This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/zk.2ADI/2126.2 Message Board Post: 1915 PAST AND PRESENT OF SHELBY COUNTY IOWA by EDWARD S. WHITE, B. A., LL. B. B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, Inc. Indianapolis, Indiana pages 1421-1422 ELI L. WYCOFF Practical industry, wisely and vigorously applied, never fails of success. It carries a man onward and upward, brings out his individual character and acts as a powerful stimulus to the efforts of others. The greatest results in life are often attained by simple means and the exercise of the ordinary qualities of common sense and perseverance. The every-day life, with its cares, necessities, and duties, affords ample opportunities for acquiring experience of the best kind and its most beaten paths provide a true worker with abundant scope for effort and improvement. Eli L. WYCOFF, a prosperous farmer of Jefferson township, Shelby County, Iowa, was born October 21, 1871, in Peoria County, Illinois, the son of Carlos Cushman and Virginia (SLYGH) Wycoff, married February 1, 1871. Carlos Wycoff was born December 13, 1848 at Elmwood, Illinois, and is the son of George T. and Mary (CUSHMAN) Wycoff, natives of New Jersey and Vermont, respectively. The Wycoffs are of German extraction, while the Cushmans are of English descent, and came to this country with the Pilgrims on the Mayflower. Carlos C. Wycoff was one of the early settlers of Illinois, and in 1891 came to Shelby County, Iowa, where he located in the eastern part of Jefferson Township, on the county line, and here he lived for five years, at the end of which time he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land in section 12, of the same township, where he lived to the time of his death, July 5, 1914. Carlos Wycoff and wife were the parents of six children, Eli L., whose histor! y is here presented; Leonard D., Mrs. Mary E. Gordon, Stephen C., John D. deceased, and Mrs. Ollie Stoker. Mrs. Wycoff, mother of the subject, is still living on the home place. Eli L. Wycoff received his education in the schools of his native county in Illinois, and also in Shelby County, Iowa. He was nineteen years of age when his parents came to this county from Illinois and attended school for some time after coming to this county. He remained at home until he was married, since which time he has rented and farmed on various farms in this township. In 1909 he bought forty acres of land in section 15, of Jefferson Township, but sold it isn 1911. For several years, Mr. Wycoff owned and operated a threshing machine and did a large business in this and Audubon County for many years. Mr. Wycoff was married June 28, 1899 to Bessie M. SPICKLER, who was born in Tama County, Iowa, September 17, 1879, daughter of Calvin and Elizabeth (TRAVIS) SPICKLER. Calvin Spickler was born in Ogle County, Illinois, while his wife was a native of Maryland, daughter of George and Catherine (CLINE) TRAVIS. The Travis family moved from Maryland to Illinois when Elizabeth was a very small girl. Calvin Spickler was the son of Nicholas Spickler and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Spickler were the parents of three children, Bessie, the wife of Mr. Wycoff, Marcia and Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Wycoff are the parents of six children, four of whom are living: Gladys, born July 9, 1901; Gordon L., born September 28, 1902; Norine, born March 14, 1909, and Virginia E., born June 13, 1912. The other two children were twins and died in infancy. Mr. Wycoff carries on a general system of farming and stock raising, making a specialty of hog raising. In 1913 he had fifteen head of horses and colts on his farm, all of a high class breed. Mr. Wycoff is an independent in politics, believing that he is serving his country's interest best if he votes for the best men, irrespective of their politics. For this reason, he is regarded as one of the influential citizens of his township and county. For the past year or more, he has been a school director of his home township, in which capacity he has rendered efficient service to his fellow citizens. He has been successful as a farmer and has always dealt fairly with his fellow men, and is eminently deserving of what he has achieved in the way of material success.