Peter L Shively Who Lived In Henry County And Wells County, Indiana

Peter L Shively
From Album Of Dennis/Nancy Shively

Our genealogy is enhanced when we can find pictures or personal items of our ancestors.  Dennis and Nancy Shively who live in Oklahoma were very fortunate to have kind people share photo albums which contained the ancestors of Dennis.  One of these ancestors was Peter L. Shively. In a New Castle, Henry County, Indiana newspaper a letter written in 1884 by Peter Shively was shared with the readers.  Peter had recently moved from Henry County to Wells County, Indiana.

The New Castle Courier, Friday, February 15, 1884, Page 8, Column 5:

Wells County

Peter L. Shively’s New Home and How He Likes It

As some of my friends might care to know of my whereabouts and surroundings, I ask to communicate with them through the columns of the Courier.  I was born and raised in the vicinity of New Castle, and moved to this neighborhood last October, the first move I ever made; not a very long one either, but far enough away to break up old associations and require the formation of new friendships and acquaintances.  I find the people here very cleaver and sociable, and am well pleased in that respect.

The country is level and requires a great deal of ditching, which is being done as rapidly as practicable. Wheat and corn gave short yields last year. A large amount of Kansas corn was shipped in for seed, and it is safe to say that no more such corn is wanted.  Its yield reminds those who planted it of the Illinois farmer who felt moved to exclaim:  “Jesus my all to heaven is gone, I have the fodder, but where’s my corn.”

The failure of last year appears to be stimulating the farmers’ energies if not to their stock, and an immense amount of tiling will be laid this spring.  Great efforts will me made to get in a full crop.

Last fall some of my friends said to me, “You are not going to the Wells county swamps.” “Why not.” I was raised in the swamps of Henry county, and being a kind of swamp owl, would feel lost on high land.  Wells county is behind Henry county in some respects.  If we had gravel here as Henry county has Wells county would equal Henry in a few years.  We have a few pikes, but they are expensive, the Bluffton & Salimore pike, for instance, costing $2,700 per mile.  All of our pikes are free.

The price of land ranges from $20 to $60 per acre, the average price being $40 to $45, and much offering.  The country is being cleared rapidly; logging and wood chopping is the order of the day.  One man, Amos Hassour, the station agent, has shipped over 2000 cords of wood to Ft. Wayne, besides a big lot of bolt timber to Bluffton, all from this station.  Poneto, which is located about thirty miles south of Ft. Wayne and is made up about as follows. Two general stores with drug store attachments, they say, a white rat in the cellar; two groceries, one smithshop, express and telegraph office, and one doctor, who complains of nothing to do and spends his leisure time shooting at a mark, or a chicken, at a nickel a shot.

I can be found if wanted one-half mile north and one mile east of Poneto, where the latch-string hangs out to old friends.

                                                                                                 P. L. Shively

Poneto, Ind., Feb. 7, 1884

Philip Shively and Abigail Back who resided in Monongalia County, West Virginia were the grandparents of Michael Shively who lived in Henry County, Indiana. Michael Shively was born 1807 and died 22-April-1900 in Delaware County, IN.   Michael’s parents were Michael Shively and Catherine Toothman and it is most probable that from records they were not married. Two Shively researchers, Venita Foster and Pat Douglas, shared information many years ago in regards to this issue.  From the Monongalia County Court Minutes the child, Michael, was bound to his grandfather, Philip Shively and then in later records to Michael Toothman (possibly Catherine’s father). In the New Castle Democrat Weekly, May 11, 1900 the newspaper obit for Michael mentions in early boyhood he went to Hamilton County, Ohio, making his home with an uncle, Mr. Cameron. Michael was married 1^st in 1832 in Hamilton County, OH to Keziah LaBoyteaux.  Keziah died on 12-Nov-1860.  He married 2^nd on 12-Apr-1862 in Henry County to Amanda Baughn who died on 29-Mar-1878.  Michael married 3^rd on 3-Feb-1880 in Henry County to Mrs. Elizabeth Sweigart who died on 4-Jan-1884.  Michael is found on the 1850 through 1870 census records in Henry County, IN, Henry Township.  In 1880 he is in Liberty Township.  Michael is buried in Batson Cemetery, Liberty Township.  The cemetery is located on CR #500E, about 1/2 mile south of SR #38.  The cemetery was set aside as a neighborhood burial grounds in 1844 by Thomas Batson.  Also buried here are 1^st wife Keziah and 2^nd wife Amanda. His children included:  Catharine born ca. 1833, Peter born  ca. 1834, Daniel born ca. 1838, David born ca. 1841, Naomi born ca. 1843, Mary Ann born ca. 1848, Adaline born ca. 1854.

