"Reflections of Grand River, Iowa 1881-1981", p. 21 Early Pioneers Elba Shewmaker was born on the farm near Grand River in 1875. Elba attended high school in Grand River. His father died when Elba was 15 and he took over the farm. With the exception of two years spent at Hellman's Mercantile in Chicago, he spent his entire life in Decatur Co. In the fall of 1914 he was elected on the Republican ticket to the office of Decatur Co. Treasurer. Elba never married. Copied by Stacey McDowell Dietiker August 8, 2005