Joseph Warren Shively And Wife, Amelia L. Kent Of Portage County, Ohio

Civil War Navy Survivors Certificate

Recently on Footnote a unique set of records were located entitled Navy Survivors Certificates from the Civil War.  These records are the pension applications for the veterans who served in the Navy.  Included in these records is the application for Dr. Joseph Warren Shively.  The records within this application are a wonderful history source for the genealogist working on this Shively line.

Dr. Joseph Warren Shively enlisted in the Navy on January 15, 1861 and was discharged on March 18, 1865.  He held the rank as surgeon ranking with Lieutenant and was stationed in Cairo, Illinois.  His original pension was issued as $12.50 from October 31, 1885.  On May 25, 1889 this amount was increased to $18.75.  The justification for the pension were listed as disease of the heart and nervous system.  Reasons listed on the application for the pension included rheumatism, pain in right shoulder, affliction of the heart and bladder and general neurosis.

  Included in the pension information is a copy of the marriage certificate for Joseph W. Shively and Amelia L. Kent.  They were married in Cuyahoga County, Ohio on 5-October-1863.

 Also included in the information is a death certificate from the District of Columbia for Joseph Shively.  The date of death is listed as February 14, 1897 at the age of 63 years.  It states he was born in Columbiana County, Ohio.  He was buried in Kent, Portage County, Ohio.  

  Following is part of the information extracted from the application:  I am the claimant & base my claims for a pension on the following grounds.  When I entered the U.S. Naval Service in 1863 I was a healthy man as the act of the Medical Board which passed upon my professional & physical fitness will attest & when I left in 1865 I was broken in health as the Medical Survey held upon me a few month previously will show.   After my resignation which was chiefly due to ill health I resided for one year at Massillon, Ohio, my former home.  I then suffered from palpitation, irregularity & other abnormal symptoms of the heart.  I was afflicted with frequently recurring carbuncles & boils.  I suffered from a wearing pain in my right scapula & shoulder.  I also had frequent attacks of bladder irritation.  These symptoms have followed & clung to me ever since.  Sometimes better, sometimes worse.  A close correlation seems to exist between them.  Of late years, say four or five, my heart has been better but my shoulder & bladder are getting worse.  The trouble in my shoulder consists of pain, numbness, & loss of power & motion of the muscles attached to the scabula & supper arm.  I have no rhumatism in these parts of the body.  The bladder trouble consists in frequency of micturation with pain & distress and atony of that organ.  The urine is sometimes loaded with the urates & phosphates & sometimes perfectly normal.  I have found both sugar & albumen in it.  For about ten years after moving to my present residence, E, I, from 1866 to 1875 I was engaged in the drug business, thinking my health was better suited to it, then home country practice.  Since 1875 I have been engaged in the practice of medicine doing an office village practice chiefly but whether practicing my profession or otherwise employed I have been fearfully handicapped by my infirmities in the race for success.  During the first ten years after my resignation, I depended mainly for medical advice & treatment upon my former preceptor & friend Dr. A. Metz  of Massillon O. now deceased who were he alive now might (    ) testify to my continued ill health  after leaving the Navy & to my good health prior to entering it.  I have also consulted my medical colleagues of this place (Drs. Sawyer, Sherman & Price).  I have been largely guided by their advice & suggestions.  But treatment has uniformly failed or been at best only palliative.   I have found the best treatment to consist in general tonics such as strychnine  (  ) & (   ) & rest.  I formerly fancied my heart trouble to be organic, that of my shoulder to be due to aneurism or tumors beneath the capaula.  My bladder affliction to depend upon enlarged prostate. But later I have come to the conclusion that all my troubles are  ( ) neurotic dependent upon a broken down (   ) or on some profound & permanent derangement or injury of the nervous system caused, brought about, by over work & ailments malarial, climatic & other unsanitary influences, to which I was exposed during my service in the Navy.   One thing is certain, that I entered the service a strong & healthy young man, and that I left it & since remained a broken down man.  That pains & infirmities have been my constant  companions that I have been more or less incapacitated from doing the common acts of life properly let alone performing manual labor.

