John M. Shively From Kentucky To Missouri To Astoria, Clatsop County, Oregon

John M. Shively

Mention was made in communication this week about a Shively who lived in Astoria and was "run out of town".  The topic sounded too good to pass up and research was done to see if any information could be discovered on this subject.

The following newspaper article was extracted from The Oregonian, Friday, February 13, 1959, Page 17, Columns 1-6:

Now-Honored Astoria Postmaster Run Out Of Town In 1844

By Harold Hughes, Staff Writer, The Oregonian

John M. Shively, the man whom Oregonians and the vice president of the United States will honor in Centennial ceremonies Saturday at Astoria as the first postmaster west of the Rocky Mountains, was run out of town in 1844.

Shively, a surveyor who laid out the streets in Oregon City and later surveyed Astoria, got his pal, President James K. Polk, to appoint him postmaster in 1847. Shively wanted revenge and Polk wanted the post office as firm evidence of the United States' claim to the Oregon territory in the "54-40 or Fight" boundary dispute.

Shively crossed the plains in 1843, laid out Oregon City and moved on to Astoria, where he got himself a half of a donation land claim for his work in laying out Astoria.

Only there wasn't much of a town in Astoria then.  The fort had burned in 1818, and, in the words of Shively, the Hudson's Bay factor, Dr. John McLoughlin, had let the town become nothing "but a bald spot".

Although Shively had permission of the factor to lay out the town, Jesse Applegate, the famed wagon train leader, arrived in Astoria and presented Hudson's Bay letters which he attempted to palm off on Shively as deeds--at least this is the way Shively saw it in his later years.

"No powder was burned" between us, Shively reported, but "I pulled up Applegate's land stakes and threw them in the river".

An Indian was hired to chase a partner of Shively's out of town--and the partner fled. Shively stuck it out, even after another Indian who was a poor shot tried to kill him and missed.

Later, Shively and James Birnie, the Hudson's Bay officer, hired the Indian to do the shooting.

Shortly after the assassination try failed, a British man-of-war put in to Astoria and the captain threatened to have Shively put in irons and taken to Dr. McLoughlin's headquarters at Fort Vancouver.  The captain and Shively exchanged some lively conversation in which the surveyor was called "an impudent monkey".

Finally, the Hudson's Bay company succeeded in starving Shively out of Astoria. They refused to sell him any provisions.  Shively got in his canoe and paddled off up the Columbia River.

Months later he reached Washington, D.C., where he became the chief consultant with Congress on the boundary questioned raised in the "54-40 or Fight" affray with England. He got the ear of the President, who put through the post office measure, "without half of Congress knowing what they were voting on," Shively reported.

Shively came back to Astoria in triumph and set up in 1847 at what is now the corner of 15th and Exchange Streets in Astoria a post office in his residence.  It was the first post office west of the Rocky Mountains.

After the Polk administration, Shively lost his job to T. P. Powers, who promptly moved the post office to Upper Town, a rival section of Astoria, leaving Shively's Astoria barren of a post office.  But in 1861, Shively was again reappointed and he moved the post office back to his land claim.

Gold Rush Seen

While postmaster, Shively attempted to stimulate business (he insisted) by running off to California during the gold rush.  He swore in later years that he was not attracted by gold and would not have left "Uncle Sam" in the lurch.

Fortune Amassed

But gold rusher or not, Shively went to the gold fields and returned with a sack of gold with which he bought a $30,000 schooner engine in San Francisco.  His luck turned at this point, and while entering the mouth of the Rogue river, the ship he and his engine were aboard was wrecked and Shively "lost all".

Shively married a second time while hobnobbing back east with President Polk. When he died April 4, 1893, at the age of 89, in an Astoria hospital after several years of illness, the property he conveyed to a son was worth about $200,000.  It's probably worth 100 times that today because his claim lay right in the heart of the Astoria business area.

Astorians have long admired Shively because he stood off the British encroachments, but they have long since grown tired of his survey work.

Shively laid the town out with theoretical streets running straight up impossible bluffs and hills.  Early settlers actually built some of the streets this way, creating problems that the city was still trying to solve as late as five years ago when they completed a new survey of the city.

In Descendants of Henry and Mary Banta Shively by Lottie Compton McDowell, 1972, Page 12 is the following genealogy information:

John M. Shively, son of Henry and Mary Banta Shively, was born 2 April 1804 Shelby County, Kentucky.  Apparently, he spent some time in Orange County, Indiana, as old letters reveal he taught school in Stampers Creek Township before 1832.  He is found listed in the 1832 City Directory of Louisville, Kentucky, where he had a dry goods store, known as Shain and Shively, located on north side of Market Street and north of Fourth Street.

He married Martha Ann Johnson, daughter of William F. Johnson, 25 December 1836 (Marriage Book 2--page 157) Jefferson County, Kentucky.  William F. Johnson is listed in the 1832 City Directory of Louisville, as having a grocery store on the corner of Jefferson and Preston Streets.  Due to financial difficulties, the dry goods store failed. John M. moved to Saint Louis, Missouri, where Martha Ann died in November 1842, while giving birth to twin daughters.

