Jacob Shively And Julia Ann Bruss From Huntington County, Indiana To Jackson County, Oregon

Jacob Shively was born ca. 1830 and died 12-Aug-1914 in Oregon.  Jacob was the son of Daniel Shively (born 13-April-1796 died 7-Aug-1884 in Huntington Co., IN) and 1st wife, Mary Sarah Weaver (born 4-Sep-1794 died 29-Aug-1847 in Huntington Co., IN).  Daniel Shively married 2nd Jane Iden Joice Titrick (born 18-Nov-1806 died 14-Jan-1892).  Jacob Shively was married to Julia Ann Bruss on 12-Feb-1851 in Huntington Co., IN. Julia Ann Bruss was born 16-Feb-1832 and died 7-Jul-1903.  Jacob and Julia Shively are buried in Hargadine Cemetery, Ashland, Jackson County, OR.

Jacob and Julia Shively are located on the 1860 Jackson Township, Kosciusko County, IN census.  They are located on the 1880 Rutland, Barry County, MI census.  Listed on the 1900, East Ashland Precinct, Jackson County, OR census is the household of Jacob Shively and Julia A Shively.  

The following article was found in the Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona, Friday, March 24, 1905, Page 4, Column 2:

The Phoenix Shipyard

Its First Boat, A Suspicious Looking Vessel, Launched Yesterday

The people that live along the lower Gila are pretty well accustomed by this time to seeing all manner of strange things drifting down on the breast of that ever surprising stream. Such odd collections as railroad bridges, ferry boats, farm houses, chicken coops, lumber yards, etc., no longer create surprise. But there was launched here  yesterday something that may make their eyes bug out for it was ostensibly a house boat, though it may be a torpedo boat in disguise or some new manner of war vessel that has been constructed here on the quiet for the Russians with a view of attacking Togo's fleet in the rear while he is busy heading off Rojestvensky's Baltic squadron as it enters Chinese waters. It will at the same time be a matter of news to Phoenix people to know that this city has a real ship yard and that the product of it is already in evidence.

The master mind of this shipbuilding is a Mr. Jacob Shively who came here not long ago from Ashland, Oregon. While Phoenix was standing around in open mouthed wonder, not imaging before that there was so much water in the world, Mr. Shively was engaged on plants to make some use of it.  He came from a country where they have had water before and a little surplus dose not bewilder them.  Mr. Shively is 76 years old and therefore of sufficiently mature experience to conduct his own business without taking the whole world into his confidence or asking the advice of the whole town as the average man does before he starts something.

He secured space for a dry dock of the Chamberlain Lumber Co. and proceeded with the construction of the keel and first deck. A second deck was contemplated at first and the fact that the plans were changed leads to the suspicion that Mr. Shively had a war ship in mind and received a change of orders from his prospective purchaser or employer, in the event the plans had been previously perfected.  Anyhow it is surmised that a one decker could creep about more stealthily than a formidable appearing boat. In lieu of a second deck or a cabin, therefore, he equipped the vessel with bows for a wagon sheet which will turn Arizona hailstones, the only thing one needs armor for in these waters. When stripped for action the wagon sheet may be removed.

The boat was finished yesterday morning and the dry dock being some distance from the harbor a two horse wagon was pressed into service to assist in the launching which was accomplished without the slightest trouble.  The launching was in the presence of a vast crowd of two or three men and there was no champagne wasted or other ceremony of a public character. The builder announced his intention of accompanying the crew as far at least as Yuma but he was silent concerning his later plans.  There are fears in some quarters that the boat may prove to be a submarine before it leaves American waters.

The following was extracted from the Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona, Monday, April 3, 1905, Page 3, Column 3:

Gila River Navigation

Official Log Of Capt. Jacob Shively’s Recent Expedition

A short time ago there was given in these columns the story of the launching of a mysterious craft from the Phoenix shipyards. It sailed west from this harbor under command of Captain Jacob Shively, admiral of the Gila river fleet.  Later it was announced that the vessel had safely run the blockade of the Buskeye dam and was continuing on its course regardless. T. W. Chamberlain who holds a proprietary interest in the ship yard (but not in the ship) has received the following letter from Admiral Shively. It being virtually a log of the voyage. It is reproduced verbatim for it tells actually and by inference, more things than could be related in the same space by the best newspaper man in the world. The letter follows:

Yuma fri March the 29 1905: Well Mr. Chamberlain, Sir; I would rather report to you if it was to the river but it is bad. One day very well 2 day all rite til time to go to shore and we soposed to be good place to go out and the firs thing we new we was going around like a top, we maid the third effert before we go out and we stopped and unloded for the night and had rest til 3 oclock in the morn pard got up and Said the boat was about to get away. So I got up fixed the boat and laid down agane and heard the dirt fawling in to the water.  So I got up, put mi shoos on and we took our bed and all the rest of the things we moved them back farther from the water. In one hour our bed place was gone out of site. We got a good earley start and at about 7 oclock we was capsized without any time to think til after we was under the bouling waves. I tride to get a hold of the boat but the waves put me under and I came up again and I held mi breath ti I made a nother rize and I came up and got a breath and swam out. It was the hardest swim I have ever exspearenced in all mi lifetime. Mi close was so heavy that I could hardly walk. We saved the boat but we lost a most all so we was done up for the balance of the trip but we got to gether all we could find and got in the boat and went on down stream. We found our wagon sheat with mi bed close so we got them so it came time to go out for night. The morning of the 26 we found some indions and got them to help us out. We was about 8 miles of Heley bend station so we got there. When I got here I got a letter from mi boy saying I should go to Santiago so I will leave here just as soon as I can. This is no place for me. I got nuff of river to drink in the hieley. I don’t want so much mixture of water as the Colorado and hieley and the water is not fit for dog. I am not very, well but I feel better today than I have bin. I will not make any comments, one thing I will say no one has any business on that river with a boat les than 6 feet wide 14 feet long 3 feet hie an 2 good men. That is all. Jacob Shively.”