I have the History of Shelby Co., Iowa, and it contains references (but no biography, unfortunately) to C. J. BYAM as follows: 1. Page 58. TORNADO OF 1877: On May 17, 1877, a very destructive tornado originated in Shelby County, about four miles north of Shelby, running thence in a northeasterly direction. The first damage done was on the premises of C. J. BYAM, where corn cribs, fencing, etc. were destroyed. 2. Page 112. TOWN OF SHELBY; FIRST SETTLERS: Undoubtedly, the first settler of Shelby township was James HAWKINS, whose settlement there dates from 1865, although he entered land there in 1855. During the 1870's, there came the POMEROY brothers, George RINK, George W. ICKES, W. H. BROWN, D. E. MORRIS, L. MORRIS, Andrew MARSHALL, A. J. SAVAGE, J. C. MANSFIELD, Rush C. BENEDICT, Mr. TUCKER, E. C. CLAPP, Alex ADAMS, George F. COLBY, J. W. GARMONG, E. A. COLLINS, W. F. CLEVELAND, D. C. COOPER, Jacob B. LINN, Harrison SMITH, John R. MANSFIELD, H. S. McEWEN, William M. LEIGH, J. E. BOMBERGER, W. M. BOMBERGER, W. J. LONG, H. O. MATTOX, John SANDHAM, Nels SALLMAN, M. T. KEENEY, Dr. CAMPBELL, Dr. N. Jasper JONES, George D. PIERCE, C. J. BYAM, M. V. BEST, Joseph PENN, William G. BARRETT, Joseph TATMAN, S. D. ABBOTT, etc....... I hope these small bits of info are helpful to you. Mona Sarratt Knight