      Witness

        S. P. Wolcott                                            Joseph W. Shively

        R. A. Thompson

   

Twila Shively - Member Of The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League

Twila Shively,  daughter of Glenn Shively and Eva Bryant, played softball for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.  Twila played for the Grand Rapids Chicks from 1945 to 1947 and the Peoria Redwings from 1948 to 1950.  The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League existed from 1943 to 1954.  The league was began by Philip K. Wrigley,  of the chewing gum family, who had inherited the Chicago Cubs major league baseball franchise from his father.  It should be remembered that Mr. Wrigley conceived his idea for the girls league while the United States was involved in World War II.

“It was after the 1944 season when it was evident the major leagues would be not affected by the war, that Wrigley sold the league to Chicago advertising executive Arthur Meyerhoff.  It was under Meyerhoff that expansion and publicity of the league reached it’s peak.  In the first three years after World War II, teams often attracted between two and three thousand fans to a single game. “

“In 1943 when the league began, the girls were actually playing fast-pitch softball using an underhand pitching delivery but with certain variations to make the game faster.  Runners were allowed to lead off and steal, and the size of the diamond was larger than the field used in softball but smaller than a baseball diamond.  As the leagues grew in number of teams and fan support into the postwar years, fast-pitch softball rules were modified.  For example, the circumference of the ball was decreased in increments from the original 12-inch ball in 1943 to 10 3/8 inches in 1949 and finally to 9 inches, regulation baseball size, in mid-1954, the league’s final season.  The pitcher’s mound was moved further from home plate in gradual steps, from 40 feet in 1943 to 50 feet in 1949, to 55 feet for the next four years, and finally to 60 feet in 1954.  Also, a cork center and red seams were added to the ball in 1948.  Combined with overhand pitching, which also began in 1948, the smaller and livelier ball led to an increase in batting averages during the last half of the league’s existence”.

            Twila Shively was featured in an article on the girls league in the Saturday, August 29, 1942 issue of The Chicago Daily News: “She’s Hedy Lamarr of Softball, Twila Shively Looks Like Model, Runs Bases Like Ty Cobb. 

Has Baseball “Savvy” Plus Pretty Face by Carl Guldager

This is Twila Shively.  Sure you’ve met girl softball players before but never a girl like Twila.  No bone-crushing handshake, no deep-voiced “Howdy”, no female version of Jimmy (“The Beast”) Foxx – just a demure quiet girl.  But don’t take our word for it.  Look at those pictures. (The article includes 4 pictures of Twila).  Miss Shively is not a model, “Twi” is an athlete.  She is a veteran in softball competion, an expert swimmer, and she rides in a civilian defense cavalary unit.  “I’ve been playing softball for eight years”, she said softly as though that were all there was to it.  But we have it on the best authority that the brand of ball played by Miss Shively is the finest outfielding the top-bracket Metropolitan league can offer.  The fastest fly chaser in the business is “Twi”.  A deadly certain fielder, her accurate arm and baseball “savvy” combine to rate her tops on the field.  “But I don’t hit so much” she offered just a bit regretfully.  However once on base her speed again makes her a constant worry to pitchers.  She can run and slide with the grace and skill and spike-flashing daring of a femme Ty Cobb.  Last year when Twila was playing for the Garden City girls she was first choice in the draft that follows the end of the regular season.  The winning teams are allowed to draft two players from teams not in the Amateur Softball Association championship tourney.  The Rockola Music Girls chose “Twi” as the most valued supplement to their team. 

Twila’s death was mentioned in the Tuesday, November 30, 1999 issue of the South Bend Tribune.  “Twila Shively, former ballplayer and teacher, dies”…Shively and other young women wowed the nation in the pro baseball leagues, inspiring the 1992 movie “A League of Their Own”.  Shively inspired kids for nearly 30 years as a teacher at South Bend’s Washington High School. Shively died on Thanksgiving last week at the age of 79.  Four years of Alzheimer’s disease and a yearlong fight with lung cancer finally caught up with Shively in the Douglas, Michigan, nursing home where she stayed.  Born in Decatur, Illinois, her pro baseball career spanned from 1945 to 1950 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, where she played first base and outfield and started in almost every game.  She excelled in stealing bases.  She played for the Grand Rapids Chicks, whom she helped lead to a 1947 championship along with the Chicago Colleens and the Peoria Redwings.  She went on to study at Illinois State Normal and Indiana University and immediately landed a job as a physical education teacher at Washington.  She also coached the school’s softball and volleyball teams to city championships.

