Children are listed here in the order in which they were listed in teh Gazateer of Jefferson Co. NY.
158. Rosina Shelmidine
Rosina died at 23 years of age.
Living in Nebraska in 1873.
169. Henry Shelmadine
Living in Indiana in 1873.
The 1882 History of Winneshick & Allamakee couties, Iowa contains the following biography. "D E Shelmidine, nurseryman and florist, proprietor of the 'Kendallville Nursery'; was born in Cortland Co., NY on December 9, 1817. In 1829 his parents moved to Oil Creek, Crawford County, Penn. and into the lumber business. In 1854, after the death of his father, he moved to Iowa, and arriving at this place, he drove down stakes, before the township was organized. He took the claim he now owns, proved upon the same, and obtained the patent; sold the greater prtion of the original claim, which was 160 acres, now owning only 33 acres, joining the village of Kendallville, and established the above named nursery thereon in 1872. There are ten acres of timber and the balance is laid out as the nursery. It is rich bottom land, and well fitted with choice nursery stock, including many varieties of apple trees, all varieties of Hybrids; also all varieties of small fruits, and shade and ornamental trees and evergreens. Mr S is doing an extensive business. . . He has a good barn and comfortable residence, which latter was erected in 1856, built of logs and boarded. He served one term of two years as member of the board of supervisors in 1861 and 1862. There was one member elected from each township in those days, and they received the handsome amount of $1.50 per day as remuneration, receiving pay in warrents worth $.65 on the $1.00. . . He was married in 1844 in Penna. to Miss Sarah W. Hunter, who died June 24, 1878, at this place, leaving four children, Melinda, Addie, Allie, and Edgar."
Datus married life in Crawford Co. Pa was therefore ca 1844-1854, and it was in Randolph Twp where he was living at the time of the 1850 census. He appears to have been somewhat of a land-jockey, as the Crawford Co courthouse deed books show that he and Sarah purchased 7 pieces of property between 1848 and 1854 in Oil Creek and Randolph Twps. All this land was sold, probably at a good profit, the last sale being 8 May 1854.
Janet Humble, a great great granddaughter, sent the information that in 1854 datus, Sarah and 2 small daughters born in Pa (Malinda and Adah) came from Pa in a covered wagon and found an area they really loved. This was the area of Kendallville Iowa, just north of Cresco. Datus bought much of the land in the area, was the founder of a settlement known as Enterprise or Coldwaters Springs. He was also the co-founder of the Kendallville mill, the assessor in the area, and a nursery-man.