This site was created by Larry Shively who is researching the history of the Shively families. The goal is to have a site where all Shively researchers can share and ask questions in regards to their Shively lines. The largest majority of the Shively family records are located in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. There are early records of Shively's also in Virginia and Kentucky. There are not many established Shively lineages back to Europe. There are documented lineages to Switzerland and Germany. Through the sharing of information from all of our research it is desired that all can learn about our Shively families.

Saturday, September 21, 2013

Enterprise Dry Goods Company In Adrian, Lenawee County, Michigan 1894

On the 1870 City of Coldwater, County of Branch Michigan is the household of John W. Shively, age 34 who is a dry goods merchant, wife Emma age 28,  and son Fred W age 7. John W. Shively was the son of John Shively and Margaret Myers. John W. Shively was born ca 1832 and died 30-Dec-1902, Emma Hadley Shively was born ca 1842 and died 22-Feb-1873, and son Fred W. Shively was born ca 1862 and died 30-Mar-1895.  Members of this family are buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Coldwater, Branch County, Michigan.

The following information was extracted from the Evening Telegram, Adrian, Michigan,  Saturday, January 13, 1894, Page 3, Column 5:
Nothing Succeeds Like Success
Last Thursday the Enterprise Dry Goods Co., of Coldwater, opened at No. 3 East Maumee street, and since that time the store has been filled with buyers.  Mr. Fred Shively, who has charge of this store, says that business here has more than met his expectations, in fact on the opening day he was obliged to get six additional clerks to wait upon customers.  The Enterprise Dry Goods Store is all its name implies, and the public are not slow to appreciate this fact.  They did not come to Adrian to unload a lot of cheap goods, but are giving the best of everything in the dry goods line at prices never duplicated in Lenawee county before.  Follow the crowd and you will get there.

The Evening Telegram, Adrian, Michigan, Monday, January 29, 1894, Page 3, Column 3:
Enterprise Dry Goods Co.
The Crowds Still Continue At Their Store To Get The Bargains Offered
The phenomenal success of the Enterprise Dry Goods Co., of Coldwater, since they came to this city three weeks ago, has been somewhat of a surprise to people not acquainted with their way of doing business.  Their store has been crowded nearly every day, and they have disposed of a large amount of goods. In the afternoon and evenings the crowds have increased into veritable jams, and the way they carried away goods would indicate that the ladies know bargains when they see them.
This store, at No. 3 East Maumee St., is none other than a branch of the well-known Shively Dry Goods Co., of Coldwater, which has been in existence in that city for the past 35 years, and has gained a reputation for strictly first-class goods at lowest prices, second to no other establishment in Southern Michigan.  Fred W. Shively, the junior member of the firm, has charge of the branch store in this city, and the large business enjoyed here would indicate that he is no novice at the business and knows how to cater to the public wants.
Dry Goods are sold at auction every afternoon at 2 o'clock, and every evening at 7 o'clock.  As their stay will terminate soon in this city, it behooves everyone looking for bargains to get in and secure some of the plums before it is everlastingly too late.

The Evening Telegram, Adrian, Michigan, Tuesday, May 22, 1894, Page 3, Column 3:
A Coldwater dispatch states that the Shively Dry Goods company has been compelled to close its doors, and L. S. Baumgartner & Co., have possession of the stock.  The liabilities are $9,000, and the assets are probably about the same. This is the firm that ran an auction dry goods store in Adrian for some time last winter, and without a doubt they were selling goods at less than cost, to raise money.

The Evening Telegram, Adrian, Michigan, Tuesday, April 2, 1895, Page 3, Column 2:
Fred Shively, a Coldwater young man well known in this city, committed suicide in Chicago last Saturday night.  He was the gentleman who conducted the Enterprise dry goods store in this city one year ago in the building now occupied by The Leader, No 3 East Maumee street.  He ran the store for his father J. W. Shively, of Coldwater and acted as auctioneer each evening.  He was a very genteel young man and made many friends while here.  Shively had gone to Chicago to have his eyes treated and was told his case was hopeless.  He was 32 years of age.

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