Thank you to Arleene Johnson Noga, a former AAGPBL player, for kindly sharing information on Twila and the AAGPBL.  Quotations regarding the AAGPBL are from the information on their web site on the Internet.  Thank you  to Jerry Shively for sharing information on Twila’s lineage and her carrer.  Also thank you to Richard Shively and Paul Nitchman for information they submitted.

Francis M. Shively And Wife, Emily Crites In Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Who are Francis M Shively and wife, Emily Crites who are located in Cuyahoga County, Ohio records? There are several records which were located that give the researcher working on this family some clues.

The following article gives interesting information regarding the family: 

Cleveland Plain Dealer, Thursday, April 5, 1917, Page 4, Column 4:

Wedding Germ Surely Struck These Families

Three Marriages Among Kin Take Place In One Day

Is there a matrimonial germ and is it contagious?

That is the questions asked by Mrs. Anna Rapp, 891 E. 73^rd street, and Mrs. Emily Shively, 1202 E. 170^th street, five members of whose homes, together with a neighbor of Mrs. Shively, were principals in three marriages yesterday.

It all began when a week or so ago Guy C. Campion, 30, pressman with the Cleveland Press and son of Mrs. Rapp, announced he a Miss Beaber, 23 who had been making her home with her fiance’s mother, were to be married yesterday.  Not to be outdone by his brother, Ray Rapp, 22 motion picture operator, and Miss Eva Shively, 20, 12 E. 170^th street, decided Tuesday to make it a double wedding.

At the last moment Joseph F. Shively,  29, brother of Miss Shively, made it known that he and Miss Ruth Prill, 20, a neighbor living at 1136 E. 169^th street, had likewise determined to get married.

Licenses were issued yesterday to all there couples.  The first two couples were married in the forenoon by Justice W. J. Zoul.  Mr. Shively and Miss Prill were married by Rev. Jacob H. Merkel, 65 Emily stree, East Cleveland.

The marriage for Francis M Shively and Emily Crites is located in Wayne County, Ohio.  Per the record they were married on July 24, 1882.

The 1900 Cuyahoga County, Newburgh Township, lists Emily Shively as head of the household.  She records that she has given birth to eight children and that all eight are still living.  Listed on this census are seven of the eight children.  Also living with the family is her father, John Crites, a widow, who was born September 1832 in Ohio.   Listed on this record are the following children and dates of birth for Francis and Emily:  Ella M born July 1883; Edwin W born April 1885; Joseph F born December 1887;  Glen born June 1892; Earl born April 1894; twin sister Pearl born April 1894;  and Eva born June 1896.    It is not known why Emily’s husband, Francis Shively, is not listed with the family.  A date of death  was not located for him but he does not appear on any of the census records with the family.  Most of the 1890 census records were destroyed but had they survived it is probable he would have been located with the family. 

           Emily Shively is listed on the 1910 Ashtabula County, Ohio census with a job listed that she runs the district school wagon.  Emily is listed in the Ohio death records as being born on December 27, 1864 and died August 7, 1925. She was buried in the Lakeview Cemetery.  Her parents are listed as John Crites and Mary Weinner (Waisner).

           Francis M Shively is listed on the 1870 and 1880 Wayne County, town of Wooster, Ohio census records.  He is in the household of Joseph A Shively and wife, Margaret.  Records show that a Joseph Shively married Josephine Margaret Poncler in Cuyahoga County, Ohio on 29-August-1857.   From these census reports Francis M Shively would have been born about 1861. 

 

George Shively (Sheively) Of Charleston, South Carolina

1818 Inventory Of George Shively

  Little documentation has been preserved by the Shively researchers for George Sheively (Shively) who is located in the early records of Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina.   Did George Shively have a family and are there descendants living today?  

 George Shively is listed on the 1800 and 1810 Charleston County, South Carolina census records.  From these records it would appear that George did have a family.  Listed in the 1800 household are 2 males under 10 and 1 male between 26 and 44, 1 female under 10, 1 female between 10 and 15, and 1 female between 26 and 44, and 1 slave.  Listed in the 1810 census record are 1 male between 10 and 15, 1 male over 45, 1 female under 10, 2 females between the ages of 10 and 15, and 1 female over 45. 

