George W. Shively From Macon County, Illinois

George W. Shively was born in Ohio and died in Macon County Illinois on 30-Dec-1939.  He was married in Macon County on 1-Jan-1863 to Elizabeth Wright.  Elizabeth passed away on July 30, 1909 and was buried in Boiling Springs Cemetery.  George was married to Mrs. Anna Marie (Peage) of St. Louis in May 1911.  Children born to George W. Shively and Elizabeth Wright included:

Howard W Shively born 1862 died 1864; Emery born about 1866 died about 1936 who married Mattie King on 5-Jan-1887 in Macon County, IL;  Clara born about 1869 who married Theodore Ebert; Olepha born 1870 died 1879; and Claude born about 1874 died 1957 who married Lizzie L. Elder on 20-Dec-1894 in Macon County, IL.  More information on this  family can be gleaned from the newspaper obituaries for George W Shively and his wives. (There seems to be conflicting information from the records as to the year of birth for George W Shively.  From the 1900 census record he is listed as being born in May 1844.  From the other census records the age that is listed is consistent with a birth year as 1844.  From the newspaper obits one would believe he was born about 1840).

From The Decatur Review, Saturday, December 30, 1939, page 10:

George Shively County's Oldest Man Dies At 99

George W Shively the eldest man in Macon County and for many years a prominent farmer and stock raiser, died at 3am today in his home in South Wheatland township.  He would have been 100 years old on Jan 1.

Eighty years ago Mr. Shively drove into the settlement of Decatur in a covered wagon and decided to make his home nearby.  He settled on Stevens Creek west of the town and lived there and near Harristown until 1869.

Land was cheap in those days and with a small savings he bought a large farm in South Wheatland township, southwest of Elwin, which had been his home for the last 70 years.

Until three weeks ago Mr. Shively was active, came to Decatur frequently and took an interest in the operations of his farm.amilton

He was married to Elizabeth Wright in Harristown on Jan. 1, 1861.  She died  in July 1909.

In May 1911 Mr. Shively at the age of 71 years was married to Mrs. A. Marie (Peage) of St. Louis.  The marriage performed in St. Louis was kept secret until the couple returned to Decatur.

Mr. Shively had been a member of the Methodist church  at Elwin since 1874.

He leaves a daughter, Mrs. Clara Ebert of Los Angeles, Calif. and a son, C B "Bert" Shively, rural route 2, Macon.  There are five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held in the Dawson & Wikoff Chapel at 2pm Monday.  The burial will be in the Boiling Springs cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home.

From The Decatur Review, Saturday Evening, July 31, 1909, Page 8, Column 6:

Mrs. Shively Dies In South Wheatland

She Was Mother of E. O. Shively, Assistant Master Mechanic

Mrs. Elizabeth Shively, wife of G. W. Shively, a wealthy and prominent farmer of South Wheatland township, died at the family home, one and one-half miles from Elwin, Friday night about 11:30 o'clock.  Death was the result of asthma, from which Mrs. Shively had suffered many years, and an attack of lung fever.

The end came very suddenly.  During the afternoon Mrs. Shively had been around the house, apparently as well and active as ever.  About 11:20 o'clock she complained of shortness of breath.  The end came five minutes later.

Leaves Three Children

Mrs. Shively is survived by her husband and three children.  The children are Emery O Shively, assistant master mechanic for the Wabash at Decatur, Mrs. Clara Ebert of Elwin, and Claude B. Shively, 956 North College street.  Two children, Howard Wilson and Olivia, died in infancy, while a daughter, Mrs. Charlotte Bridewell, mother of William Bridewell of Decatur, died a month ago.

Born In Canada

Mrs. Shively's maiden name was Elizabeth Wright.  She was born in Hamilton Can., March 25, 1846, and came to Illinois with her parents in 1858 .  On Jan. 1, 1863 she was married to George W. Shively and they went to housekeeping near Harristown.   The same year she joined the Methodist church there and was a most devoted Methodist up to the time of her death.  In 1869 the Shivelys moved to their present farm near Elwin.

