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James Shively And Elizabeth Hunsberger Who Lived In Chester County, Pennsylvania

A Shively researcher has requested help on finding additional information on James Shively and wife Elizabeth Hunsberger who lived in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Their names on the death certificates for two of their children is all that is known about them.

The death certificate for Mary Mahalah Shively Sheeder who was the daughter of James Shively and Elizabeth Hunsberger was located in the Pennsylvania Death Certificates.  She was born 19-Mar-1833 in Chester County, PA.  She married Samuel Sheeder (Sheader) in Chester County on 29-July-1854.  Mary died on 19-Apr-1914 in Chester County, PA.  She was buried n East Vincent Cemetery.  

The death certificate for Franklin J Shively who was the son of James Shively and Elizabeth Hunsberger was located in the Pennsylvania Death Certificates.  He was born 1-Oct-1836 in East Coventry, Chester County, PA.  He married 1st Sarah Trout who died in 1840 and 2nd on 25-Feb-1892 to Catharine Davidhuser Hilkert. Franklin Shively died on 24-Aug-1907 in Montgomery County, PA.  He was buried in Pottstown Cemetery.

William T. Shively was a son of Franklin Shively and Sarah Trout.  He was born on 11-Apr-1872 and died 1-Aug-1963.  He was married to Sarah Engle. William T Shively was a clothing merchant.

William T. Shively

The following newspaper obituary for William T. Shively was extracted from The Pottstown Mercury, Pottstown, PA, Friday, August 2, 1963, Page 1, Column 1:

Ex-Clothier W. T. Shively Dies At 90

Mosheim's Treasurer Began Career In 1888

Former Executive Preferred Selling

William T. Shively, the dean of Pottstown clothiers, died Thursday morning in the Elizabethtown Masonic homes. He was 90.

Mr. Shively, a guest at the Masonic homes since Nov. 2, 1960, died at 8:40 a.m. after a short illness preceded by a "general weakening".

A Pottstown native and longtime 517 North Charlotte street resident, Mr. Shively entered the home two and a half years after the death of his wife, Sarah (Engle) Shively, March 6, 1958.

Mr. Shively, treasurer of S. Monsheim and sons, a former High street men's clothier, for the 30 years prior to his retirement in 1952, was a clothing salesman for the firm most of his life.

He began as a 16 year old errand boy in the store, then owned by the late Samuel Mosheim, on Aug. 23, 1888 at $3 a week.  He sold almost from the start, although, he recalled later, "I was really hired as an errand boy".

Mr. Mosheim and he were the only two in the store when Mr. Shively was employed.  The store was situated on the South side of High street new the Hotel Shuler.

REMINISCING in The Mercury during the 30s about "gay 90" men's clothing, Shively chuckled about the ready made suits offered to Pottstown men at the time.

"They came only in three models", he remembered.  "There were only shorts, longs and stouts in suit sizes.  If you were of the "in between size", you just purchased the nearest size and pulled them in!"

Suits, when Mr. Shively entered the trade, sold at $10, "and if you wanted a real suit you 

William Shively

paid $15."

The Mosheim store moved to 207 High street in 1897.  Later Mr. Mosheim's sons, Maurice and Edward, entered the business.  After the death of Mr. Mosheim, the firm was incorporated in 1922.  Mr. Shively was one of the incorporators and became treasurer.  The store was sold at his retirement Oct. 28, 1952.

"But I'm still a salesman", he declared, some 15 years after becoming a store executive.

Mr. Shively liked to serve the public, a Mercury store in 1937 (his 49th year at the store) declared.  It added he didn't think there was any such thing as "a real mean customer".

"If they are that way you generally can lay your finger on the trouble by looking to the salesman.  He, nine times out of ten, made them that way".

An "INVETERATE cigar smoker" who enjoyed bass fishing, he was born in Pottstown April 11, 1873.  He was the son of the late Franklin J. and Sarah Shively.

Born on Chestnut street, his family moved to Fricks Lock when he was six years old.  He attended the old Riverview school there until he was 12 when the family moved back to Pottstown.  He completed his grammar school education here.

Mr. Shively began his 66 working years at 14, carrying papers for two years before starting at the clothing store.

Shively met his wife shortly after he became a clothing salesman.  She was then Sarah Engle, daughter of the late William and Matilda Engle, Stowe.

Although she and her future husband were confirmed in the same class at Emmanuel Lutheran church, they didn't become well acquainted until they met at a dance.  They were married Oct. 1, 1895.