   The death of George Shively is listed in the Commercial Advertiser, New York, Saturday Evening, Septemeber 12, 1818, Page 2, Column 4.  From the article, "DIED    At Charleston, Mr George Shively, 65.    From this article we have an estimated year of birth as 1753.

    The WPA information from the index of the wills of Charleston County lists an entry for a will for George Scheively, Volume 34 (1818-1826), Page 1114.  A copy has been requested from the Charleston Public Library where copies of the wills are located.     The above picture is a  copy of the inventory for George Shively from Book E, Page 93, November 1818.  

   There are numerous advertisements for George Shively, also listed at times as George Sheively, in the old newspapers for seed that he has for sale.  From these ads it is known that he had a Seed Store in Charleston located at 117 Meeting Street.  

    One interesting article found in the City Gazette and Daily Advertiser, Tuesday, December 22, 1812, Page 3, Column 1 describes the following shipment being sent to George Shively: Ship News, Port Of Charleston,   Information has been received that the schooner Fanny & Maria, Miller, and sloop Mary-Ann, Williams, both from Philadelphia bound to this port, have been captured on their passage by the British brig Sophie.  The cargo of the Fanny & Maria was consigned to the following persons:---John Hoff, Wm. Burgoyne, Wm. DeBow, Bates & Perkins, T. Johnson, Thos. Flemming, London Paine,  B. Palmer, Brooks & Potter, John White, Geo. Shively, M. Miller, C. F. Deliesseline  and others not listed for this blog. 

    One note of interest is that the surname of Strobel appears with many of the pieces of information found for George Shively.  It appears that the Strobel family had a business next to the seed store of George Shively.  

      Additional information regarding the history of George Shively is requested.  If anyone has additional information and would be interested in sharing it would be appreciated.  

Samuel Burdette Shively, Cedar County, Nebraska

The old newspapers can be a great source of genealogy information.  An interesting article of history was recorded for the family of Albert Shively and wife Dora who lived in Laurel, Cedar County, Nebraska.  It must have been of great concern to the parents when they discovered their son, Samuel Burdette Shively, was missing.  Following are the newspaper reports which recorded the incident.

Evening World-Herald, Omaha, NE, Saturday, July 11, 1914, Page 7, Column 5:

Disappearance Of Boy Arouses Whole County

Burdette, 19-Year-Old Son of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Shively, Mysteriously Missing

Hundreds on foot and in Autos With Boy Scouts Scour the Country in Vein.

Special Dispatch to the World-Herald.

Hartington, Neb., July 10 – A young man answering the description of Burdette Shively, the young man who disappeared from his home near Laurel July 4, was seen near Crofton, twenty miles northwest of here.  The young man was inquiring for work on a farm.  Investigation is being made to learn if he is the missing party.

One hundred dollars reward is offered by the lad’s father, Bert Shively, for his son’s recovery.

Young Shively, in company with many others, came to this city to celebrate the Fourth and remained to return on the night freight, leaving this city at about 1 o’clock.  With other young men, among them his brother, he was seen at the station platform before the train pulled out, but after that no one remembers seeing him.

His parents became alarmed as he is very much attached to his home.  Monday, as nothing was heard from him, searching parties numbering nearly 100 men were formed, who walked on each side of the railroad tracks from Laurel to  Coleridge and from Coleridge to this city searching for traces.  It was feared he might have fallen from the train and crawled into the grass or brush near the right-of-way or have been slugged and thrown from the train.  This search proved fruitless.  Neighboring towns were furnished with a description of him.

He is described as follows:  Height, 5 feet 8 inches; weight, 135 pounds, straight dark brown hair, hazel eyes, smooth shaven, tanned, shoulders sloping, walks very erect with head thrown well back; wore blue serge suit, name and address attached in inside pocket of coat, permanent crease sewn in trouser, white soft shirt with narrow stripe, oxford shoes and gray checked summer cap.

A large number of autos from this city,  Laurel and Coleridge vicinity were out looking for traces of the boy.

The boy scouts patrol of twenty scouts went out to join in the search.

The World-Herald, Omaha, NE, Saturday, July 18, 1914, Page 11, Column 7:

Young Shively Home, Refuses To Explain

Special Dispatch to the World-Herald.