In April of 1843, John M. Shively decided to go to Oregon.  He left his small son, Charles W., with his Aunt Sarah and made up a wagon train for the trek to Oregon, leaving Independence, Missouri the first of April 1843, and arriving in Oregon the 12th of October of that same year (Reference--"Personal account of his trip to Oregon" edited by Ralph E. Pinnick, 1971). ....."I made up a company of 120 wagons and 560 souls to go to Oregon."

On arriving in Oregon, he did survey work in Oregon City, where he met Dr. John McLoughlin, the Hudson's Bay Company chief, at Fort Vancouver, Washington. McLoughlin told him of Old Astoria and of the unclaimed land there.  Late in the autumn of 1843, he arrived in Astoria, then occupied by Hudon's Bay Company, with James Birnie in charge. He set about surveying lines for a donation land claim.  They ordered him to leave, but he refused to do so.  His claim extended from what is now 13th Street or the east side of the Bay.

While John M. Shively was in Washington City helping with negotiations for the purchase of the Oregon Territory, he met and married Susan Elliott, daughter of Judge Elliott, in 1847, and she returned to Astoria with him, along with his son, Charles W., who had been living with his Aunt Sarah.  John M. and Susan were divorced, but remarried 2 May 1859 in Astoria.  Susan died in 1883 and John M. died 4 April 1893 in Astoria.

Jacob Banta Shively And Wife Anna Mavity In Dubois County, Indiana

From information contained in the Descendants Of Henry And Mary Banta Shively by Lottie Compton McDowell, 1972, Page 9:   "Jacob Banta Shively, son of Henry and Mary Banta Shively, was born 25 December 1797 Shelby County, Kentucky.  He was married 5 February 1817 Shelby County to Anna Mavity, a Virginian by birth.  She was born 15 December 1799 and came to Kentucky when three years old.  The family lived in Spencer County until shortly before 1826, when they moved to Orange County, Indiana.

Jacob Banta Shively had labored in the state of Kentucky as a Christian minister about 1825, according to E. W. Humphrey's "Memoirs of deceased Christian Ministers: published 1880--page 318.

He united with the church in 1818 in Montgomery County, Kentucky, and soon was noticed as a sweet singer.  He was a preacher of acknowledged ability, and had a commanding appearance.  He was five feet eight inches tall and had coal black hair, piercing eyes, and very regular features.  The solemn earnestness of his looks, and the brightness of his eyes appealed to his congregations.  Before moving to Indiana, he had served God in Bath, Fleming, Bourbon, and Montgomery Counties in Kentucky.  He was ordained to the ministry by the Reverend David Stewart of Marengo, Indiana.  He preached and built churches in Dubois, Perry, Spencer, Warrick, and Pike Counties in Indiana.  When time permuted he travelled to Orange, Crawford, Daviess, and Posey Counties to preach."

Jacob Shively and Anna Mavity are both buried in the Fairmount Cemetery near Huntingburg.  Their children were Eliza Jane, Henry, John Wesley, Louis Byram, Mahala, Dorothy Ann, William Fletcher, Mary Emeline, Malinda, Ellen and Cora Lauretta.

The above picture of Rev. Jacob Banta Shively was found in the History of Duobis County From Its Primitive Days to 1910 Including Biographies Of Capt. Toussaint Dubois And The Very Rev. Joseph Kundeck, V.G., by George R. Wilson, C.E., Illustrated, 1910, Published by the Author, Jasper, Indiana, pages 213:  The Rev. Jacob Banta Shively, a pioneer minister of the Christian church, in southern Indiana, was born near Harrodsburg, Kentucky, December 25, 1797, of German parentage.  He lived in his native state until about 1824, when he moved to Orange county, Ind.  About 1829 he moved, with his family, to Dubois county and was one of its pioneers.  He was a minister of the gospel and a farmer.  His first cabin was built on what in known as the Temple farm, located on the Troy and Jasper road. Here it was that his ministry began in Dubois county, preaching in the homes of the people scattered over several miles of territory.  As soon as  (Page 214)  a sufficient number had settled around him, he organized them into a church, which they called "The Indian Creek Christian Church." Meetings were held in cabins and groves, for a number of years, but finally a log house was built in which to worship. It was located north of the Temple farm and as long as it was used it had nothing but a ground floor.  The house has long since crumbled to dust.  An old burying ground lies near where the old church stood.

In the fall of 1840, Rev. Shively sold his farm to John Temple, and in March, 1841, he moved on a farm he and previously bought about one mile south of Huntingburg, where he lived the rest of his days.

A new log church building was erected two miles north of the old one on Indian creek and meetings were held there, until the organization was transferred to Huntingburg, in 1852, where it still remains, having had a continuous existence for at least seventy-five years.......

For his life's work, he received a mere pittance.  Sometimes a good sister would present him with a pair of home-knit woolen socks, or, perhaps, home-made jeans, enough to make a pair of trousers, and sometimes he would receive a few dollars for his work.  He depended upon his family for support.

His wife was Miss Anna Mavity, a Virginian by birth.  They were married, February 5, 1817.  Rev. Shively died, at Huntingburg, February 11, 1868."