The following information is known about the children of Michael Shively (born ca. 1807). Catherine married Franklin Roof on 23-Mar-1854, Henry Co. and died 6-Aug-1918 in Poneto, Wells County, IN.  Peter married 1st Martha Ann and married 2nd on 15-Mar-1871 in Henry Co. to Susannah Stretch.  Daniel married on 6-Aug-1854 in Henry Co. to Ann Trowbridge.  David died 3-Jan-1905 and married on 10-Jan-1867 in Henry Co. to Jane E Moore.  Naomi died 3-Jan-1914 in Henry Co. Mary Ann was married 30-Dec-1869 in Henry Co. to William May. Adaline was married on 2-Mar-1871 in Henry Co. to George W. Runyon.

William Thomas Shively And Wife, Mary Ann Thomas, Who Lived In Sangamon County, Illinois

William Thomas Shively was born 20-May-1856 in Grayson County, Kentucky and died 18-Mar-1947 In Divernon, Sangamon County, Illinois.  He was the son of Stephen A. Shively (1803-1895) and Elizabeth Abell.  Stephen A. Shively was the son of Jacob Shively (1772-1851) and Sophia Davis who lived in Taylor County, Kentucky.  

William Thomas Shively married Mary Ann Thomas who was born 18-Aug-1861 and died 5-May-1931 in Sangamon County, IL.  The family of William Shively is listed on the 1900 Pawnee Township, Sangamon County, IL census as William Shiveley born May 1856 age 44 and married 21 years, wife Mary A born Aug 1861, daughter Fannie B born 1880, and daughter Virgie born Sep-1886.  Listed on the 1910 Divernon Village, Sangamon County, IL cenus is Thomas Shively age 53, wife Mary age 48, daughter Virgie Neeson age 24, son-in-law Richard Neeson, Sr age 29 and grandson Richard Neeson, Jr age 2yr 3 months.  William Shively is found on the 1920, 1930 and 1940 Sangamon County census records in the household with his daughter, Virgina Shively Neeson.

William Thomas Shively and his son-in-law, Richard Neeson, were funeral directors in Divernon, IL.  An article extracted from the Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL, Friday, July 8, 1938, Page 6, Column 4:

Render Able Dignified Service

Shively And Neeson Funeral Home Has Long Served Divernon Area

The profession of funeral directors is one of the most essential services in any district and it is a service that must be rendered by people well versed in all the details of the profession.  Funeral services an only be correctly handled by persons of experience who have a natural aptitude to grasp the case of each individual.

For many years the Shively and Neeson funeral home has served the people of Divernon and adjacent towns and rural districts.  It is an institution that has taken honest pride in the commendation of the families whom they have served. Their services have been arranged so as to sufficiently meet the immediate needs of each and every case.  The personnel of the organization is composed of local people who have had years of experience in the profession; people whom one can depend upon to handle all matters in the most highly satisfactory manner.

The equipment of the Shively and Neeson funeral home is most complete.  Night and day ambulance service to any part of that region is maintained and a lady attendant is on duty at all times.  

We believe that Richard "Dick" Neeson, the owner, and all of the employes of this local home-owned institution deserve much commendation upon the dignified and distinctive service that they have rendered and are rendering their community.  

Extracted from the Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL, Wednesday, May 20, 1942, Page 4, Column 1:

Thomas Shively To Mark Birthday

Divernon Man Will Be 86 Years Old Today

Thomas Shively, Divernon, who has been a resident of Illinois since 1857, will celebrate his eighty-sixth birthday anniversary today.  He came to Illinois with his parents from Kentucky.  He lived in Pawnee until 1902 and then moved to Divernon, establishing a livery business.  Later he entered the undertaking business as a partner of R. J. Neeson, retiring in 1933.  He is in good health.  Mr. Shively has been a read of the Illinois State Journal for more that forty years.

In 1931 the following article was written in the Illinois State Journal, Springfield, IL, Wednesday, May 6, 1931, Page 10, Columns 3-4:

Mrs. Mary Ann Shively

Divernon, May 5. -- Mrs. Mary Ann Thomas Shively, 70, well known resident of this city, died at 1:30 o'clock this afternoon at her home, following an illness of two years.  Funeral services will be conducted at 9:30 o'clock Friday morning at Sacred Heart church, Rev. Father Smith officiating.  Interment will be made in St. Bernard cemetery, near Glenarm.