Laurel, Neb., July 17 --  There is great rejoicing here over the return of Burdette Shively, who disappeared the 4^th.  Foul play was suspected.  Citizens searched for days, his father, Bert Shively, a prosperous farmer, scarcely pausing to sleep or eat.  The young man is 19 and of the highest reputation.  He was finally located near Gayville, S.D.  He declines to say why he caused his friends so much worry, but insists there was nothing wrong at home.  He is prominent in church work and a teacher in the Presbyterian Sunday school.  His mysterious disappearance caused the greatest sensation every known to this community. 

The family of Albert Shively and wife Dora are found on the 1910 Nebraska census in Cedar County, Precinct 21.  Listed in the family are Albert B Shively, age 39, born in Michigan and wife Dora H, age 39, born in Michigan. The following children were all listed as born in Nebraska: son Samuel, age 14; son Bert, age 12; son Elmer, age 10; daughter Grace, age 8; son, Clarence, age 6; son Clyde, age 6; daughter Olive, age 4;  and son William, age 2.   Albert and Dora continue to reside in Cedar County in 1920 and 1930. 

Several members of the family are buried in the Laurel Cemetery, Laurel, NE, Cedar County.  There is one large family stone with the surname Shively which is surrounded by the smaller stone with the name of the deceased and year of birth and year of death.   Buried in the family plot are:  Albert Shively 1870-1931, Dora Shively 1871-1949, Samuel 1895-1953, Bert Dewey 3-Sep-1897 died 11-May-1918, Elmer 1899-1963, Clarence 1903-1967, and Clarence 1903-1972.  Also buried are the following spouses:  Edna A Shively 1896-1978, wife of Samuel; Luella M Shively 1905-2001, wife of Clyde; Ethel M 1902-1986 wife of Clarence; and Florence O. Shively 1909-1992 wife of William. 

Further research of the newspapers in Cedar County might produce obituaries for these family members.  There is a newspaper that is published in Laurel, Nebraska by the name of the Laurel Advocate.   With only the dates of death for the family members it is a little more difficult to locate the obituaries.  Many of the small newspapers publish a review of the year including those who have passed.  It would be fortunate for those researching this Shively family if this was the case for the Laurel Advocate.

           

Revolutionary War Pension Application For John Shiveley (Shively) Filed In Bradley County, Tennessee

       John Shiveley (Shively) made a declaration for a Revolutionary War pension in Bradley County, Tennessee on October 15, 1845.  It appears that the pension was rejected because the applicant was not on the service rolls, he could not provide documents, and he could not produce witnesses who could testify to his service.  Mr. Shively states he was 95 years of age at the time of applying.  He states that about 4 years after he served there was a fire that destroyed his discharge papers.  

      Who is this John Shively?  From the 1830 McMinn County, Tennessee census record is a listing for a John Shively.  In the household are one male between the age of 80 and 90, one male between the age of 20 and 30, one male under age 5, one female between the age of 60-70, and one female between the age of 20-30.    A search of the 1840 McMinn County and Bradley County census records did not produce a listing for the surname Shively.  

       It is interesting that there is no information on John Schaufele, who was born April 14, 1749 and baptized May 26, 1749 who was the son of Johann Michael Scheiffle.  It is known that his brothers Christian Shively, Jacob Shively and Henry Shively moved to Kentucky.  The birthdate for this John Schaufele (Shively) is certainly very close to the age of the John Shively applying for the pension.  

      Even though we do not know the lineage of the John Shively who applied for this Revolutionary War pension the document is a wonderful piece of history.  Below is my best transcription of the information contained in the document:

Declaration

In Order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7^th of June 1832

Sate of Tennessee       SS

Bradley County      On this 15^th day of October 1845 personally appeared before me an acting Justice of the peace for Bradley County  John Shively aged ninety five years and seven months who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress of June 7^th 1832:  That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1776 and in the summer of that year declarant says that he went to Shepherdstown, Berkley County in the State of Virginia in company with one  Matthew Shaw and at that place (Shepherdstown) they met with a recruiting officer by the name of Nathaniel Linder  viz both declarant and Shaw enlisted in the service of the United States as private soldiers for the term of three years or during the war of the revolution if not sooner discharged and received from said recruiting officer a bounty of Twelve dollars.  Declarant says that he remained at Shepherdstown some short time after enlistment,   he thinks two months     He says as to the name or number of the regiment that he served in he does not recollect but recollects that he served under the following named officers  Viz General  Stephans  Col Larke  Maj George Wales and Capt Spotswood Dandridge:   He says from Shepherdstown he with his company marched to New Brunswick in the state of New Jersey at which place he says he joined the army under Gen. Washington at which place he remained but a few days until he was ordered to march with the army to a Town called Trenton on the Delaware River at which place he says the army had a Battle with the Hessians under the command of Col. Rasole:  this Battle he says was fought on the night of the 25 of December 1776 which Battle terminated favorable to the American army.   Declarant further says the they took nearly the whole garrison prisoners of war amounting in number to near one thousand after taking the aforesaid prisoners they immediately crossed the Dela ware River and he says that he was one of the guard ordered to conduct the prisoners immediately to Albemarle Baracks in the county of Albemarle in the state of Virginia at which place declarant says he remained some three or four months as a guard and he says that from Albemarle Barracks they took the prisoners to a Town in Virginia called Winchester at which place he says he left the prisoners and he says he marched immediately from there to Pennsylvania near Philadelphia at which place he says he was attached to his former company and shortly after that time he says they had a severe Battle with the British army on a creek or small river called Brandywine   Viz in preparation for the Battle he says that he was placed at Chads Ford under the command of General Wayne some small distance from where the mane Battle was fought at the old Quaker field in which engagement the American army was defeated:   from Brandywine he says he marched with the army under Gen Washington to a camp called White Marsh.  From thence to Germantown at which place he says they had another Battle with the British and were defeated again:  from thence to Valley Forge at which place he says he remained several months in log hut, prepared by the army to winter in.     From thence to Mammouth at which place he say the two armies have a Battle, and from thence he says he went to White Plains at which place he days he remained several months, and from thence he says he marched under the command of Gen Wayne to Stony Point which march he says was preformed in the night in great silence and with unloaded guns and he says that the Americans succeeded in entering the fort and capturing the inmates as prisoners of war amounting to near nine hundred and he says that after Gen Wayne got possession of the fort that it was with difficulty that Gen Wayne could prevent the soldiers from massecuring the prisoners:   from thence he says he went to West Point in the state of New York and there remained some time occasionally marching through the country to and fro and returning to the above place:  from thence he says he marched to Little York in Virginia after remaining there some short time a cannonading commenced between the two armies which lasted several days and the result was that Lord Cornwallis with his whole army surrendered them selves up as prisoners to General Washington:  Declarant says shortly after the Battle of York Town the he received from his Capt Dandridge a written discharge and he further says that his whole time was employed as a soldier either in garrison or in the field and that he was not engaged in any civil persuit during the above time:  Declarant says shortly after he was discharged from said service he returned to Berkley County Virginia where he says he lived at the time of his entering the service as aforesaid.  Declarant says about four years after he left the army that his discharge was destroyed by fire in Berkley County Virginia.  Declarant says his reason for not applying for a pension sooner is that he was generally informed that in consequence of the loss of his discharge he could not obtain a pension unless he could procure two witnesses that served with declarant.   He says the he does not know of any witnesses that he could prove his service by:   Declarant says by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory that he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection not less than five years as a soldier under the above named officers for which he claims a pension:   He hereby relinquishes any claim what ever to a pension or an annuity Except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension Rolle of any agency in any State in the United States.

Sworn to and subscribed before me                                   his

The day and year aforesaid                                        John  x  Shivley

   B. Strother     S. Royston                                                mark

Justice of the  Peace for Bradley County

and state aforesaid

State of Tennessee

Bradley County                  B S S Royston an acting Justice of the Peace for B.C. do certify after the investigation of the matter and inquiring particularly of men of the first respectably who says that they have been acquainted with John Shivley who has sworn and subscribed to the above declaration that he is a man of good moral character and I do further certify after conversing with declarant freely my self in relation to his service as a soldier of the war of the revolution  I am clearly of the opinion that he is of the age of ninety five years as he says and that he served in the war of the revolution as he states in his declaration.  I do further certify that by reason of bodily infirmity that he is not able to be at court to make a declaration in the presence and hearing for the court this the 15^th day of October 1845.             B. Strother S. Royston

