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.

Sunday, April 29, 2018

Edgar Senseney Shively And Wife Della A. Lightner From Pennsylvania To Kansas To California

Edgar Senseney Shively was the oldest child of Benjamin F. Shively and Elmina Thomas. (His parents were the subjects of last week's Shively blog article). Edgar Senseney Shively was born 23-Dec-1871 in Chambersburg, Franklin County, PA and died 11-Jan-1946 in Los Angles County, CA.  He was married on 8-Jan-1901 in St. Louis, MO to Della A. Lightner. Della was born 22-Jan-1875 and died 27-Jan-1956 in Los Angeles County, CA. 

Edgar Shively served in the Battery D, 6th U. S. Artillery during the Spanish American War. A brief chronology of this unit is as follows:
February 15, 1898 - Battleship Maine sinks in Havana, Cuba harbor after an explosion
March 1898 - The 6th Artillery Regiment is formed at Ft. McHenry, Baltimore, MD
April 25, 1898 - The U.S. declares war on Spain
July 1898 - Two batteries of the 6th Artillery ship from San Francisco to the Philippines, arriving in August. Battery D went to Manila and Battery G to Iloilo, on the Island of Panay
August 13, 1898 - Manila falls. Armistice declared and fighting between the U.S. and Spain ends
December 10, 1898 - Spanish American War ends with signing of the Treaty of Paris

During his service in the Spanish American War Edgar Shively was writing to his family in Rooks County, KS.  Some of this information was shared with the editors of the local newspaper which they then published.  The following article was extracted from The Stockton Review And Rooks County Record, Stockton, Kansas, Friday, April 29, 1898, Page 8, Column 2:
Edgar Shively writes very entertainingly of his life in Washington, and gives his views in unmistakable language of the mistaken economical policy of the government toward the regular army in time of peace. He is anxious to be on to assist in avenging the death of the brave boys on the Maine, and quotes the battle cry of the boys in blue "Remember the Maine". His only regret is that at least six months will be required to get the new battery in working order, so much more drill being required to perfect artillerymen than in any other branch of the service.

Extracted from The Stockton Review And Rooks County Record, Stockton, Kansas, Friday, June 17, 1898, Page 8, Col 4:
Battery B, sixth artillery, who have been in Washington, D.C., for some time are now ordered to San Francisco, Cali., with Manila as a probable destination, writes Edgar Shively; and all are jubilant over the prospect of taking an active part in the present unpleasantness.  Mr. Shively had endeavored to be allowed to leave his command and go to the Phillipines, even as a private, but did not succeed and so rejoices that the battery has been ordered that way.

From The Stockton Review And Rooks County Record, Stockton, Kansas, Friday, September 2, 1898,  Page 8, Column 4:
Edgar Shively sends back home a glowing account of the beauty of Honolulu, while his battery was there the last of July while enroute to Manilla. The boys had a very enjoyable time. Nothing was too good for Uncles Sam's boys in blue. They visited many ponts of interest in the city and were handsomely entertained one day in the palace grounds, where thirteen hundred soldier boys sat down at one time to tables arranged under stately palm trees. Banana and coconut trees grow by the walks and the product may be plucked at eaten almost any time. The city has electric lights, street cars and most of the modern improvements. Old Glory floated from almost every store and residence and the general feeling was one of gratification that the islands would soon be under the protection of the stars and stripes. Mr. Shively hoped his command would be allowed to remain until after the flag raising in August. The major part of the population of Honolulu is white and English the chief language spoken. The natives impressed him as a fine class of people, who would be a welcome addition to our population. His next letter will probably give his experience at a pineapple farm which he was invited to visit the day after his letter was sent.

The following was recorded in The Stockton Review And Rooks County Record, Stockton, Kansas, Friday, October 21, 1898, Page 8, Column 3:
From The Philippines
A letter from a former Rooks county boy, a member of battery D, 6th U. S. artillery:
Manila, Luzon Island
Sept 5th, 1898
Dear Folks: -- Well, as I have plenty of spare time, I will drop you a few lines. We have very nice quarters in what is called New Manila about 1/3 of a mile from the bay. We are living in a fine house, comparatively speaking, and my section has six rooms and a bath room in connection. The house was formerly the home of a Spanish colonel and has a fine flower garden in the front yard with a fountain flowing in the center. There are palm trees, coconut trees and various other tropical trees and plants.
What is known as the old city has a stone wall about 20 feet high, 100 feet wide at the bottom and tapers to 75 feet at the top. At the entrance there are large gates or doors which are let down from the inside with strong chains and the old style moat around the wall. The top of the wall is covered with old muzzle loading guns and a few modern disappearing guns, which all fall to us of course.
You should see the natives here how they dress. There is a half breed Japanese and Malay woman across the street from where I am writing, who has a kid about 18 months old under her left arm with nothing on it except a string around its neck; another youngster with her about 10 years old with nothing but a shirt of some kind of light stuff, which does not come down low enough to make it fit for respectable society. The mother is barefoot, has a narrow skirt on with a bodice of the decolate style, and of course is always in evening dress. I am afraid the law in our country would not tolerate such nudeness, but here nobody pays any attention to such things.
There are a great many of the soldiers here sick with dysentery and typhoid fever, and it seems almost impossible to cure either. The former is caused by fruit eating and the latter by the poor water.  We have to boil all the water before using it. I heard last night that 450 of the sick and wounded would be returned to the U.S.  About 40 nurses of the Red Cross society arrived from the U.S. the other day and are doing a good work among the sick soldiers, so I am told.
We expect trouble with the insurgents as they have refused to lay down their arms. I have been all over the city among them and around with them at night without being armed having no trouble. We are permitted to run around the city just the same was we would in the U.S. I was invited to the house of a Spanish officer the other evening and had a fine time but have forgotten his address so will have to wait until I run across him again to get his name.
I cannot think of anything more to write at present. As to the war I guess you know more than we do for the latest paper we have in July 27th, so you see how we are situated; do not know anything late. Have not had any letters from the states yet and am very anxious to hear from you, so when you receive this I wish you would answer at once for you know it takes a long time to get mail from there. I will close for the present by saying I am well, and with love and best wishes to all I am as ever your son,  Edgar Shively
(By the courtesy and wish of B. F. Shively, his father, the above letter is published and trust it will interest our readers. --Ed)

