Jacob Shively And Wife Johannah Menninger Who Lived In Mason County, Michigan

The following information was located in the 1980 Mason County Michigan History, Pages 187-188 regarding Henry and Jacob Shively:

Following the Civil War, military duty, and a government land grant, two Ohio brothers, Jacob and Henry Shively and their families traveled to Custer Township, thus making them among the early settlers in the area.  Jacob, the eldest, born of Swiss parentage in 1826 was a solidier with the Indiana Volunteers.  Henry, born in Fairfield County, Ohio saw service as a member of the Indiana Infantry.  Both brothers left their native state, Ohio, going to Indiana and then to Wisconsin for a short time.  Living with Henry and their seven children was Mary’s mother, Hannah Nightheart.  The children were Margaret 1855, Lanty 1856, Elizabeth 1858, and Leota 1873.

Arriving in Custer in March 1876, Henry’s homestead property of 120 acres was registered with the Reed City, Michigan land office.  This farm came to be known as the Rosenow farm.  In 1879 their eighth and last child, Charles was born.  Mary’s mother, Hannah Nightheart, at age 89 died in 1880.  Mary followed her in death in 1884.  Both are buried in the Riverside Cemetery, Custer.

Jacob Shively married his German wife, Johannah Menninger, in Wisconsin in 1856.  Family tradition tells of Jacob and Hannah’s immigration to Custer in September of 1876 with their seven children; Christian born in 1857, Julie 1859, Anna 1861, Emmaline 1862, Louise 1864, Mary 1867, and William 1871.  They traveled by train from Indiana to the point nearest Custer, probable Tallman.  Johannah was eight months pregnant.  Their last child, Florence, was born two weeks later.  All their worldly goods were piled on their backs and the distance of approximately six miles was covered on foot to the Shively homestead, north of Custer Village.  A photograph of that first dwelling, a log cabin, can still be seen in family albums.  Jacob died in 1900.  His wife Johannah died in 1905.  Henry died in 1902.  All are buried in Riverside Cemetery, Custer.

Located on the 1880 Mason County, Custer, Michigan census is the household of Jacob Shively age 52, Farmer, born in Ohio (states father born in Switzerland and mother born in Switzerland), wife Hannah age 43 born in Prussia, son Christian age 23 born in Wisconsin, daughter Anna age 19 born in Wisconsin, daughter Emma age 16 born in Indiana, daughter Mary age 13 born in Indiana, son William H age 9 born in Ohio, and daughter Florence, age 4 born in Michigan.

The newspaper obituary for Emma Shively was extracted from The Ludington Daily News, Ludington, Michigan, Monday, December 2, 1929, Page 1, Column 3:

Mrs. WIllis Dies Of Heart Attack

Mrs. Emma Willis died suddenly near midnight, Saturday night, death resulting from a violent heart seizure with which she was attacked while at the home of her son, Ernest Willis, 713 east Foster street.

Though Mrs. Willis and been in failing health during the past year, this sudden attack was quite unexpected and she died in the arms of her son, Ernest, who was striving to give her relief.

Emma Augusta Shively was born in Marion, O., 1866 and was married in 1881 to William Willis, who preceded her in death but six months ago.  Since his death she had made her home among her children.

Surviving are three sons and four daughters, 20 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

The children are :  Mrs. Cora Grove, Detroit; Ernest Willis, Ludington; Mrs. Alma Casperson, Duluth, Minn.; Floyd, Ludington; Harold, Grand Rapids; Mrs. Ceil Stadler, Hamlin; Mrs. Irene Lange, Ludington.  There are also two sisters, Mrs. Fred Smith of Custer and Mrs. Julia Cope of Akron, O., and a brother, William Shively of Custer.

Mrs. Willis had been a devoted wife and mother, centering all her interest and love in her family.  In nursing her husband through his last illness she really broke her own health and, it is believed, hastened her death.

A host of friends mourn her death and sympathize with her family.

In the years when the First Baptist church was in existence Mrs. Willis was a member, but of late, when strength permitted, had attended the First Methodist church.

Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon from the home and at 2:30 from the First Methodist Episcopal church.

The obituary for Mary Shively was located in The Ludington Daily News, Tuesday, June 10, 1919, Page 1, Column 3:

Cancer Causes Death Of Mrs. M. Whitaker

Resident Of Ludington Twenty Years; Suffered From Disease

Several Months

Four Children, Three Living At Home, Survive Her; Funeral 

Wednesday Morning

Mrs. Mary Whitaker, aged 52 years, passed away at 9 o'clock last evening at her home, 613 north Rowe street, following an illness from cancer extending over the past several months. She had been ailing for some time and in September, 1918, went to the hospital at Ann Arbor in hoe that an operation would alleviate her sufferings.  Doctors there, however, discovered the cause of her illness to be cancer and while all possible was done to relieve her, she suffered much pain from that time until death brought relief.

Ever a loving and devoted mother, over a week ago, realizing that the end was near, she called her family to her bedside and bid them all goodbye.  Besides Mrs. Andrew Anderson, Miss Myrtle Whitaker and Russell, who made their home with their mother, a daughter, Mrs. F. O. Redick of Charlotte, and son, Edward, of Grand Rapids, with his wife, came to see their mother at that time.  Mrs. Redick later returned to her home but arrived here this noon to attend the funeral.  Mr. and Mrs. Edward Whitaker remained in Ludington and were with the mother when the end came.

Mrs. Whitaker came to Mason county from Marion, Ohio, with her parents when but a child of six years of age.  For a number of years she lived with them on their homestead north of Custer.  For the past 20 years she resided in Ludington during which time she made many warm friends whose sympathy now goes out to the family in their bereavement.

Her husband preceded her in death elven years ago.  Besides the immediate family she is survived by three sisters, Mrs. Fred Smith of Custer, Mrs. William Willis of Ludington and Mrs. Julia Cope of Akron, Ohio, and two brothers, Chris and William Shively of Custer.

Funeral services will be held at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning from the home, Rev. Thos. Cox officiating.  Burial will be made in the city cemetery.  The services will be private.

The newspaper obituary for Florence Shively was extracted from The Ludington Daily News, Monday, January 5, 1948, Page 3, Column 3:

Mrs. Fred Smith Taken  By Death

CUSTER--Mrs. Fred L. Smith, 71, of Custer died Sunday afternoon at Paulina Stearns hospital in Ludington, where she had been a patient since New Year's day.  Mrs. Smith, who had been in ill health for several years, had been cared for by her daughter, Mrs. John Beyer of Ludington since Nov. 16.

Born Florence Shively Sept. 28, 1876, she was a lifetime resident of Mason county. Married June 11, 1895, to Fred L. Smith, the couple lived in Ludington until 1918 when they moved to Custer.  Mr. and Mrs. Smith marked their 50th wedding anniversary in 1945.

Mrs. Smith, who was affiliated with the Methodist church, was a member of Custer Ladies' aid and Myrna Rebekah lodge of Custer.  Always fond of flowers, Mrs. Smith maintained a large flower garden.

She is survived by her widower; one son, Lloyd R. Smith of Custer; two daughters, Mrs. Lawrence Lewis of Manistee and Mrs. Beyer of Ludington; 11 grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.  One grandson, Sgt. Clinton Lewis, was killed in 1943 in England.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday from Custer Congregational church.  Burial will be in Riverside cemetery, Custer.

The body, now at Stephens funeral home in Scottville, will be taken to the Custer residence Tuesday noon.  It will remain there until 12:30 p.m. Wednesday when it will be taken to the church for services.