The funeral is to be held from the residence at 12:30 pm Monday and the interment will be at the Boiling Springs cemetery.

The following is the newspaper obit for Anna Shively, second wife of George W. Shively.  Note the newspaper error in identifying her as the wife of W. S. Shively. From The Decatur Review, Tuesday Evening, August 24, 1920, Page 12, Column 7:

Mrs. W. S. Shively Dies At Age Of 64

Had Been Ill for Last Three Months

Mrs. Anna Shively, wife of W. S. Shively, 311 East Center street, died at 4:45 o'clock Tuesday morning at St. Marys hospital.  She was sixty-four years old.  Her death was caused by a complication of diseases after an illness of three months.

Mrs. Shively was born in Sidney, Ill but had been a resident of Decatur for the last twenty-five years.  She was widely known and had a host of friends.  Mrs. Shively was a member of the First Methodist church.  She is survived by her husband and three daughters, Mrs. J. Frank Morehead and Mrs. Charles J. Warner bo.th of St. Louis and Mrs. Walter Nims of Los Angeles, Cal. all of whom were with her during her last illness.

The body was removed to the Brintlinger & Sons undertaking establishment and prepared for burial and friends may call there Thursday.

The funeral will be held at 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the Brintlinger & Sons chapel. The interment will be in the Boiling Springs cemetery.

Yvette Shively Of Astoria, Clatsop County, Oregon

Yvette Shively

Found in The Denver Post, Friday, February 23, 1906, Page 6, Columns 2-3:

Heiress From Oregon On Vaudeville Stage

Yvette Shively of Astoria, Now Appearing at the Orpheum, Makes a Hit With Her Good Voice and Pleasing Appearance

The daughter of a prominent pioneer family of Oregon, Miss Yvette Shively a youthful singer, is appearing this week at the Orpheum, and though the young woman is an heiress in her own right, the adventurous blood of her ancestors leads her to seek fame upon the stage.

Miss Shively is known to the vaudeville world as the "Pride of Astoria," the title of her turn, and an appropriate title it is.

Astoria, Ore., is the home of the Shively family. John M. Shively, grandfather of Miss Yvette Shively, opened the first United States postoffice west of the Rocky mountains in October, 1847, at Astoria.  He brought with him the first mail that came west of the range.

This historic consignment of mail was delivered to him at Independence, Mo., April 27, 1847, by Col. Sterling Price, then commanding officer at Santa Fe, N.M., and was brought to Oregon by Shively himself.  Mr. Shively received his commission from Postmaster General Cave Johnson.  The building occupied by this pioneer postoffice still stands in Astoria and is occupied by a great aunt of Miss Yvette Shively.

Miss Shively's father, C. W. Shively, made the first steamboat trip ever taken on the Columbia river, in 1861.

At the death of her grandfather, Miss Shively's father was left $200,000, the young woman receiving a generous share of it.  But she was not contented to settle down to life in an Oregon town, and after spending a few years in the cultivation of her voice, appeared in vaudeville.

Besides her wonderful voice, Miss Shively has an excellent figure and a pretty face.  Because of her typically Western beauty she was chosen as a model for the noted picture, "The Western Girl," the work of a San Francisco artist.

The Evening News, San Jose, California, Tuesday, March 27, 1906, Page 5, Column 5:

Fortune Inherited By Actress

Louisville, Ky., March 27 -- Miss Yvette Shiveley, a vaudeville actress, who is in Louisville this week, has just come into an inheritance of over $100,000.  Next Saturday she will leave for her home in Portland, Ore.

Rare experiences have come to her in the past eight weeks.  Scolded because she had spent her allowances on the races, she ran away from Mills Seminary at Oakland, Cal. and joined the first theatrical company she found, which happened to be a burlesque, in which she reigned as the star for three weeks.