The newspaper obituary for William Thomas Shively was located in the Illinois State Journal, Wednesday, March 19, 1947, Page 18, Column 3:

Thomas Shively, 90, Divernon, Dies

Funeral Arrangements Are Incomplete

Thomas Shively, of DIvernon, a resident of Sangamon county for 90 years, died at 7:15 p.m. yesterday at his home.  He was 90 years old.

Mr. Shively was born in Grayson county, Kentucky, May 20, 1856, and came with his parents to Illinois when 6 months old.  The family settled in Pawnee after making the trip in a covered wagon.

In 1897 he married Mary Ann Thomas and the two became the parents of three daughters, Mrs. Charles Lawley, of Rochester; Mrs. Richard Neeson, of Divernon, with whom he resided, and Lulu Shively, deceased.  Mrs. Shively died in May, 1932.

In 1902, Mr. Shively moved to Divernon with his family and opened a livery stable. In 1910 he and his son-in-law, R. J. Neeson, opened a funeral home and were associated together until 1933, when Mr. Shively retired.

Surviving besides his two daughters are a brother, Dan Shively, of Detroit, Mich.; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

The body was removed to the Kirlin & Egan funeral home.  Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Valentine Party Held In 1885 In Macon County, Illinois At Home Of E. W. Shively

The following newspaper article was extracted from The Decatur Daily Republican, Decatur, IL, Saturday Evening, February 14, 1885, Page 3, Column 5:

A Valentine Party

Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Shively gave a very pleasant and novel Valentine party at their cosy home, on West William street, last evening.  The guests were Mr. and Mrs. P. Loeb, Mr. and Mrs. John A. Swearingen, Mr. and Mrs. N. Hagerman, Mrs. S. P. Young, F. M. Young, Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Barnes, Mr. and Mrs. I. A. Buckingham, Mrs. J. Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. B. K. Hamsher, Mrs. J. W. Phillips, Mr. and Mrs. Albert T. Summers, J. C. Hostetler, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Lewis and Logan Phillips.  An elegant supper was served.  There was a surprise in store for the guests as they seated themselves at the table.  In each napkin was neatly folded a comic valentine, and all were so appropriate that the liveliest merriment was created.  All the hits were taken good-naturedly; but Mrs. John A. Barnes, a neighbor, who had been let into the valentine secret, planned a surprise for Mrs. Shively, and after she had had her fun, the second act was witnessed.  There was a knock at the door.  It opened, and there stood a messenger blind-folded, with a box marked dynamite in his hands.  He entered, and the box was opened with fear and trembling.  It was found to contain a comic photo valentine for Mr. Shively and a pair of terra cotta bisque statuary for Mrs. Shively.  These gifts caused renewed merriment.  The company separated at a late hour delighted with the visit.

Edward W. Shively (E. W. Shively) was the son of John Shively (born 12-Jan-1824 in Germany, died 24-Jul-1906 Delaware County, Ohio) and Elizabeth B. Gook (Cooke) (born 11-Nov-1830 Berks County, PA, died 28-Sep-1896 Delaware County, Ohio).  E. W. Shively married Mary Magdaline Smith Dora on 14-May-1879 in Coles County, IL. 

Listed on the 1880, Decatur, Fourth Ward, Macon County, IL census is Edward W. Shively age 27, a photo artist, born in Ohio and wife Dora, age 20, born in Missouri.  Extracted from The Decatur Daily Review, Tuesday Morning, April 13, 1886, Page 2, Column 2:

Shively, the photographer, has moved his headquarters from the Tower Art Gallery to his new rooms over F. L. Hays & Co.'s store, North Water street.  This gallery will have many advantages over any other he has ever occupied in this city, and will enable him to increase the beauty and excellence of his work.  He has remodeled, renovated and refurnished the entire gallery, adding the newest and latest appliances known to the photographer's art; also a camera for making large sized photograph groups, etc.  This makes by far the finest Gallery in the city.  He has also added the largest and finest line of gold, bronze, oak, metal and mahoganized frames over shown in the city.  Thanking you for past favors, he hopes to see his old patrons and welcomes new ones to his new art rooms.

The following article of interest was extracted from The Decatur Daily Republican, Monday, September 16, 1889, Page 3, Column 5:

Home From The West

Five Weeks In The Boom Section - Bought A Few Lots

S. R. Gher, the real estate dealer, and E. W. Shively, the photographer, are home from their journey of five weeks through the far west, spending most of their time at Spokane Falls, Seattle, Tacoma, Portland, Astoria, Ilwaukee and Sea View, coming home by way of Salt Lake, Denver and Kansas City.  They went over the Northern route.

