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, April 18, 2015

John S. Shively And Wife, Leah Jane Herpst, Who Lived In Venango County, Pennsylvania

John S. Shively was born in December 1828 in Union County, PA and died on 22-April-1894 in Oil City, Venango County, PA.  He was the son of Christian Shively and Mary Steese.  John was married to Leah Jane Herpst on 1-January-1850.  She was the daughter of John Herpst and Mary Alsbaugh.  Leah Jane Herpst Shively was born on 23-January-1830 and died on 3-June-1917 in Kane, McKean County, PA.

Extracted from the History Of Venango County, Pennsylvania, Edited by J. H. Newton, published by J. A. Caldwell, 1879, Columbus, Ohio, Page 538:
John S. SHIVELY was born in Union county, Pa., December 25th 1828.  In 1834 his parents, Christian and Maria S., nee Steese, located in Elk township, Venango county (now a part of Clarion county) and engaged in farming.  In 1856, our subject, hitherto a farmer, engaged in the dry goods business in Lisbon, Venango county.  In 1863, he removed to Oil City, and changed his business to the hotel line. The hostelry, named the Oil City Hotel, was among the pioneer taverns of the place.  After a year's experience, he returned to merchandising and kept a grocery store about two years.  In the great fire, May 23, 1866, his entire property was destroyed, his loss (over $45,000) being the largest of all the sufferers.  In 1868, he re-entered the business world, having purchased the furniture stock of Nelson H. Brown, the pioneer furniture dealer of the city.  He was married January 1st, 1850 to Leah Jane, daughter of John and Polly Herpst.  Five children were born to them, of whom three are living.  Grandfather Christian S., died in 1832, aged a hundred and three.  His wife was born in Switzerland.  He was in Patty Watson's company in the Revolutionary army.  For some time they were in an old fort changed from a mill in Buffalo Valley, Pa.  His wife and children were hidden on the Laurel Mountains, and subsisted for four weeks on dry corn meal.  The trouble with the Indians were very serious.  Many settlers as well as Indians were killed.

Located in The Kane Republican, Kane, Pennsylvania, Monday, June 4, 1917, Page 1, Column 3:
Mrs. Leah Jane Shively Enters Into Final Rest
Mother Of Mrs. H. J. Walter Passed Away Yesterday Afternoon 
At Home of Daughter
Mrs. Leah Jane Shiveley, widow of John Shiveley, mother of Mrs. H. J. Walter, a woman held in affectionate remembrance and the highest esteem passed away at the Walter home yesterday afternoon.
Mrs. Shiveley, who was 87 years of age last February, was born in Lewisburg, Union county, Pa., daughter of John and Mary Herpst.  The parents afterwards removed to a farm in Clarion county, Pa., near Salem, which is still known as the Herpst homestead.  It was there that she became the bride of John Shiveley.  They went to Oil City in the early 60s where for years Mr. Shiveley was the leading furniture dealer.  They were charter members of Trinity M. E. church and their home was one of the most hospitable in Oil City; the family was prominent not only in church but in society circles, as well for many years.
Mr. Shieveley died in 1898 and Mrs. Shiveley came to Kane in 1901 and had since made her home with Mrs. Walter.  Mrs. Chively is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Thomas H. Simpson, of Pittsburg, and Mrs. Walter.  She also leaves two sisters and a brother, all residents of Oil City; Cyrus T. Herpst, Mrs. D. W. Guernsey and Mrs. D. R. Hosterman.  Mrs. Shiveley was the eldest child in a family of 12.
The funeral services will in the Walter residence at 4 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, the Rev. John F. Black of the Methodist Episcopal church officiating.  The body will be taken to Oil City on Wednesday morning for interment in Grove Hill cemetery.


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