"I suppose I have been spoiled by the extravagance of my parents," she said, "and then some of us girls began to bet on the races.  When my father learned about it he reprimanded me, and I decided to leave school.  They did not know for some time that I had left, and they cut off my allowance.  About a month ago they sent the money to return, but I spent it."

"Now they have sent me a ticket and I am going to start home immediately after the performance on Saturday night.  I did not know what burlesque was, or I would never have gone into it;  but it was the first opportunity that presented.  If I ever do anything on the stage again it will be in the legitimate.  Yes, it is true that I have come into a fortune."

Posie Luster Shively And Wife, Sara Frances Bridges, Of Franklin County, Virginia

The unique name of this Shively male caught my attention.  The story connected with Posie (Posey) Luster Shively may not be the most pleasant but it is still great family history.

Posie Luster Shively was born on November 14, 1889 in Franklin County, Virginia. He was the son of John Edward Shively and wife Ruth A. Sigmon.  Posie was married to Sara Frances Bridges in Franklin County, VIrginia on 22-Oct-1908. Sara was the daughter of Harvey James and Lillie Naomi Bridges.  Children of Posie and Sara Shively included:  Alice born 24-Jul-1909 died July 1986 in Roanoke County, Virginia and married to Tonkery Washington Slone; Alma born ca 1912; Morgan William born 22-Apr-1915 died 28-Mar-1967 and married to Hazel Louise Eanes; Bessie Inez born 1-Apr-1967 died 6-Jan-1967 and married to Henry James Sigmon; Muriel born 7-Jan-1920 died 6-Jul-2005 and married to Charlie Thomas Parrott; Kermit born about 1922.

From the history recorded in the newspaper events it appears there were problems between Posie Shively and his brother-in-law Lewis Bridges.  The following information was extracted from:

The Bee, Danville, Virginia, Monday Afternoon, September 11, 1922, Page 1, Column 1:

Dual Homicide In Franklin Co.

Family Fued Terminates In Fight In Road

Lewis Bridge and Daughter Cut by Brother—Lacy

Shoots Him Dead.  Also His Brother-in-Law Near Callaway.

Rocky Mount, VA., Sept. 11 --  Franklin County yesterday was shocked by a terrible crime when it became known that Lewis Bridges, a prominent citizen of this place and a man of high character, had surrendered to the authorities on the charge of killing his brother, Lacy Bridges, and his brother-in-law, Posey Shively, at Jamison Mill, on the public road near Callaway, this county on Saturday evening.

According to the accused man’s version, the killing was in self-defense and was impelled when the two men appeared and after having savagely attacked him with a knife, cutting him and then inflicted serious wounds on Helen Lewis, his sixteen year old daughter, who was with him.  Lewis Bridges drew his revolver and shot and killed both men without further compunction.

Bridges came to Rocky  (continued on Page Three)

(Page 3)  Mount yesterday and placed his affairs in the hands of H. N. Dillard. The cause of the shooting as understood here was a long standing grudge between the men which will be developed at the trial.

Lewis Bridges has not been arrested.    He was reported today at his home, having expressed willingness to appear in court whenever his presence is needed.  No warrant has been issued against him.

It is proposed to call a special grand jury to make an enquiry into the shooting, this to be held on Friday.

According to Bridges, his brother and brother-in-law waited for him in the road and attacked him without provocation.  One of them hit him on the head with a rock and made an ugly wound.  He was also cut as was his little daughter who was with him.  In the shooting affray both Shively and Bridges were instantly killed, their bodies being found in the road.

It is reported that the grudge which the two men held against Lewis Bridges was that he would not associate with them, and had for several years been somewhat distant toward them.