They reached Spokane a week after the great fire and where 30 of the business blocks were burnt down they found 40 new buildings going up, while in other quarters the firemen were throwing water on the burning embers and taking the ashes and debris out to give space for store tents.  The foundations for 90 buildings were completed before the visitors left the town - 43 on one street.  The fire ordinance is very strict, requiring 21-inch walls for the cellars and 17-inch walls above.  Both gentlemen invested in Spokane city lots, on one of which the Y.M.C.A. will erect a large building that will yield heavy rents.  One Spokane hardware firm received 22 carloads of hardware supplies direct from Chicago before Mr. Gher and Mr. Shively left.   They think the city has a greater future before it than ever.

They were in Tacoma a day, and were driven about the city in a double rig by Ed. Haworth and his associate in the real estate business.  Ed B. Judson and W. H. Olson are soon to start a coffin factory at Tacoma.

They found L. C. Pitner in the real estate business at Seattle, and everything booming.  It is said that L. L. Haworth was offered $14 a thousand for all the brick he could deliver at Seattle for five years.  The demand for building material of every description is far ahead of the supply.

At Portland Mr. Gher and Mr. Shively were entertained in a pricely manner at the home of Ira Brown, formerly of Decatur, who is doing well in Portland.

While at Sea View they took a surf bath.

Mr. and Mrs. Shively decided to move to Spokane Falls as reported in The Decatur Daily Republican, Wednesday Evening, April 9, 1890, Page 3, Column 5:

Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Shively and family and Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Acuff will leave tomorrow for Spokane Fall, Wash., where they will locate permanently.

Listed on the 1900, Butte city, Ward 2, Silver Bow County, Montana is Edward W Shively, photographer, born Aug 1855, wife Marie born Feb 1862, daughter Dora born Aug 1882, daughter Helen born Aug 1885 and William Dore, brother-in-law born May 1878.  Edward W is located on the 1910 and 1920 Spokane County, Washington census records.

Edward W. Shively died 3-Jan-1932 in Spokane County, Washington.  The following obituary was extracted from The Montana Standard, Butte, Montana, Sunday Morning, January 10, 1932, Page 5, Column 3:

Ex-Resident Of Butte Expires

News Received Of Death Of E. W. Shively In Spokane, Wash.

Edward W. Shively, 77, a former Butte resident and widely known photographer and mining man, died at Spokane, Wash., according to a message received here yesterday.  Mr. Shively's death was the result of a cerebral hemorrhage.

Surviving relatives are his widow, Mrs. Mary M. Shively; two daughters, Mrs. Nat Bostwick and Mrs. Edward C. Meiklejohn; three grandchildren, Mrs. Eustice McMasters, Mrs. David Hilger and David Bostwick.  Funeral services were conducted at Spokane.

Mr. Shively was born in Illinois and came west when he was a young man.  He lived for a time at Missoula and later at Helena.  After leaving the latter city he came to Butte, where he was engaged in mining before leaving for Spokane. During his residence in Washington he became prominent as a business man and photographer.

Samuel T. Shively Who Lived In Grant County, Indiana

Swayzee Press, January 1, 1916

Samuel T. Shively was born ca 1849 and died in June-1938.  He was the son of Martin Shively born 1801 and Susan born 1806.  Samuel T. Shively married Rebecca Kiser on 20-Dec-1867 in Miami County, IN. He married second Hannah Malinda Shoffstall Woolery (Wolary) on 22-May-1894 in Grant County, IN.  She was married first to Henry Woolery on 1-Mar-1877 in Auglaize Co., OH.  

In the Samuel Shively household listed on the 1880 Jackson township, Miami County, IN census are Samuel age 29, wife Rebecca age 27, daughter Mary L age 11, son Charles age 9 and son William age 6.  Samuel Shively and family are listed on the 1900 Sims township, Grant County, IN census as Samuel Shively age 52,  wife Hannah M age 42, stepson Granvill Woolery age 20 and stepson Harvey Woolery age 17.

Newspaper articles help tell a little more about the experiences the Shively ancestors encountered.  Several articles have been extracted on the life of Samuel T. Shively from the Swayzee Press, (Grant County, IN).  Extracted from the Swayzee Press, Friday, March 6, 1902, Page 3, Column 3:       Granville Woolery of Marion is spending a few days with his mother, Mrs. S. T. Shively.

Swayzee Press, Friday, March 30, 1906, Page 8, Column 3:   Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Shively have been entertaining, this week, Mr. Shively's mother, of Platt county, Kansas.

