Benjamin W. Shively (Shiveley) And Emmeretta F. Sayre From Jackson County, Virginia To Livingston County, Illinois

A researcher working on the genealogy of Benjamin W. Shively (Shiveley) is asking for any information on this line.  For additional information on the brother of Benjamin W. Shively see the Shively Blog article written on Sunday, July 12, 2020 regarding Phillip B. Shively (Shiveley).

Benjamin W. Shively (Shiveley) was born on 16-Aug-1817 in Virginia and died on 27-Mar-1891 in Livingston County, IL. He was the son of Phillip Shively who died ca 1849 and Millicent Permelia "Amelia" Wright (1793-1853). Benjamin married Emmeretta F. Sayre on 3-Nov-1845 to 1847 in Jackson County, VA (now WV). Emmeretta was born on 19-Jan-1823 in Taylor County, VA and died on 21-Sep-1899 in Fairbury, Livingston County, IL.  She was the daughter of Squire Sayre and Lydia Davis.

Located on the 1850, 27th District, Jackson County, VA census is the family of B. W. Shiveley age 33, wife Emeretta age 26 and daughter Lenora age 3.  On the 1860 Bellplain Town, Marshall County, IL census is the household of B. W. Shively age 42, wife E. M. age 33, daughter Lenora age 13, daughter Othella age 6, daughter Jane age 4, daughter Josephine age 3 and daughter J. E. age 4 months. On the 1870 Town of Fairbury, Livingston County, IL are Benj. W. Shiveley age 51, wife Mary age 48, daughter Nora age 21, daughter Della age 17, daughter Genna age 15, daughter Josephine age 11, daughter Dora age 10 and daughter Adda age 8.  Listed on the 1880 Fairbury, Livingston County, IL census is the family of Benjamin Shiveley age 62, wife Emmeretta age 57, daughter Jennie age 21 and daughter Hattie age 17.

Information on some of the children of Benjamin W. Shively (Shiveley) and Emmeretta Sayre includes: 1) Lenora W. born 21-Aug-1847 died 20-Sep-1921 Denver, CO married 2-Apr-1876 in Fairbury, Livingston County, IL to Alfred Cooley who was born 18-Mar-1834 died 20-Mar-1897 2) Ellora born 9-Sep-1848 died 15-Aug-1849 buried Mount Hawley Cemetery, Peoria County, IL 3) Oretha born 4-Oct-1850 died 4-Oct-1850 4) Emma born 23-Oct-1851 died 6-Aug-1853 5) Adella born 3-Sep-1853 died 25-Apr-1872 6) Margaret "Mary" Jane "Jennie born 11-Oct-1855 died 22-Jun-1899 Kansas City, KS, Wyandotte, KS married 15-Jul-1880 to James Franklin Wells who died 9-Nov-1942 7) Josephine Lena born 11-Jun-1857 died Oct-1943 Caldwell, ID married 4-Apr-1923 to Joseph M. Garland 8) Phedora Ellen born 1860 died 23-Jan-1875 and 9)Harriet Julia born 21-Oct-1861 or 1862 died 20-Aug-1947 Winona Lake, Kosciusko County, IN married 6-Jul-1885 in Fairbury, Livingston County, IL to James Sprague.

A search for the newspaper obituary for Benjamin Shively was done. Unfortunately The Fairbury Blade issue from 4-Apr-1891 and 11-Apr-1891 are missing.  Most likely one of these issues contained the full obituary.   The following was found in The Fairbury Blade, Fairbury, Illinois, Saturday, March 28, 1891, Page 1, Column 6:

Sudden Death

B. W. Shively, an aged and well known citizen of this community was found dead in his bed early yesterday, Friday, morning. He was almost eighty years of age and had been failing for several years.

The following was extracted from The Fairbury Blade, Fairbury, Illinois, Friday, September 29, 1899, Page 1, Column 2:

Obituary

Died, at her home in Fairbury, Ill., Thursday evening, September 21. Mrs. E. F. Shively, in her 77th year. The funeral service was held in the F. M. Church, Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Rev. R. F. Brothers officiating assisted by Rev. Fehr. Mrs. E. F. Shively was born in Tyler Co., Virginia, January 19, 1823. She was first converted at an early age and united with the M. E. church. She was married to B. W. Shively in November 1845, and in the following year they came to Ill., where they lived until 1852. They then moved to Ohio, and three years later returned to Ill., locating in Woodford County.

During their residence there, Mr. and Mrs. Shively were baptized by Rev. C. D. Merit in the Minonk Baptist church. They moved to Fairbury in Nov. 1866, uniting with the Baptist church, of which she was a member 18 years. During the meeting of the F. M. church under the labors of B. P. Clark, having lost in her experience sought the Lord anew, and was blessedly saved, and joined the F. M. church June 15, 1884 and remained an acceptable member until her death. There remain to mourn her loss, three daughters, one brother, two sisters, and other relatives, her husband having passed to the better world some eight years before.