Lawrence Shivley And Wife, Hannah Pierce From Rock County, Wisconsin

Photo By Jenean Hamilton

From the History Of Rock County, Wisconsin, Western Historical Co., Chicago, IL, 1879, page 867:  LAWRENCE SHIVLEY, farmer, Sec. 17; P.O. Evansville; born in Pennsylvania March 6, 1824; went to Ohio in 1834, and came to Wisconsin 1848, locating in Mount Pleasant, Green Co., where he engaged in farming.  His whole possessions, when he arrived in Wisconsin, were a wife and 50 cents in money.  In 1867, he removed to Evansville, where he engaged in the business of stock broker, and grain and produce dealer, until 1872, when he moved to his farm in Union Township, where he has since remained.  He married, in Mahoning Co., Ohio, July 3, 1848, Miss Hannah Pierce, a native of Ohio; he has three children living - lost five.  He is the owner of 200 acres of land in Union Township, and 160 acres in Green Co.

The Ohio death certificate for Lawrence Shivley lists his parents as George Shivley and Susanah Best.  He is buried in Maple Hill Cemetery, Evansville, Rock County, Wisconsin. From multiple sources the following information was established for the family of Lawrence Shivley and Hannah Pierce.  Lawrence Shivley (also spelled Shively and Shiveley in the records) was born 7-Mar-1824 and died on 31-May-1906 Rock County, WI.  His wife Hannah Pierce was born 1-June-1831 and died 3-Mar-1916 in Rock County, WI.  Their children were:  Susan E. born 7-May-1849 and died 23-Mar-1865, buried in Maple Hill Cem; Ellen born 27-Jul-1851, died 12-Sep-1880, and married Edward W. Patterson; Sadie P. born 25-Apr-1854 and died 3-Sep-1857; Joseph H. born 22-Jul-1856, died 4-June-1917, and married to Delia Bridget Lamb; George W. born 8-Jan-1858 and died 27-Fe-1861; Catharine born 9-Nov-1861 and died 20-Feb-1862; John T. born 19-Jul-1864 and died 27-Mar-1865; Frank Lawrence born 7-Dec-1866, died 25-Jun-1894, and married to Agnes West.

In the Janesville Daily Gazette, Janesville, WI, Friday June 1, 1906, Page 5, Column 3 is the following obituary:                              Lawrence Shivley

(Special To The Gazette)     Evansville. June 1.---Lawrence Shivley died this morning at his home in this city.  Two weeks ago he suffered a paralytic stroke and never rallied.  He was born in Pennsylvania March 7, 1824, and came west when ten years old, coming to Wisconsin in 1848 and locating in Green county.  In 1867 he moved to Evansville and engaged in grain and produce business, since which he made his home here.  He was married to Miss Hannah Pierce in Ohio in July, 1848.  The widow and one son are left to mourn his loss.  The funeral services will be held Sunday at two o'clock under the auspices of the Masons.

In the Janesville Daily Gazette, Janesville, WI, Saturday, March 4, 1916, Page 5, Column 6 is the following obituary:                 Evansville Lady Dies Last Night

Mrs. Lauren Shively Passed Away at Age of Eighty-five Years--Old

Resident of County

(Special To The Gazette)     Evansville. March 4.---Mrs. Lauren Shively, eight-five years of age, and old resident of this city and vicinity, passed away here last evening, her illness being a complication of diseases and the infirmities of advanced age.  Mrs. Shively is survived by one son, Joseph, and a sister, Mrs. Mellissa Badlwin of St. Louis, Mich.  The funeral is to be held on Sunday afternoon at two o'clock at the home, Prof. Crawford of Beloit College and also of the Congregational church of Beloit, officiating.  Interment will be made here.

Mrs. Shively was a native of Ohio.  Thirty-eight years ago she came to Rock county and settled near Evansville.   For the past twelve years she has made her home here.  Her maiden name was Hannah Pierce and she was married to Mr. Shively shortly after coming to Rock county.  He preceded her to the land beyond ten years ago.

Joseph H. Shively, Son Of John B. Shively And Sarah Heaverin

Wabash Valley Gen Soc Cem Com

Genealogy information has been collected and shared on the children of John B. Shively and wife Sarah Heaverin except for son Joseph H. Shively.  After doing research there are records for him that were found.  He lived in many different places which  contributed to making the research on him more difficult.