Justice of the Peace For Bradley County

State of Tennessee

Bradley County               I, John H. Robertson Clerk of the County Court in and for the County aforesaid do certify that B. Strother S. Royston Esq who’s name appears to the within declaration is now and was at the date of his signature an acting Justice of the peace for Bradley County      He was duly elected and commissioned and sworn and faith and credit is due to his official act.  Given under my hand and seal of office in Cleveland  October 18^th 1845 

John H. Robertson  Clk

State of Tennessee

Bradley County            I Benjamin Humbright Chairman and Chief presiding Justice of the peace in and for the court for the County of Bradley aforesaid do certify that John H Robertson who’s name appears to the foregoing certificate is the clerk of said County and that his certificate appears in due form of law given under my hand and seal October 18^th 1845.

Benjamin Humbright     Seal

   Chairman of the County court for Bradley County

Daniel Shively Received 160 Acres In Nebraska From The Homestead Act

     The Homestead Act was a federal law that gave an applicant up to 160 acres of undeveloped federal land.  The law required that the person file an application, improve the land, and file for a deed. The applicant had to be at least 21 years old and had to live on the land for 5 years.  The original act was signed into law in 1862.  The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 ended homesteading.

     Daniel Shively of Merrick County, Nebraska was one applicant who did receive 160 acres from the Homestead Act.  Daniel applied for the land on May 11, 1892 and was granted the acreage on April 24, 1899.  The land granted was the NW quarter of Section 20 in Township 15N of Range 6W of the 6 Principal Meridian.  

   The applicant had to satisfy the requirements and also had to provide statements from others who knew him and could verify his claim.  The publisher of the local newspaper had to prove that  notice to the witnesses had been made public.  For Daniel Shively's claim, G W Beard publisher of the Central City Nonpareil in Central City, Nebraska gave proof of the notification.  The notice ran for 6 weeks, from 16-March-1899 to 20-April-1899.  The legal notice stated "Notice for Publication, Land Office at Lincoln, NEB, March 11, 1899:  Notice is hereby given that the following named settler has filed notice of his intention to make final proof in support of his claim, and that said proof will be made before the County Judge at Central City, Neb., on April 22, 1899, viz:  Daniel Shively H. E. 18304 for the nw 1/4 sec. 20, tp. 15, range 6 W.  He names the following witnesses to prove his continuous residence upon and cultivation of said land, viz:  Henry O. Gay, of Central City, Neb.; David H. Johnston, of Central City, Neb.; Charles O. Gregg, of Central City, Neb.; Clark Newcomer, of Central City, Neb.        J. W. Johnson, Register         Documented in the archives are the testimonies of David H. Johnston and Charles O. Gregg.

    The applicant had to answer 21 questions regarding the claim.  From the questions it is learned that Daniel Shively was 36 years old (born in 1863) and had a family which consisted of a wife and one child.  He first made settlement on the land on 11-May-1892 and established a residence there on 1-October-1892.  He states part of the house was built before 1892 and the rest in the fall of 1898.  He claims improvements to the land consisting of the frame residence worth $200, graineries, corn cubs and about five acres of trees.  Daniel states he had fifty five acres of land broken and had raised corn and small grains each year.

    Daniel Shively is recorded on the 1880 Merrick County census in the household of his father, Henry Shively.  From the census report is learned: Clarksville precinct Henry Shively age 48, widowed, born in Ohio, son William B age 20 born in Indiana, daughter Rosanna age 18 born in Indiana, son Daniel age 17 born in Indiana, son George W age 14 born in Iowa, and daughter Elizabeth M age 9 born in Iowa.   It is known that Henry Shively was married 1st to Elizabeth Ann Richards who is buried in the Bureau Cemetery in Merrick County.  Henry Shively married 2nd Virginia A. Giels on 1-May-1883.

    Daniel Shively was married to Rhoda Consada "Sada" Sowl on 16-October-1895 in South Bend, Cass County, Nebraska.  He is listed on the 1900 Merrick County, Mead Township census:  Daniel Shively age 36, born April 1863 with wife Sadie R born February 1879 and son Lester F born February 1898.  Daniel and Sada Shively had at least one other son, Harold S. Shively born 1906.   Daniel, Sada and Lester are buried in the Bureau Cemetery in Merrick County, Nebraska.