Anna C. Rhodes Baker Shively Shaw, Wife of David W. Shively, Located Linn County, Kansas In 1900

Anna C. Shively

This 1912 post card was postmarked in Springfield, Missouri.  From the Lawton Constitution-Democrat, Lawton, OK, Thursday, October 8, 1908, Page 11, Column 3:      Woman Preacher Doing Good Work

(article includes picture of Anna C. Shively)

Rev. Anna C. Shively

The Holy Ghost Evangelist

The above is the likeness of the woman evangelist now at the Methodist Protestant Church holding revival meetings.  Mrs. Anna C. Shively is a woman of wide experience in bringing souls to Christ.

She was born in Southeastern Ohio and came to Kansas in 1889 and was licensed to preach in 1897 and ordained in 1904.  She is now a member of the North Illinois conference of the Methodist Protestant Church and was appointed by that body as "Evangelist at large".  About half of her work as a minister began in the evangelistic field and she is by no means a beginner in the work.  She has also served some of the strongest churches of her denomination in Kansas and Illinois.

She was pastor of a very aristocratic church in Chapia, Illinois and it was there a long protest that she persuaded her people that it was best for her to go into the evangelistic field.

Extracted from the Iola Daily Register, Wednesday, September 6, 1905, Page 7, Columns 1-2:

Preachers Met

The Methodist Protestant Conference Opened at LaHarpe Last Night

Hundred Ministers Expected

.....The Ottawa Republic has the following to say of Rev. Anna C. Shively, who is attending the convention:

Rev. Anna C. Shively, pastor of the Methodist Protestant church for four years, left today for the conference at LaHarpe, where it is expected that she will be assigned to a more important field.

In her honor all of the North Ottawa churches united in a union service at her church Sunday evening.  Over 400 persons were present.  Mrs. Shively preached from "The Divine Call", and in  the course of her remarks, by special request told of the manner in which she was called to ministry.

Mrs. Shively's ministerial work here has been one of record-breaking results.  When she came here four years ago the church had a membership of seven; it now affords over 100.  In all its affairs, temporal as well as spiritual, conditions are now very satisfactory.  Under Mrs. Shively's efforts a large debt has been paid off and in addition the church buildings and the parsonage have been extensively repaired.

Mrs. Shively has not confined her efforts for humanity exclusively to her denominational charge; she has been an active co-worker with all who are engaged in reform and charitable effort.   She has been especially of great help to the W.C.T.U.  She has many warm friends throughout the city.

Anna C. Shively is found on the 1900 Linn County, Kansas, Sheridan Township, Prescott City census.  Listed in the household are David W. Shively born July 1859, wife Anna C. born April 1856, stepdaughter Myrtle Baker born April 1882 and William L. Baker born April 1887.  

Rev. Ann Shively is listed on the 1905 Franklin County, Kansas state census.  Listed in her household is William Baker.  

By 1910 Anna C. Shively has moved to Illinois.  On the 1910 census she is listed as a widow and occupation of Pastor of a church.  She is listed on the 1910 Hancock County, Illinois, Rock Creek Township, Ferris Village census.  

David W. Shively is located on the 1880 Daviess County, IN, VanBuren Township, census.  He is enumerated in the household of Andrew J Smiley and is listed as a farm laborer.

David W. Shively is located in the household of his parents on the 1870 Daviess County, IN, VanBuren Township census.  Listed are Henry S Shively age 23(but should be 33), wife Mary age 23 (but should be 33), David W age 11, Willet age 9, Mary age 8, Jane age 4 and Henry B age 74.

On the 1860 Daviess County, IN census David W age 1 is listed with his parents Henry age 23 and Mary age 22.

The father and grandfather of David W. Shively are found on the 1850 Daviess County, IN census.  In this household are Henry Shively age 51(grandfather of David), Mary age 49, Susan age 27, John age 21, William age 17 and Henry age 14(father of David). From documented research it is known that Henry S. Shively, son of the Reverend Henry B. and Mary Hunter Shively, was born 4 September 1836 in Orange County, IN.  He married Mary Herron on 29 August 1858 in Daviess County, IN.   Henry B. Shively was the son of Henry Shively and Mary Banta and was born 1 January 1799 in Shelby County, KY

The death certificate for Anna C Rhodes Baker Shively Shaw was located in the Missouri records.  She died in Greene County, Missouri on 16 October 1937.  She was born 25 April 1857.  Her parents are W. W. Rhodes born in the District of Columbia and Cynthia Morris born in Ohio.  The informant for the death certificate was Mrs. Myrtle Parkhurst (Myrtle Baker).  

It has been suggested but not verified that Anna C Rhodes married 1st Gameliel Baker in 1875 in Noble County, Ohio.  It is has not be located where Anna C. married 2nd David W. Shively. Her 3rd marriage to a Mr. Shaw has not been located.  

Anna C. Shaw is located on the 1930 Greene County, Missouri, city of Springfield, census.  She is listed as being 73, a widow, married at age 19.  This age of marriage agrees with the marriage date in Noble County, Ohio.