Joseph H. Shively was born on 17-Nov-1844 in Taylor County, KY and died on 29-Sep-1917 at the National Home For Disabled Volunteer Soliders in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio.  He was buried in Calvary Cemetery, Terre Haute, Vigo County, IN.  (The above picture of his tombstone is a result of one of the many volunteers who contribute their time and photos to Find A Grave).

From information collected following is a time line for the areas where Joseph Shively lived:

Mannsville, Taylor County, KY to August 1865

Colfax, Jasper County, IA to 1872

Shelby County, IA to 1883

Brookville, Jefferson County, IA to 1887

Shelby County, IA to 1890

Lake Arthur, Jefferson Davis Parish, LA to 1892

Bowling Green, Warren County, KY to 1901

Admitted to US National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in 1901 (He may have entered the home in Danville, Vermillon County, IL and later transferred to the home in Dayton, Montgomery County, OH).

Joseph H. Shively was married 1st in Jasper County, IA on 7-Feb-1866 to Nancy Elizabeth Shipp. From research it is believed that she was the daughter of Albert Shipp and Mahala Pile.  Nancy Elizabeth Shipp was born ca 1848 and died 17-Jan-1874.  She is buried in the Greencastle Cemetery in Jasper County, IA.   Joseph and Nancy Elizabeth had 3 daughters: Corda Mae Shively born 14-Feb-1868 died 15-Nov-1907 and married to David Barton Penniman; Alma D Shively born 28-Apr-1870 died 20-Sep-1871 and buried in Greencastle Cemetery in Jasper County, IA;  Gertrude Shively born ca 1872 and married to Lowell H. Jones.   After the death of their mother in 1874 Corda Mae and Gertrude Shively lived in the household of John and Agnes Gochenour.

Joseph H. Shively married 2nd in Shelby County, IA on 2-April-1876 to Elnora E. Simpson, daughter of William Ward Simpson and Julia Ann Gregoire.  Elnora was born ca 1855 died 27-Nov-1915 and is buried in Calvary Cemetery, Terre Haute, Vigo County, IN.    They were the parents of two children:  Claude Houston Shively born 19-Feb-1876 and who is located census records in the state of AZ;  Helen A Shively born 1-Sep-1880 died 17-Aug-1957 Columbus, Franklin County, OH and married to Albertus Lafferty.

From the census records it appears Joseph H. Shively had different professions.  In 1870 in Jasper County, IA he is listed as a farmer.  In 1880 in Shelby County, IA he is listed as postmaster.  Interesting note that on the 1880 Shelby County census records he is the enumerator.  In 1900 he is listed in Warren County, KY as a hotel keeper.    From the admission records to the soliders home his occupation is listed as a telegraph operator.  

Wabash Valley Gen Soc Cem Soc

Joseph H. Shively did serve in the Civil War in Company H, 10th KY Infantry with his brothers, William Thomas, Stephen Mitchell, David Alexander, and Samuel (who was killed in the war and is buried in the Old St. Francis deSales Cem. in Taylor County, KY). Joseph Shively does have a Civil War pension which was obtained from the National Archives.

Joseph Shively and second wife, Elnora E., are buried in the  Calvary Cemetery, Terre Haute, Vigo County, IN.

Corda Mae Shively, Wife of David Barton Penniman, Who Lived In Winnebago County, Illinois

Photo Credit To Phyllis Wallington

Corda Mae Shively was born in Iowa on 14-Feb-1868, the daughter of Joseph H. Shively and first wife Nancy Elizabeth Shipp. Her grandparents were John B. Shively and Sarah Heaverin from Taylor County, KY. Corda Mae Shively had two sisters, Alma D. Shively who died young and Gertrude Shively who married Lowell H. Jones. Their mother, Nancy Elizabeth, died on 17-Jan-1874 and after her death they lived with John and Agnes Gochenour. Joseph Shively married second to Elnora E. Simpson and by this marriage Corda Mae Shively had a half-brother Claude Houston Shively and half-sister Helen A. Shively who married Albertus Lafferty.   Corda Mae Shively was married to David Barton Penniman on 13-Sep-1893 in Shelby County, IA.  She died on 15-Nov-1907 in the community of Argyle, IL and buried in the Willow Creek Cemetery. Willow Creek Cemetery is known by other names, one being the Scottish Cemetery, and lies in both Winnebago and Boone County, IL.