The following was taken from The Stockton Review And Rooks County Record, Stockton, Kansas, Friday, April 14, 1899, Page 8, Column 2:
Shively In A Battle
In Camp Aobut Four Miles South Of Manilla, On Firing Line,
February 22, 1899
Dear Folks:  As everything is quiet and the chaplain of the 23d infantry just been out and given us envelopes I will drop you a few lines. I am in good health. We are here in line of battle and have been for three days, but have done no fighting since the 16th. We are not going to move until we get the rest of our troops, as they don't want to take the troops too far from the city until we get more men, which will be in a few days. We have not had a man killed in our battery yet and only two wounded.
We had an engagement on the 15th at long range. We bombarded a church about 10 miles east of Manila, at a little town. Two guns was up on top of a mountain and threw shells over into them; in the meantime tow of our other guns got near the mountain from which the other guns was working; and shelled the out-skirts of the city, while the gun boat used their gatling guns. We they withdrew to a little village called San Pedre Mactia, which was formerly our out-post. The opposition, thinking we had been whipped made big advances and next morning they showed up coming over the hills by the thousands. We soon formed line of battle with the Washington's, California and Idaho troops. Our men lay waiting for them to advance and make the attack which they soon did. Our lines finally opened fire; the battery was bout the center of the line and fairly well protected. The firing began on the right but it soon proved that they were only making a feint on the right and then they opened heavily on the left, thinking they could turn it and flank us. But they mistook their men. Our troops now poured a deadly fire into them. We kept shelling the woods where they gathered for protection. One of our shrapnel killed 16 in one bunch. They finally broke and ran after suffering fearful loss.
We had no men killed but quite a few of our men were overcome by the intense heat. I sweat fearfully. I was setting fuses and the sweat litterly run off. I had to be careful not to let it drop into the powder and wet it, but I did not suffer any inconveniences from it afterwards. We have now been out since the 5th of February. I have not had my clothes off for nearly a week, and have been sleeping out for the last four days. This is the dry season and we are all in fine shape. Well I will have to close for this time so good-bye. I am sitting on one of our ammunition carts with my feet hanging out. I am as ever
                                                                      E. S. Shively,
                                                     Sergt. Light battery D, 6th Art.

Sunday, April 22, 2018

Benjamin F. Shively And Wife Elmina Thomas From Franklin County, PA To Rooks County, KS

Benjamin F. Shively was born Jan-1846 in Franklin County, PA and died 5-Deb-1916 in Rooks County, KS.  He was married to Elmina Thomas who was born 1846 and died 25-Jan-1917 in Rooks County, KS.  Both are buried in Zurich Cemetery, Zurich, Rooks County, KS.  Benjamin F. Shively was the son of Solomon Shively and Rebecca Embich.

Located on the 1850 Green Township, Franklin County, PA census is the family of Solomon Shiveley age 40, wife Rebecca age 35, daughter Anna M. age 9, son John E. age 7, daughter Hannah L. age 6, son Benjamin F. age 4, son Henry C age 3, and daughter Catherine age 1. Listed on the 1880 Rooks County, KS census if the household of B. F. Shivley age 33, daughter Elmina age 32, son Edgar S. age 5, daughter Adiline age 7, son Orlanda Ross age 5, daughter Mary B. age 4, daughter Bessie G. age 2 and daughter Rosa G. age 11 months. Listed on the 1900 Village of Zurich and continuation of Logan Township, Rooks County, KS is the family of Benjamin Shively born Jan-1846 age 54 married 29 years, wife Ella born 1846 age 53 having borne 13 children with 13 living, son Orlanda R. born Sept-1874 age 25, daughter Rosa G. born Jul-1879 age 20, son John E. born Oct-1880 age 19, daughter Ella M. born Dec-1881 age 18, son Benjamin F. born Aug-1884 age 15, daughter Nora born Nov-1885 age 14, daughter Nettie B. born Jul-1887 age 12 and son James F. born Nov-1888 age 11.