Shively is survived by a son, C. Russell Shively, 268 Grace street; a grandson, Robert R. Shively, 858 Feist avenue, and two great granddaughters.

Funeral services will be tomorrow at 11 a.m. from the Schumacher and Reber Funeral home, 359 King street, with the Rev. Dr. Luther A. Krouse, pastor of Emmanuel Lutheran church, officiating.

Graveside services will be conducted by the Stichter lodge 254 F and AM.

Interment will be in Mt. Zion cemetery.

Charles Shively And Wife Clara B. Thixton, Who Lived In Huron County, Ohio

Charles Shively

Charles Shively was born in Vigo County, IN on 18-Oct-1863. He died on 3-Oct-1940 in Springfield, Clark County, OH. He was married to Clara B. Thixton who had lived in Owensboro, Daviess County, KY.  Clara was the daughter of John Thixton. Charles and Clara had one daughter Mary Ellen Shively who married Edgar Bell. Charles may have married a second time. In 1906 Charles Shively and partners bought the newspaper Norwalk Experiment and the Huron County News.  From newspaper articles it appears Charles Shively spoke his mind often times making him unpopular.  Following are several of the newspaper articles documenting his activities.

Extracted from The Norwalk Reflector-Herald, Tuesday, November 5, 1940, Page 8, Column 4:

Chas. Shively, 79, Formerly Of Norwalk,Is Dead

Word has been received of the death of Charles Shively at Springfield, OH. Interment was made at Terre Haute, Ind., his birth place. He was born in 1861. Mr. Shively published the Experiment News here about 20 years and for many years was employed as a proof read by the Crowell Publishing Co. of Springfield where the American Magazine, Colliers Weekly and three other major magazines are printed.  In his proof reading work, Mr. Shively was prominent among those engaged in this exacting branch of the magazine publishing business.  Mr. Shively is survived by his daughter, Mrs. Edgar Bell of Norwalk and six grandchildren.  He was engaged in the publishing business in Kentucky for a time.

From The Norwalk Reflector-Herald, Tuesday, January 29, 1946, Page 1, Column 2:

Did You Know

by J. H. Williams, Curator Firelands Museum

The Experiment passed into the hands of Charles Shively, an able, but erratic editor, whose main fault was in calling a spade a spade with the consequent enemy results.  Shively was in more or less hot water during his incumbency.  His desire was to boss the democratic party in Huron County. He tried to be appointed postmaster, failing in getting the appointment he soured on the town, sold out to Judge Earl S. Miller, who in turn sold to Colonel Davis, since which time the Experiment has been the property of the Davis family.

From The Evening Herald, Thursday, December 27, 1906, Page 2, Column 2:

Reorganized

Experiment And News Company Now Is Conducted Under New Auspices

New Officer And Directors Are Chosen At Meeting Yesterday

At a meeting of the stockholders of the Experiment and News company yesterday, the plant of which was purchased the first of last October by Mr. Charles Shively and associates, the following directors were elected:  Charles Shively, Clara B Shively, Frank A. Shively of Terre Haute, Ind., John Thixton jr. of Louisville, Ky., John Thixton sr. of Owensboro, Ky., and Herman E. Lowy of Norwalk.

Immediately the directors elected the following officers for the coming year: Charles Shively, president and general manager, Herman E. Lowy, vice president, Mrs. Clara B Shively, secretary and treasurer.

Mr. Charles Shively has been in the printing and newspaper business for many years before coming to Norwalk.  In Indiana, his native state, he was with the old Rockport Democrat.

For the past twenty years he and his family have resided in Ohio, fifteen of which have been as residents of Norwalk.

F. A. Shively, of Terre Haute, Ind., one of the directors, is a merchant of that city and a brother of Mr. Charles Shively.

Herman E. Lowy, vice president of the new company, has been connected for the past five years with Die Columbia as editor and since Mr. Shively has acquired this property, Mr. Lowy has now identified himself with the Experiment & News Company also.

Messrs John Thixton, sr. and John Thixton, jr. are residents of Louisville, Ky., and Owensboro, Ky., respectively.  Both gentlemen are prominent in business and banking circles and are relatives of Mrs. Charles Shively.

From The Evening Herald, Wednesday, June 12, 1912, Page 1, Columns 3-4:

Controversy Over Crop Of Strawberries

George Snider Files Affidavit Charging Assault by Chas. Shively And Fred Miller

A dispute over the right to harvest a crop from a strawberry patch yesterday forenoon led to a physical encounter between the claimants and a third party which presents some rather unusual features, and which led to the filing of an affidavit this afternoon with Justice of the Peace Bechtol charging Charles Shively, editor of the Experiment-News and Fred Miller, of this city, with assault and battery on the person of George Snider, who lives at 298 West Main street.