Death notices for Corda Mae Shively Penniman were located in the newspapers.  The following was extracted from The Rockford Daily Republic, Rockford, IL, Friday Evening, November 15, 1907, Page 1, Column 6:

Death Of Doctor Penniman's Wife

Wife Of Argyle Physician Dies This Morning -- Leaves Two Children

Mrs. D. B. Penniman, wife of Dr. David B. Penniman, who has practiced in Argyle and Harlem since 1893, died at her home in Argyle this morning.  The funeral arrangements have not yet been made.  Mrs. Penniman was Miss Corda Shively of Shelby, Iowa.  Her father was a veteran in the Civil War, a member of the Kentucky volunteers.  Two children, Lawrence W. and Alford, survive.  She was a member of the Willow Creek Presbyterian Church.  The husband is a Mason and belongs to the M. W. A. and Mystic Workers.

The following obituary was located in The Rockford Morning Star, Thursday, November 21, 1907, Page 7, Column 2:

Obituary

Death Of Mrs. D.  B. Penniman Removed Lovable Woman From Earth

Corda Mae Shively, wife of Dr. D. B. Penniman, was born near Avoca, Iowa, Feb. 14, 1868.  Her mother died when she was 6 years old.  She was adopted, with her sister Gertrude, by Mr. and Mrs. John Gochenour of Shelby, Iowa.  She always spoke of Mrs. Gochenour as mother and loved her as much as she could an own mother.  She made her home with her foster parents at Shelby, Iowa, until the time of her marriage with Dr. D. B. Penniman, which occurred Sept. 13, 1893.  Soon after their marriage they came to Argyle, which was her home until the time of her death.  She attended Oberlin college in 1889, where she first met her future husband, who was then a student at the same college.  She leaves to mourn her loss her husband, two sons, Lawrence age 12, and Alford, age 5; her father, J. H. Shively of Dayton, Ohio; her foster mother; her sisters, Mrs. Gertrude Jones of Ida Grove, Iowa, and Mrs. Helen Lafferty, of Lancaster, Ohio, and a brother, Claude Shively, of Santa Monica, California.

She was buried in Willow Creek cemetery, near Argyle, November 17th.  Such is a brief statement of the outstanding facts of the life that to us seems to have come to an untimely end November 15th.  But it does not tell the complete story of the exceptionally sweet and beautiful life that she lived.  Indeed that story can never be told this side of heaven.

Fourteen years ago she came as a young bride and a total stranger to take the delicate and responsible place of the physician's wife in the Scotch settlement and surrounding neighborhoods.  How well she filled that place was very touchingly told by the hundreds who came to express their love and respect on the day of her interment.  The silent tears that fell from many eyes bore eloquent testimony of the high esteem and respect in which she was held.

The virtues that adorned her life were such as to command the love and respect of all.  She possessed an unusually equable and cheerful temperament.  Seldom has it been our lot to know one who lived so constantly in the high attitude of perpetual sunshine and good cheer.  In poor health for many years, often an intense sufferer, she put these things in the background, and faced the world and her duty with a smile and a song.  She stifled pain and gave the world a song instead of a groan.  She was utterly unselfish.  Her first thought was not of self, but for the comfort and happiness of others.  And the thousand kindnesses bestowed, on all classes alike, all of which were born out of a heart that beat in sympathy for all, will leave her memory doubly sacred to all who knew her.  Often she did more than her strength would warrant, but she found such supreme pleasure in the bestowal of kindness that those  who loved her best had not the heart to interfere.

