Esther Whitehead Shively, Daughter Of Adam And Susannah Whitehead, And Wife Of Daniel Shively

Daniel Shively was born on 31-May-1827 in Stark County, OH and died 24-Oct-1906 in Goshen, Elkhart County, IN.  He was the son of Isaac Shively (1796-1843) and Susanna Snyder (1801-1858).  Daniel Shively married Esther Whitehead on 29-Jan-1852.  Esther was the daughter of Adam Whitehead (1803-1880) and Susan ( -1876).  Esther Whitehead was born 30-Oct-1831 and died 25-June-1910 in Elkhart County, IN.  Esther Whitehead Shively was from an old pioneer family in Elkhart County.

Two articles were located in the newspapers that give some of the history of the Whitehead family.  Located in the:

Goshen Mid-Week News-Times, Tuesday, August 29, 1905, Page 1, Column 6:

Whitehead Family Hold Big Reunion

Under The Maples Where Many Gather

Name That Has Been Connected With Elkhart County 50 Years—Jubliee At Berky Church

The Whitehead family reunion occurred Sunday on the J. M. Whitehead farm one and a half miles north of New Paris.  It was in 1833 when Adam Whitehead rode across the hills and prairies from Montgomery county, Ohio on horse back, his baggage being encased in saddle bags and his financial capital enclosed in a little leather pouch.  With the contents of his purse, tied to the leather pommel of his saddle he bought a section of land.  He went to LaPorte with the deed signed by Martin Van Buren and had it recorded.  Then he retraced his steps to Ohio and in 1836 the Whitehead colony, numbering 38, started for their new Indiana home.  They camped on the south bank of the Elkhart where the earth is now being thrown up in grading for the Goshen and Winona railroad.

A wagon filled with bed clothes and containing an old fashioned cord bedstead was overturned and John M. Whitehead and Mrs. Susan Clem, the latter now 80 years old, were mere children and were buried underneath the load. The bed cord had caught on a tree and held the wagon over the children and they were in danger of suffocating.  Valentine Whitehead cut the bed cord and pushed the wagon over and saved the children.

The next morning they left the camp and took their horses and axes and cut a road through for a mile and a half, emerging at the spot where the reunion was held yesterday.  There the first home was built.  It is now occupied by J. M. Whitehead, the only surviving son of Adam Whitehead.  Of the 38 original participants in the Whitehead settlement only four survive; Mrs. Daniel Shively of Baintertown, Mrs. Samuel R. Miller and John M. Whitehead of New Paris and Mrs. Susan Clem of Vermontville, Mich.  The assemblage represented the sixth generation of the Whitehead family, four generations being present.  Permanent organization was effected for future family reunions.  D. J. Whitehead was elected president; Daniel Riggle, secretary; George Riggle, treasurer.

There was a big basket dinner, the tables being spread in the yard under the maple trees.  Earl Juday, the Benton photographer, took the pictures.  Rev. Daniel Shively conducted religious services, 160 were present.

Goshen Democrat, Wednesday, August 30, 1905, Page 1, Column 2:

Whitehead Family Reunion

First Held On Sunday In Jackson Township

(From Monday’s Daily.)

The first reunion of the Whitehead family was held at the homestead of John M. Whitehead, one mile west of New Paris, on Sunday, Aug. 27. Since the Whiteheads are among the old settlers in this part of the state, it may be appropriate to give a few facts concerning their history.  The grandfather, Valentine Whitehead, came to Indiana from Ohio in the year 1834 and entered a section of land, which is now owned by several of the Whitehead family.  Very little of the land, comparatively, was settled in those days and Adam Whitehead, a son of the “grandfather” delivered the gold on horseback to LaPorte, coming from Ohio to pay for the land bought.  In the spring of 1836 the little settlement was re-inforced by several other families including the following:  John Whitehead, Peter Whitehead, Samuel Whitehead and Samuel R. Miller.  There were 38 in this company and they came from Montgomery county, Ohio.  The trip was made in covered wagons which was the mode of travel in those days.  Many hardships were experienced in this journey to which Mrs. Esther Shively and Mrs. Mary Miller can testify, as they nearly lost their lives.

There were about 125 present at the reunion, some of whom were:  Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Hattle, Mr. and Mrs. John Riggle, and Mrs. Jacob Riggle of Goshen; Jacob Whitehead of North Webster; Cynthia Myers of Syracuse; James Neff and family and D. W. Miller of Milford, and scores of others from the neighborhood including David Conrad and family, John Conrad, Frank Whitehead and D. J. Whitehead and wife.

A very pleasing and substantial feature of the day was that every family brought its basket of viands which were spread out on the lawn at the proper time.  Dinner was thus much enjoyed socially.  Then came the feast of good words from Daniel Shively, Alex Miller and James Neff.

The obituary for Esther Whitehead Shively was extracted from the Goshen Daily Democrat, Saturday, June 25, 1910, Page 1, Column 2:

Woman Dies Suddenly

Mrs. Esther Shively Expires While Sitting In A Chair

Mrs. Esther Shively, 79 years old and widow of Daniel Shively, died this morning while sitting in a chair at the home of her son Ira Shively on East Madison street. Death was caused by apoplexy.  Mrs. Shively had been in her usual health and there was no warning of the approaching end.  Her daughter-in-law was with her at the time of her demise.

Surviving the deceased are her son, three sisters, Mrs. John Riggle and Mrs. Jacob Riggle of Goshen and Mrs. Samuel Miller of Milford and one brother, Jacob Whitehead of New Paris.  Funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 2 o’clock p.m. at the Baintertown church, where burial is to take place.