While the affidavit filed does not go into details, statements made by the parties to the affair, which do not differ materially from each other, indicate that the fracas arose over an agreement made between Shively and Snider to plant a piece of land to strawberries on shares.  Shively was to furnish the land Snider the labor.

Shively says that Snider failed to furnish labor in sufficient quantities to entitle him to share in the proceeds of the crop.  Snider on the other hand claims that he labored hard and long, and the he was justly entitled to half the strawberries which might be gleaned off the patch.  Yesterday morning Snider came to the field, which lies somewhere in the rear of the Shively residence on West Main street, equipped with baskets and proceeded to garner of the fruits of the field.  He hadn't picked so very many when Shively appeared on the scene and ordered Snider off the lot. Snider refused to go, whereupon, the "doings" began.  When the gong rang at the end of the first round Shively was on the ground with a gash over his eye where Snider had kicked him after knocking him down.  Snider's victory was not destined to do him any lasting good, however for when Fred Miller, who had been impartially watching proceedings up to this time saw Snider kick Shively when the latter was "down", he decided that wasn't sportsmanlike and "butted in".

Miller and Snider roughed it for a moment during which short period of time Miller acquired a discolored eye.  By this time Shively had arisen and went to Miller's assistance.  Together, they overpowered Snider and threw him down.  Then, according to Snider, Miller struck him several times while he was being held, and blacked one of his eyes in return for the gorgeous optic which he had bestowed upon Miller.

Still holding Snider, the victors then proceeded to tie Snider's hands together with a stout rope and as did the conquering legionaries of imperial Rome, the captive was trailed in triumph to the street.  With a parting admonition to go home and let his wife untie him, Snider says he was turned loose.  He finally succeeded in uniting the knot with his teeth, after appealing in vain to a passer-by.

Bearing a piece of rope, which he said was part of the rope with which he was tied, Snider appeared in the office of a local attorney this morning.  He looked battered, and his eye was a sight.  Editor Shively had not appeared at his office pup to noon today.  Miller appeared to have escaped with the least damage, and yesterday afternoon was reciting his version of the affair in the business district with much animation.

Located in Norwalk Reflector-Herald, Friday, September 28, 1917, Page 1, Column 6:

Gets Taste Of Own Medicine

Editor Who Villified Local Merchants Given Worst Dose In Town’s History

Charles Shively, editor of the weekly Experiment and News, and who for many years has taken delight in personally vilifying his betters, literally “got his” today.

And the whole town is shaking with laughter.

A. A. Kist, who is conducting the co-operative sale for local merchants, emptied a five-gallon bucket of fresh cow manure on Shively’s head and then jammed the bucked down over his head and ears, while a crowd of some 200 people laughed till they ached.

It was the climax of a bitter attack Shively has been making in his paper the last two issues against Mr. and Mrs. Kist, and some thirty prominent Norwalk merchants who are conducting the sale.

Kist armed with the bucket of manure, waited on prominent street corners for two hours Friday morning waiting for Shively to appear.  Finally, shortly after 12 o’clock, Shively appeared near the court house and made a bee-line for the waiting city car at the corner of Linwood avenue  -- possibly he (literally) scented danger and sought the car.

He was accosted by Mrs. Kist, who stepped in front of him and said:  “I want to know what you mean by our attacks on me in your paper?”

“Never mind what I mean,” Shively is said to have replied.  “I’ll get you yet”.

Mr. Kist then stepped in front of him and told his wife to get out of the way.

“I’ll attend to him”, Kist said.

Just at that moment Shively’s hat, either blew off or was knocked off, and Kist upturned the bucket and its slimy contents over his head, jamming it down over his shoulders.

When Shively got out from under and pried his eyes open he saw a gib crowd of people, among them merchants he had called crooks and boobs, laughing loud and long.

He made at Kist and was met by a smashing blow on the nose from Kist’s fist.  He got a couple more in the same place and then ran back and got the bucket to attack Kist with.  But that time the fight had turned into a travesty, and the man, literally reeking and choking with filth, made its way into Ferguson’s saloon, where he spent an hour getting cleaned and sent home for clothes.

The cause of the outbreak was Shively’s attack on prominent local merchants, as well as Kist.  He printed that the sale last spring had been a fake and the prize-winning a swindle, implicating five local merchants who stand above reproach as leading men of the community.  For many years the fellow has been printing lies and false stories and innuendoes about Norwalk people, and the general sentiment is that he got what was coming to him.