She was passionately fond of music and was blessed with a beautiful soprano voice.  Perhaps one of the most pathetic things in her life was the fact that in the last years she was so largely prevented from using her voice by reason of throat trouble.  Often as she heard others sing have we seen her face and eyes tell of the hunger of the soul, to find its expression in song.  Often have we heard her tell of her deep regret that she could not do so.

She was a devoted Christian and loyal member of Willow Creek Presbyterian church Missionary society.  She did her life work with Christian fortitude and heroism and sadly will she be missed.

She will be missed by her husband, by whose side she stood and gave to him her best self in sharing with him the anxious toll involved in a practice that meant a travel of more than 9,000 miles a year. She will be missed by the two little lads who are left motherless just as their feet are entering life's rugged way.  She will be missed by the large circle of friends who knew and loved her so well.  But her work on earth is done.  In the holy hush of the Sabbath afternoon a procession a mile and a half in length followed her to the silent city of the dead, where all that was mortal was laid tenderly in the bosom of mother earth, beside her infant daughter, there to await the morning of the resurrection.  The day was one of rare beauty, but a plantive minor tone of melancholy touched our hearts.  Was not all nature dying with her?  The flowers had faded; the grass was brown and withered; the trees giant and naked.  But we know that the flowers will bloom again; that in the coming springtime the earth will be carpeted once more with green, and the trees will be covered with leaves.  Even so faith whispers to us in the night of death that our loved ones shall live again in another world.

CARD OF THANKS

To those friends and neighbors who manifested such sincere sympathy in our late sorrow we desire to extend our heartfelt thanks.      Dr. D. B. Penneman and Family

William Beaser Shively And Wife, Caroline Gould, Who Lived In Shively, Humboldt County, California

While researching for other Shivelys who "went west" articles relating to the family of William Beaser Shively were discovered.  In the articles it mentions that Shively, California was founded by William B. Shively.   After extracting the information on the census records it was discovered that William B. Shively was a brother to John Shively of Montana.  John Shively was the subject of last weeks blog. Another brother, Alexander P Shively, is located on the 1880 White Pine County, Nevada  and1900 Elko County, Nevada census records. Their brother, James Shively, is found on the 1870 Box Elder County, Utah census records.

The parents of William B. Shively were located on the 1850 Jefferson County, Ohio, city of Steubenville census.  In the household are Daniel Shively age 49 born in PA, wife Elizabeth age 44 born in VA,  son William B. age 21 born in OH occupation coach maker, son James S age 18 born in OH, son John age 15 born in OH, son Alexander P age 10 born in OH, and daughter Sarah E. age 3 born in OH.  Also listed in the household are the following men all listed with the occupation of weaver:  David Michel age 40 born in Scotland, Robert Main age 28 born in Scotland, James Whitelman age 24 born in Scotland, Robert Chambers age 40 born in England.  One last entry in the household is Stephen Cooper, age 21 born in OH who is listed with the occupation of plasterer.

A newspaper article was located in The Humboldt Times, Eureka, California, Sunday, February 6, 1949:        Shively--A Man Said It Was Paradise

Pioneer's Vision Will Be Realized If Bridge Is Built

By Chet Schwarzkopf,  Photos By Dick Ryan

Shively is a secluded community, some 40 miles south of Eureka.  No better description of its setting can be made than to quote its original discoverer, William Shively, who called it "Paradise".  Shively is not on Highway 101, although you must go by that route most of the way to get there.  Shively is separated from the rush of traffic on Redwood Highway by Eel river, hence its seclusion - which is one of its most delightful features - and one of its perennial headaches.

For the great sweep of Eel river skirts the plateau upon which Shively stands and, with its towering stand of redwood timber, gives the town a boundary more definite than any man-made line.  The headache part of it comes when that boundary goes on flood and takes out the temporary bridge which links a population of 250 to the highway...............