Located in the Plainville Gazette, Plainville, Rooks County, KS, Thursday, November 18, 1909, Page 42, Columns 1-2 was an article featuring B. F. Shively. Included in the article was the picture above of Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Shively and the picture to the right of the residence of B. F. Shively.  The article reads "B. F. Shively was born near Chambersburg, Penn., and relates how, when a boy, he helped the "skedaddlers"  hide the horses in the mountains when the southern forces invaded that country during the civil war. He was married in 1870 to Miss Ella Thomas and eight years later they moved to Kansas and located in Logan township. In 1900 they bought their present farm of 480 acres one half mile west of Zurich.
This farm is all in cultivation and pasture, fenced and cross fenced. The crops this year consist of 250 acres of wheat, 115 acres of corn, 27 acres of wheat, 10 acres of alfalfa, 22 acres millet, 15 acres kaffir corn. Mr. Shively has truly earned his bread by the sweat of his brow for he has worked in the harvest field fifty three harvests, beginning by carrying bundles when ten years old. This is the first harvest he has been on the retired list.
Among the best things in Rooks county is Mr. Shively's high bred live stock. Whatever he has he believes in keeping the best. He has 22 head of high grade Percheron horses, most of which he raised during the past seven years. He has refused $500 for a pair of five year olds. His geldings are valued at $250 each at the farm.
Two years ago he began to raise pure bred shorthorn cattle and now has twenty head of the registered Bates strain in reds and roans. Here we find the pure bred Duoc Jessey swine, the Rhode Island Red and he is now looking for a pure bred Scotch terrier. He is enthusiastic on having the best of everything and it pays.




Sunday, April 1, 2018

Jacob Shively Who Lived In Madison County, Indiana And Moved To Custer County, Oklahoma

Jacob Shively was born ca 1833 and died in Custer County, Oklahoma. Jacob was married first to Margaret Hyde or Margaret Gentry born ca. 1830 (various records so cannot be sure what the maiden name was) and second to Nancy Cox born 12-Apr-1838 died 25-Jan-1909 Custer County, OK buried Vicksburg Cemetery, Custer County, OK.  The parents of Jacob Shively were Jacob C. Shively, born 1798 in Pennsylvania and who may have died in Rush Co, IND in 1864 and wife Mary Ann Saylor (Siler). Jacob C. and Mary Ann were married 1818 in Montgomery County, Ohio. The father of Jacob C. Shively was Isaac David Shively born ca 1759 in Hagerstown, Washington County, died 1822 in Ohio and married Elizabeth Bossler born 1764 in PA.  His father was Uhli (Ulery, Ollie) Shively.

Listed on the 1850 Centre Township, Rush County, Indiana census is the household of Jacob Shively age 51, wife Mary age 52, son Jacob age 17, daughter Elizabeth age 14 and daughter Amanda age 9.  Located on the 1860 Jackson Township, Madison County, Indiana census is the family of Jacob Shively age 27, wife Margaret age 30, daughter Mary age 4 and daughter Amanda age 2.  Listed on the 1860 Jackson Township, Madison County, Indiana census is the family of Jacob Shively age 37, wife Nancy age 33, daughter Mary E age 15, daughter Amanda age 12, son William age 8, daughter Sarah E age 7, son Cyrus age 5 and son Louis age 6 months. Found on the 1880 Liberty Township, Grant County, Indiana census is Jacob Shively age 47, wife Nancy age 42, daughter Mary E age 24, son William S age 18, daughter Sarah E age 17, son Cyrus J age 15, son Perry F age 10, and daughter Flora age 4 months.  Located on the 1900 Grant Township, Custer County, Oklahoma census is the family of Jacob (Cyrus) Shively born Jun-1865 age 35, daughter Sarah born Jul-1891 age 8, and mother Nancy born Apr-1838 age 62 widowed.

Additional information regarding the children of Jacob Shively and Margaret  include: 1) daughter Mary Ella Shively born 18-Aug-1855 in Indiana died 3o-Oct-1937 in Monticello, Piatt County, Illinois married 1st Samuel Drawhon (8-Sep-1845 to 18-Jun-1912) married second in 1921 to Charles C. Myerly and 2) Amanda Shively.

Additional information regarding the children of Jacob Shively and Nancy Cox include: 3) William Stephen Shively married Margaret Courtney in Nemaha County, Nebraska on 24-Apr-1889; 4) Sarah Elizabeth Shively born Apr-1862 died 24-Jan-1930 Custer County, OK buried Vicksburg Cemetery married Upton Crowl born 25-Jul-1858 died 4-Apr-1938; 5) Cyrus J Shively born 22-Jan-1865 died 24-Sep-1939 buried Pleasanton Cemetery, Linn County, KS married Capitola Barney in Custer County, OK; 6) Louis Shively; 7) Perry Frank Shively buried Vicksburg Cemetery, Custer County, OK married Anna Navada Forsythe born 1-Feb-1877 Tazewell County, IL died 14-Feb-1955 Custer County, OK