Swayzee Press, Friday, October 15, 1909, Page 7, Column 4:     Sam Shively came near losing his home by fire Monday evening.  Mrs. Shively had put a lot of wood in the kitchen stove oven to dry and then gone to neighbors.  When Sam came home to supper he found the wood on fire and house full of smoke.  Prompt action and a little water soon put everything out of danger, but it was lucky that the discovery was made before any of the burning wood dropped to the floor.

Swayzee Press, Friday, February 25, 1910, Page 4, Column 3:

Experience With Coal Gas

Mr. and Mrs. Sam Shively had an experience Monday morning which they do not care to have repeated.  When they awoke, early in the morning, they found that both had a severe headache and were also suffering with a peculiar sickness which seemed to effect them all over.  Sam felt drowsy and was inclined to sleep, but Mrs. Shively suffered pain, which grew rapidly worse.  On arising they felt a dizziness and found it difficult to walk without staggering. On reaching the open air and ventilating the house well the sickness gradually wore off, but the dizziness lingered to some extent all day.

The cause of the peculiar experience is believed to have been coal gas escaping from the base burner.  They slept up stairs over the room containing the stove and a register in the floor near the bed supplied heat from below.  The chimney is one of the small kind built in the days of natural gas.  It was built for a grate and was therefore somewhat open at the bottom. For these reasons the stove did not have a strong draft.  Besides, Mrs. Shively and closed the damper in the stove pipe to keep the fire from getting too hot, and the outside air being still and sultry during the night, it is believed that poisonous gases escaped from the stove and caused the peculiar sickness.

Swayzee Press, Friday, February 25, 1910, Page 4, Column 2:

The experience of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Shively Monday morning may well serve as a warning to all who sleep in or near a room in which a fire is kept all night.  Some of the gases produced by the burning of coal are very poisonous and it is very essential that these gases do not escape into the living or sleeping rooms.  Care should be taken that all joints in  stove pipes are close and tight and that pipes and chimneys are kept open enough to carry all the smoke and fumes up the chimneys as fast as they are formed in the stove.

Swayzee Press, Friday, January 13, 1911, Page 1, Column 2:

Death of Harvey Woolry

A letter from Mrs. Samuel Shively, written at Whittier, California, on January 8th, states that her son, Harvey Woolry, at whose bedside she has been for several weeks, died Tuesday morning, Jan. 3, at 8 o'clock.  She states that he suffered much near the last but died with the assurance that he had made his peace with God and was ready to go.  The body will not be interred at once, but will be preserved and brought here for burial.  On account of Mrs. Shively's exhausted condition and cold weather, however they have decided not to return home until the severe part of the winter is over, perhaps three months hence.  Mr. Shively will secure employment there for the time and they will notify friends here of their departure in ample time to be prepared for their arrival.

Swayzee Press, Friday, July 21, 1911, Page 1, Column 3:

Mrs. Malinda Shively, who has been separated from her husband, Samuel Shively for several weeks past, returned to Swayzee Wednesday in company with a lady friend, Mrs. Marsh, and had her household goods loaded into a car and shipped to SantaFe, Ohio, the home of her father, where we understand she expects to make her home.

Swayzee Press, Friday, December 5, 1913, Page 1, Column 2:

Secured Divorce

Mrs. Hannah Malinda Shively, who lives at Lake View, Ohio, has secured a divorce from Samuel T. Shively of Swayzee and has had restored to her the name of her first marriage -- Wolary.

Swayzee Press, Friday, January 14, 1916, Page 1, Column 1:

Quits Meat Business

Sam Shively sold out his stock of meats to Elmer Wright the first of the week and left Wednesday for a visit with his daughter, Mrs. George Allen in Park county, after which he plans to spend the rest of the winter in Kansas with his sister, Mrs. B. F. Thomas, whose husband died recently.

Swayzee Press, Friday, October 13, 1916, Page 1, Column 5:

Granville Wolary

The body of Granville Wolary was brought here last Saturday from Terre Haute and laid to rest in Thrailkill cemetery, north of town.  Mr. Wolary spent his boyhood days in Swayzee and his mother, Mrs. Malinda Wolary, resides here now.  The sympathy of the community is extended to Mrs. Wolary in her sorrow as Granville was the only remaining member of her family, the husband and other son having died several years ago.

Swayzee Press, Friday, August 16, 1918, Page 3, Column 4:

Sam Shively came home Sunday from Vanceburg, Ky., where he has been working on a farm with his son Charles.  He is now employed at Pence's meat market.