“I have no statement whatever to make,” said Mr. Kist when interviewed by a reporter, “except to say that I made him eat his words”.

Kist was served with papers late this afternoon, sworn out in Squire Pechtel’s court, charging him with assault.

Harriet Isabell Gibson, Wife Of Jacob Shively, Who Lived In Clarke County, Iowa and Napa County, California

"Hattie" Harriet Isabell Gibson Shively

Harriet Isabell Gibson was born 16-July-1844 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, PA and died 9-March-1945 in St. Helena, CA.  She was buried in 1945 in Ottawa Cemetery, Clarke County, Iowa.  Harriet Gibson was married to Jacob Shively.  Jacob Shively was born 4-March-1840 in Schuylkill County, PA and died 22-August-1932 in Osceola, Clarke County, IA.  Jacob Shively was the son of Christian Shively (born 1-April-1812 died 3-February-1862) and Susannah "Susan" Heasley (16-November-1813 died 27-April-1893).

Listed on the 1910 Jackson Township, Clarke County, Iowa census is the family of Jacob Shively age 70, married 44 years, farmer with wife Hattie I age 63, daughter Edith R age 23, boarder Arthur VanVleet age 16 and boarder Jennie Decker age 12.

Extracted from the San Francisco Chronicle, Monday, July 24, 1944, Page 11, Column 6:

                      At 100, S. F. Woman Busy In Red Cross

Although she marked her 100th birthday anniversary Sunday, July 16, Mrs. Jacob Shively of Sanitarium, Cal., fills her days with Red Cross activities and handiwork and maintains a keen interest in war happenings and the Presidential election.

A birthday celebration in her honor was held at the home of her daughter, Dr. Ida S. Nelson of Sanitarium.  Mrs. Shively was a resident of Clark county, Iowa, for 69 years before making her home in this State.

Mrs. Shively's five living children are:  Mrs. Edith S. Halvorsen and Dr. Ida S. Nelson of Sanitarium; Mrs. W. E. Nelson, Washington, D. C.; John Shively, Osceola, Iowa and Dr. J. Dow Shively of Clinton, Mo.

Abstaining from tea, coffee, tobacco and alcoholic beverages are all factors to which Mrs. Shively, a vegetarian, attributes her long life.

The death of Harriet Isabell Gibson Shively was reported in The Sacramento Bee, Wednesday, March 14, 1945, Page 8, Column 5:

Napa Woman Dies At Century Mark

St. Helena (Napa Co).  March 14 -- The body of Mrs. Hattie Shively, who died here in the home of a daughter, Mrs. Edith Haalverson, at the age of 100, is en route to Iowa for burial.

Mrs. Shively who came to California in 1932 to reside after the death of her husband, the late Jacob Shively, is survived by her other daughters, Dr. Ida Nelson of the St. Helena Sanitarium and Mrs. W. E. Nelson of Washington, D. C. and her sons, John Shively of Iowa and Dr. J. D. Shively of Missouri.

On the 1910 Clarke County, Iowa census in the household of Jacob and Hattie Shively is Jennie Decker.  The following information was extracted from the Chariton Herald-Patriot, Chariton, Iowa, Thursday, May 3, 1917, Page 5, Column 2:

Obituary

Jennie Hazel Decker was born in the city of New York, June 20th, 1896, and died at her home in Lucas, Iowa, on Sunday April 22nd, 1917.  She was the daughter of George and Jennie Decker.  Being left an orphan at the age of four, she made her home near Woodbury, Iowa, with Jacob and Hattie Shively.  She was a kind, obedient and affectionate child, and was much loved by those who had her under their care, and by all who knew her.  On September 12th, 1909, she was baptized and united in full faith with the Seventh Day Adventist church at Woodbury.  To this faith she was devoted and true to the close of her life.

On July 4th, 1915, she was married to David Ora Cook.  To his union came a little son to brighten their home, David Andrew, born July 30th, 1916.  She was a true, loving, faithful wife and an affectionate and devoted mother.  During her last sickness she was very patient. Everything was done that loving hands could to to relieve her.  Her friends who could not come longed to be by her side and administer to her wants and needs and alleviate her sufferings.

She leaves to mourn, aside from her husband and darling baby, two brothers, James, who is in New Jersey, and William, who is here.  The Shively family will miss her greatly, for they loved her as their own.  Words cannot express the sorrow that friends feel at their loss, but they hope to meet her again on the resurrection morning.