Shew was born 1805 near Rochester, New York in 1805, moved with parents to Dayton, Ohio and lived with them "until manhood" (as his obituary phrased it), when he married Elizabeth Robbe.
In 1836, they moved to Milwaukee County in Wisconsin Territory, where he acquired government land and took up farming in Oak Creek.
[9] In April 1848, he served as chairman of the local Democratic convention which nominated Andrew Sullivan for the 5th Milwaukee County district (the Towns of Franklin and Oak Creek) of the new Wisconsin State Assembly.
[10] The Pioneer History of Milwaukee says of Shew, "In person Mr. Shew was of medium height, large head, dark hair and large dark eyes, complexion slightly florid, voice quite soft and musical in tone, spoke slowly and distinctly, and always looked you squarely in the face when addressing you.
"[11] In February 1852, Shew was appointed vice-president for Oak Creek of the Milwaukee and Waukesha County Agricultural Society.