
     In 1857, Mr. Shown married Mary I. Ellrod, the daughter of Calaway and
Fannie (Jones) Ellrod, natives of North Carolina. The father was a prominent man
and was clerk of Johnson county, Tennessee, when he died. Mrs. Shown  was born
in North Carolina and moved with her parents to Tennessee when a small girl. To
Mr. and Mrs. Shown the following named children have been born: Stacy, in 1868;
T. Gordon, in 1870; Edward R., in 1872: Nathaniel D., on January 10, 1874; and
Hamilton C., on March 4, 1877.  They are all well-to-do and respected farmers in
Wheeler county. Mr. Shown enjoys a splendid reputation and is of first-class
standing in the community. He has merited the approval and confidence of his
fellows by his faithfulness and reliability and he is one of the leading men of
the county today.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2011 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.