Michael Shively was born August 1826 in Germany and died 15-Dec-1921 in Napa County, CA. He was married to Sarah Thornburgh on 16-Dec-1847 in Wayne County, IN. Sarah Thornburgh was born 24-Jun-1830 in Wayne County, Indiana and died 18-Jun-1926 in Napa County, CA. Both are buried in the Tulocay Cemetery, Napa County, CA.
Listed on the 1850 Dalton Township, Wayne County, IN census is Michael Shively age 22, wife Sarah age 21 and son John H. age 1. Located on the 1860 Spring Valley Township, Dallas County, IA census is the family of Michael Shively age 38, wife Sarah age 29, son John H. age 11 and daughter Rachel E. age 1 month. Listed on the 1870 Adams Township, Dallas County, IA is the household of Michael Shively age 43, wife Sarah age 38, daughter Harriet age 8, daughter Sabrina age 7, son Lincoln age 5, Temple Pierce age 20 works on farm and Henry Pierce age 18 works on farm. On the 1880 Deerfield Township, Vernon County, MO census is the family of Michael Shively age 54, wife Sarah age 50, daughter Hattie and 20, daughter Bina age 17, son Lincoln age 16 and son Clyde age 8. On the 1900 Knox Township, Napa County, CA census is the household of Mike Shively born Aug-1826 age 73 married 53 years, wife Sarah born Jun-1830 age 69 having bourn 10 children 5 children living, son Clyde B. born Apr-1872 age 28, daughter in law Ruth E. born Aug-1875 age 24 married 6 years having bourn 2 children 2 children living, grand daughter Islah born Dec-1895 age 4 and grandson Shelton K born Dec-1897 age 2. On the 1910 Glen Ellen Township, Sonoma County, CA census is the household of Michael Shively age 83 and wife Sarah age 80. Located on the 1920 Glen Ellen Township, Sonoma County, CA census is Michael Shively age 93 and wife Sarah age 88.
The following article was extracted from the Sacramento Bee, Wednesday, July 7, 1920, Page 10, Columns 5-6:
Pioneers, Past 90, Hold Joint Celebration Of Birth Dates
Michael Shively, Who Came To State In 1850, Nears His 94th Anniversary
NAPA (Napa Co.), July 7.--Mr. and Mrs. Michael Shively recently celebrated the ninetieth birthday of Mrs. Shively at their home in Kenwood, Sonoma County.
Should Shively live until August 12th he will have reached his ninety-fourth year.
Came To Country at 2.
Michael Shively, a native of Germany, arrived in New York at the age of 2 years. His parents later moved to Indiana, where, in 1847 he married Sarah Thornburgh. In 1850 he left his family in Indiana and started with a team of six oxen and accompanied by fifty other wagons for the overland trip to California.
To Stockton 70 Years Ago
The emigrants arrived in Stockton six months and five days later.
Shively mined in Shasta and Calaveras Counties for two years, then returned to Indiana via Panama. He walked across the Isthmus, where he boarded a boat for New York. From New York he traveled by rail to his former home.
In 1876 he again came to California bringing his family and settled at the foot of Napa Mountain on the property now known as Langley Park. After remaining here five years he moved again to Missouri where he engaged in farming for nearly twenty years, but his love for California still lived and he brought his family here once more in 1899, locating in the Berryessa Valley, where he conducted a big stock ranch until 1907, when he moved to Kenwood, Sonoma County.
Five Generations at Dinner
Shively is the father of ten children, five of whom are living, three in California. Five generations were represented at the birthday dinner of Mrs. Shively. The eldest son, John Shively, living in the East, is 71 years old.
Shively often is called upon to relate his experiences in crossing the plains.
Mrs. Shively, despite the infirmity fo a dislocated hip sustained a few years ago, takes great pride in being able to care for all her household duties.
The following was extracted from the Sacramento Bee, Monday, May 30, 1921, Page 11, Column 2:
Sonoma Couple Married 73 Years
SANTA ROSA (Sonoma Co.), May 30.--The recent claim of a Santa Rosa couple that they had been married longer than any other couple in the State has been challenged and apparently won by Mr. and Mrs. Michael Shively, Kenwood couple, who last week celebrated the seventy-third anniversary of their marriage.
Shively is 95 years old and his wife recently celebrated her 91st birthday. Both are in robust health for their age.
Four generations, all living, have descended from the old couple, three great-great-great-grandchildren living in Southern California.
The following is taken from the Sacramento Bee, Saturday, December 17, 1921, Page 24, Column 3:
Patriarch Dead
Michael Shively, 95, of Kenwood, Leaves Five Generations To Mourn His Loss
NAPA (Napa Co.), December 17.-- Death, for the first time in more than half a century, entered the immediate family of which Michael Shively, aged 95, was head, when he died Thursday night at his home at Kenwood, Sonoma County.
He leaves to mourn his passing, a widow, Mrs. Sarah Shively, and four generations of descendants. There are five children: J. H. Shively of Des Moines, Iowa; Mrs. J. A. Smart fo Willits, Mendocino County; Mrs. W. R. Gillispie, Chicago, Ill; A. L. Shively of Santa Paula, Ventura County, and G. B. Shively of Napa.
Planned Anniversary Soon.
Had the decedent lived until December 24th, he and his wife planned to celebrate their seventy-fourth wedding anniversary.
A native of Germany, Michael Shively, came to America when 2 years old. He was married to Sarah Thornburgh in Indiana in 1847. In 1850 he let his family in Indiana and crossed the plains to California, landing first in Stockton. He mined two years in Shasta and Calaveras Counties, then returned East. In 1876 he brought his family to Napa County and settled on a ranch, where he lived five years. He then went East again, after selling his property, and lived in Missouri for twenty years.
In 1899 he came to California for the third time, locating in the Berryessa Valley, where he conducted a big stock ranch until 1907, when he sold it and moved to Kenwood.
Youngest Son Is 50.
Mrs. Shively, the widow, is 91 years old. The eldest son, John, is 71, and the youngest son is 50.
Then children in all were born to Mr. and Mrs. Shively, but five died in infancy. Since the death of the last, more than fifty years ago, there has been no death in the family.
The following newspaper article was found in the Sacramento Bee, Tuesday, June 22, 1926, Page 7, Column 3:
Funeral Is Held For Napa Pioneer
NAPA (Napa Co.), June 22. -- The funeral of the late Mrs. Sarah Thornberg Shively, widow of the late Michael Shively fo Napa, was held yesterday.
Mrs. Shively died on Friday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. G. A. Smart, in Willits, Mendocino County. She was born in Hagerstown, Indiana, on June 24, 1830, having been within one week of her ninety-sixth birthday at the time of her death.
Husband Died In 1921
She and her husband, who were among the earliest settlers in Napa Valley, lived for a number of years at what is now Langely Park, later moving to the Rancho de la Putah in Berryessa Valley. Shively died in 1921, at the age of 95 years.
Mrs. Shively was the mother of ten children, five of whom are living. They are John H. Shively of Perry, Iowa; A. Lincoln Shively of Santa Paula; Clyde D. Shively of Napa; Mrs.Buia Gillespie of Wilmette, Ill., and Mrs. G. A. Smart of Willits. She also leaves fifteen grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren and three great-great-great-grandchildren.
