Joseph Shively was born on 22-Jul-1856 Attica, Green County, Wisconsin and died 4-Jun-1917 in Rock County, Wisconsin. He was the son of Lawrence Shively and Hannah Pierce. Joseph was married to Delia Lamb who was born 1-Oct-1856 and died 19-Nov-1915 in Rock County, Wisconsin. Joseph is listed with his parents on the 1860 Green County, Wisconsin and 1870 Rock County, Wisconsin census records. On the 1910 Rock County, Wisconsin census record is the household of Joseph, wife, and his mother, Hannah. For more information on Joseph's parents view the Shively blog from 13-Aug-2011.
The following newspaper obituary was extracted from The Janesville Gazette, Janesville, Wisconsin, Tuesday, June 5, 1917, Page 5, Column 5:
Evansville News
Prominent Evansville Pioneer Passes Away
(Special To The Gazette). Evansville, June 5. -- Joseph Shively passed away at his home on the corner of Madison and Liberty streets at half past five Monday evening from a complication of disorders. Mr. Shively's death comes as a shock to Evansville people who for years have regarded him as one of the fine characters of the city. His death ends the history of that branch of the family, one which has been closely linked with the development of the state from many years.
Mr. Shively was one of seven children born to Lawrence and Hannah Shively, who migrated to Wisconsin in the early forties. July 22, 1856, Joseph was born in Attica. There he made his home for many years, but later came to the vicinity of Evansville, where he lived on a farm. Some twenty years ago he retired from farming and moved to Evansville where he has since made his home.
In August, 1878, he was married to Miss Abellia Long, who passed to the world beyond November 19, 1915. Mrs. Hannah Shively, died last year, and with this death, that branch of the family is closed, for he leaves no immediate relatives.
Funeral services will be conducted from the home Wednesday afternoon at half past two. The Reverend D. Q. Grabill of Fort Atkinson, will officiate. Interment will be in Maple Hill cemetery, Evansville.
The newspaper obituary for Adelia Lamb Shively was extracted from the Janesville Daily Gazette, Friday, November 19, 1915, Page 5, Columns 3-4:
Mrs. Joseph Shiely Dies At Evansville
(Special To The Gazette). Evansville, Nov. 19. -- Mrs. Joseph Shively, for thirty-five years a resident in or near Evansville, died this morning at three o'clock at her home on Madison street, this city.
Mrs. Shively's maiden name was Miss Delia Lamb. She was born in Egerton in 1856, on October 1st. On August 11th, 1878, she was united in marriage to Joseph Shively of Evansville. She leaves a husband, two brothers, J. M. Lamb of Evansville and Edward Lamb of Chicago, and the following sisters: Mrs. David Thompson of Brooklyn; Mrs. Charles Murphy of Augusta, Wisc.; Mrs. James Brown of Zion City; Mrs. Fred Eagleton of Dakota; Mrs. F. Kendell of Los Angeles, California.
Funeral services will be held Sunday at two-thirty o'clock at the home. Rev. D. Q. Grabill will officiate. Interment will take place in the Maple Hill cemetery.
The will of Joseph Shively was contested by the heirs as Joseph left his estate to George Pullen. The final court decision on this matter was recorded in the Janesville Daily Gazette, Tuesday, January 7, 1919, Page 1, Column 2:
Pullen Legal Heir To Shively Estate Says Supreme Court
Judge Grimm's Decision in Joseph Shively Will Case Upheld--Ends Most Interesting
Will Case in Years --$45,000 Estate Involved
"Decision of appeal court affirmed without opinion", was the decision handed down this morning by the Wisconsin supreme court in the Shively will case.
Thus ends one of the most interesting will cases tried in Rock county in decade, and has been a source of much discussion in and about Evansville for the past two years.
It will be remembered that the first trial was held over a year ago before Judge Fineld in county court, who set the will aside on the grounds that the presumption of undue influence in the making of the will had not been rebutted.
An appeal was then taken to circuit court by the proponent George L. Pullen of Evansville, and a new trial was had in which much new evidence and testimony was offered by the proponent's attorneys with the result that Judge Grimm reversed the decision of the county court.
Another appeal was taken, this time by the victors in the lower court, and the case was argued on December 4th last, the decision of the court being handed down this morning.
As a result of the final decision George L. Pullen of Evansville becomes the sole beneficiary under the will and becomes the possessor of the entire Shively estate of some $45,000.
Jeffris, Mount, Osctreich and Avery, Nolan and Dougherty, and R. M. Richmond were the attorneys for the proponent and the contestants were represented by Charles E. Pierce and G. G. Sutherland.
