Biography extracted from History of Sauk County, Wisconsin Chicago: Western Historical Company, published 1880.

Baraboo:

John R. Shourds, farmer, Sec. 15; P.O. Baraboo; born in Macedon, Wayne Co., N.Y., Aug. 11, 1828; son of Joseph and Catharine Walker Shourds, formerly of New Jersey; came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1845, and located at Delavan, Walworth Co.; came to Sauk Co. Dec. 8, 1848, and located in the village of Baraboo; located where he now resided in the fall of 1863. Married Fannie Alleydon, in Warnerville, Juneau Co., Wis., Oct. 27, 1861; they had two children - Florence C. and Jessie E. Mr. Shourds built a saw-mill in 1858, and continued to run it till Sept. 1, 1864, and served till the end of the war; was discharged July 14, 1865. Mr. Shourds went to Colorado March 12, 1866, and engaged in the stamp-mill and mining business; after remaining in Colorado about four years, he returned to Baraboo, Sauk Co., Wis., and is now engaged in farming; owns 140 acres of land. Mr. Shourds belongs to the M.E. Church; was a member of "Grange" Good Templars and Sons of Temperance.

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