How Shively Started

Back in the early 1860's William B. Shively came to California from the mid-west and settled in what is now Rio Dell--in fact, he at one time owned most of that town's area.  Bill Shively got along well with people, whether Indians or white, and quickly became prominent in the newly settled community.

In due time, he met and married Carrie Gould Winemiller, a young widow with two sons, Francis and Charles, who herself was a member of the pioneer Gould family of Humboldt.  Six children were born to them--Abbie, Dan, Lilly, William, Ernest and Maud.  Of the original family, Abbie alone survives.  She is Mrs. Abbie Edwards, of Rio Dell, a wide-awake lady in her eighties who enjoys reminiscing on early days in Humboldt.

"The Indians burned us out once at Rio Dell," Mrs. Edwards said. "But you can't blame them for not wanting outsiders moving in."  Her eyes twinkle.  "In fact, I hear that even now days when so many new people are coming into Humboldt.  It's only human.  But father made his peace with them and raised two Indian boys, Budds and Ben, after most of the tribe had moved to the reservation at Hoopa".

It was while on a hunting and fishing trip upriver with Budds and Ben, in 1869, that Bill Shively first set eyes upon his future town, according to Mrs. Verna Holmes, of Pepperwood, who is a daughter of one of the Winemiller sons.  "Grandfather was greatly impressed, as anyone is today who looks at the location", Mrs. Holmes said.  "It was swarming with all kinds of wild game--deer, elk, bear and birds.  He was the first white man to see the place.  When he came home, he told grandmother 'I have found Paradise.  We will move there'".

Grandmother Shively objected at first, for Rio Dell was home, but finally consented when Bill promised to bring her back to Rio Dell after they had proved up on the place.  But when that time came Carrie Shively had changed her mind.  "We won't go home", she said.  "This place is home now".

It must have been a heroic undertaking for a man to move a wife and four small children--for Abbie and Dan were born by then--into an unknown wilderness with limited transportation of those days.  But Bill Shively did, and he built the first log cabin in his new town-to-be.  The Indians were still hostile up there, and for several years the Shivelys and subsequent settlers did not dare light their houses at night until all blinds were pulled and the premises as thoroughly blacked out as in modern warfare.

The years went by.  Bill Shively had brought a number of other families into the town, and had planted a fine fruit orchard on his farm.  The amazingly fertile river-silt soil produced anything that would grow in temperate zones, and the families prospered.  To this day, Shively is noted for its truck gardens and apples, pears, and cherries.  Even a willow riding switch, planted in the Shively front yard, grew into a great tree under which church services and picnics were held.  So it was natural for the children, as they grew up, to start farms of their own on the Shively holdings.  

Latter Days In Shively

About the turn of the century Bill Shively sold his extensive timber holdings to The Pacific Lumber Company--the giant that was growing in Scotia--and the railroad was built into town.  Then began the community's heyday........

The following newpaper obituary was located in The Humboldt Standard, August 15, 1894:

A Pioneer Gone

Death Of Wm. B. Shively At Pepperwood, Monday

He was One of the Earliest Settlers of Humboldt County

News was received here yesterday of the death of Wm. B. Shively, of Pepperwood, which occurred at that place on Monday, after a short illness of inflamation of the bowels.  W. H. Johnston and David Gordon, of this place, left this morning to attend the funeral, which took place at 1 o'clock this afternoon.

Mr. Shively was an old-timer in Humboldt County.  Over forty years ago, with several pioneers, he was engaged in mining in Weaverville, Trinity county, and in the early fifties came to Humboldt, where he has ever since made his home.  He raised a family and drew about him a host of warm friends by his big-heartedness and his gentlemenly conduct.  He was always known as a hard working man and kept the bright side of life in view.  Many years ago his faithful wife died and today he was laid to rest by her side.  He leaves several grown children.  Mr. Shively owned at the time of his death a very pretty place in Pepperwood and his many friends were always welcome to his home.  Deceased was a native of Ohio and was sixty-five years of age.