Jonathan Wright Shively (Shively) And Ann Dent Mankin Who Lived In Saratoga Springs, New York

 

Saratoga Springs Daily Saratogian 20-Jul-1869

Jonathan Wright Shively (Shiveley) was born on 16-Nov-1819 in Mason County, WV and died on 14-Jun-1894 in Saratoga, NY.  He was the son of Phillip Shively who died ca. 1849 and Millicent "Amelia" Wright (1793-1853). For additional information on brothers of Johnathan see the Shively Blog article written on Sunday, July 12, 2020 regarding Phillip B. Shively (Shiveley) and the Shively Blog article written on Sunday, June 9, 2024 regarding Benjamin W. Shively (Shiveley).

Saratoga Springs Daily Saratogian 4-Aug-1869

Johnathan Wright Shively married Ann Dent Mankin on 5-Aug-1867 in Alexandria, VA. She was born ca. 1837 in Charles County, MD and died on 11-Dec-1910 in Alexandria, VA. Ann was the daughter of Edward Manken (Mankin) and Mary Ann Posey. Johnathan and Ann had one daughter, Mary Olga Shiveley (born 2-Mar-1872-1891).

Listed on the 1850, 27th District, Jackson County, VA census is the family of Amelia Shiveley age 57, son Johnathan age 30, son Philip age 31, daughter Mary age 24 and Oretha age 1. Listed on the 1850 Hill Top District, Charles County, MD census is the household of James L. Dyson age 33, James Dunington age 18, John Dyson age 5, James Dyson age 1, Mary A .age 45, Mary Mankin age 15, Ann D. Mankin age 13 and Margaret Dyson age 63. On the 1860 Alexandria, Alexandria County, VA census are James L. Dyson age 42, wife Mary A. age 52, Ann D. Mankin age 22, Adie Dyson age 17, Franklin age 11, and John age 16. Listed on the 1880 Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County, NY census in the household of Buell Thrasher are Nany D. Shiveley age 42 and Mary O. age 8. 

The following newspaper article was found in the Kansas City Journal, Kansas City, Missouri, Tuesday, December 6, 1881, Page 1, Column 5:

Another Crank

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 -- Prof. J. W. Shively, who calls himself the "true Messiah", arrived in this city Thursday and took a room on Sixth street. He at once addressed a letter to Judge Cox, Judge Porter and others connected with the Guiteau trial, to convince them of the fallacy of Guiteau's alleged inspirations. In his letter to Judge Cox he demanded to be put upon the stand to confront Guiteau and tell the court where and how to find this awful deity of the Republican party. The police were notified and this morning arrested him. He will be sent to the insane asylum.

Special Dispatch to the Kansas City Journal

SARATOGA, N.Y., Dec. 5 --Prof. J. W. Shively, of Saratoga, the "great Messiah" crank, arrested at Washington, D.C., today, is believed to be Johnathan W. Shively, of 136 Beckman street, this place. He is down in the directory as a photographer, but his wife says he is an oil painter. While the family make a permanent residence, he travels from place to place in pursuit of his profession. Mrs. Shively says he left home in September, and the last she heard from him he was west, and she expected a letter from him from Chicago or Cincinnati. She adds that a number of years ago he suffered severely from neuralgia, and at times when excited would conduct himself in a peculiar manner. These periods would cover two or three days, after which he would become perfectly rational. About a month ago, in Cleveland, he met with an accident by which his head was injured, and she fears this may have caused temporary aberration of mind. Mrs. Shively did not know her husband intended visiting Washington. He is the son of a clergyman, and was born in Jackson county, Va. Mrs. Shively is a native of Alexandria in that state. She is considerably alarmed about him. The Shiveley family have resided here for upwards of ten years, but within a year or two passed the winters South.

A brother of Johnathan Wright Shively is mentioned in the following newspaper article found in The Fairbury Blade, Fairbury, Illinois, Saturday, December 17, 1881, Page 3, Column 4:

Identified

Last week an item appeared on the fourth page of our paper, to the effect that, "Another 'crank', named Shively, who called himself the 'True Messiah', was arrested in Washington on the 5th. He had addressed a letter to Judge Cox, demanding to be put on the witness stand to confront Guiteau, and to convince the Court and jury of the fallacy of Guiteau's theory of inspiration. He had been a traveling oil painter, and had lived at Saratoga, N.Y., for some years." The item also stated that he would probably be sent to the insane asylum.

This week, Mr. B. W. Shively, of this city, called at our office and stated that, from the description given, he had reason to believe that the man was his only brother. He received a letter from him, dated at Cincinnati, about four weeks ago, in which he said he had been waylaid in city of Cleveland, a short time previous, by highwaymen, who struck him a heavy blow on the head, knocking him senseless; but that he thought he had recovered from the effects of it. Mr. Shively is under the impression that his brother has become deranged from the result of his encounter in Cleveland, and has wandered down to Washington, as stated. He has not heard from him since receiving the letter mentioned above, and expressed his intention of writing to the authorities at the Capitol in regard to the matter. The unfortunate man has a family living at Saratoga, N.Y.

Extracted from the Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, Friday, June 15, 1894, Page 8, Column 6:

Johnathan W. Shively

SARATOGA, N.Y., June 14. -- [Special.] - Jonathan W. Shively, who died suddenly of heart disease at midnight, attracted no small police attention in Washington on the day Garfield was shot by Guiteau. He mounted a box in front of Willard's Hotel and proclaimed that he was the "true Messiah", and in an incoherent ramble sought to explain why the shooting had taken place. Shively was patriarchal in appearance; was born in West Virginia seventy-five years ago, and had lived here twenty-six years. He was a noted artist and portrait painter, was highly educated, and had traveled extensively. His widow survives him.

The following was found in the Alexandria Gazette, Alexandria, Virginia, Friday, June 15, 1894, Page 2, Column 6:

DIED

On Wednesday, June 13th, at his late residence, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Johnathan Wright Shiveley. Funeral services Saturday at 1:30 p.m., at the residence of S. F. Dyson, 1004 Prince street. Friends of the family are invited to attend. Interment private.

Located in the Alexandria Gazette, Monday, December 12, 1910, Page 31, Column 2:

Death Of Mrs. Shiveley

Mrs. Ann D. Shiveley, widow of J. W. Shively, of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., died yesterday morning at the home of her brother, Mr. J. Frank Dyson, 1004 Prince street. Mrs. Shiveley was born in Charles county nearly 73 years ago, but had lived in Alexandria since 1850.

In addition the following was found in the Alexandria Gazette, Alexandria, Virginia, Page 3, Column 2:

Funeral

The funeral of the late Mrs. Anna D. Shiveley took place this afternoon from the residence of her brother,, Mr. J. Frank Dyson, 1004 Prince street, the Rev. A. W. Rudisill, pastor of Trinity M. E. Church, conducted the services and the interment was in Ivy Hill cemetery. The pallbearers were Dr. W. B. Dent and Messrs. J. Frank Dent, Llewellyn F. Dyson, and C. Fletcher Dyson, four nephews of the deceased, and Messrs. J. Frank Dyson and Windosr Demaine.

A couple of notes regarding Charles J. Guiteau.  He was born 8-Sep-1841 in Freeport, IL and died 30-Jun-1882.  He shot President James A. Garfield in 1881 at the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station in Washington, D.C.  Garfield died two months later from infections related to the wound. Guiteau falsely believed he had played a major role in Garfield's election victory, for which he should have been rewarded with a consulship.  He was frustrated and offended by the Garfield administration's rejections.