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3(xiv). Silas Shirley born Mar
19, 1836 Morgan Co. OH, died Feb 29, 1924 Paris, Logan Co. AR.
Silas was in the Civil War. His description lists him having
blue eyes, height was 5 ft 7in. Shirleys
of Logan County Arkansas
Silas Shirley family
Photo taken at a family reunion, Paris, Logan Co Arkansas c.
1917
(Posted by Delaine at findagrave.com)
Silas Shirley
Silas enlisted for a term of 3 years or duration of the Civil
War. He was a private in Captain Daniel M. Bates Company A 18th
Regiment of the Ohio Infantry Volunteers Feb 16, 1864 at Marietta,
Ohio. Records of his pension papers and copies of the roll calls
during the war show the following information: He was listed
as a farmer at the time of enlistment, his post office was Big
Run, Athens Co. Ohio, his description lists color of eyes as
blue, light hair and complexion, height 5 ft 7in. He spent many
months in Chattanooga, Tennessee. On Oct 9, 1865 he was discharged
at Augusta, Georgia. The war was over. Oct 6th, 1868 Silas and
his wife, Abigail, with 5 children left Ohio for Arkansas. They
journey took three months. They traveled by train and boat down
the Ohio River and the Mississippi River and up the Arkansas
River to Roseville, AR. Silas' brother, John, and Abigail's brother,
Truman Driggs were already living in Driggstown near Paris, Arkansas.
John Shirley, Silas' brother, sold Truman Driggs 160 acres in
Driggs. He set aside a section for a school. In the Fall of 1871
Silas fell from a tree while gathering nuts near his home in
near Paris, Arkansas. He dislocated his left wrist. This information
was found in a form filled out possibly for a claim. It was filed
with his pension papers. Silas purchased 40 acres at Paint Rock
near Paris, Arkansas July 19, 1879 for $125. He cleared the land
and built a two story house and lived there until he died. He
grew cotton and owned a cotton gin. He planted many kinds of
fruit trees, had a large garden, raised hogs, chickens, had a
cow and a horse. Silas preserved his vegetables by digging a
large circular hole in the ground. Straw was spread over the
bottom of the hole and the vegetables placed on the straw, then
covered over with more straw and dirt. They had plenty to eat
all winter. The smoke house was filled with meat. Four more children
were born to Abigail and Silas near Paris, Arkansas, three sons
and a daughter. The seventh child, George Quinn, died in his
youth. Abigail died April 14, 1881. Silas married Letha Yielding
Lowry Oct 16, 1881. They were the parents of two sons, Elmer
and Owen Parmer. She was also step mother to eight children.
One day Silas and the boys were working in the field near the
house. John Wesley, oldest son of Silas and Abigail, heard his
little sister crying and crying. He knew something must be wrong
so he ran to the house. His sister was sitting on the side of
her bed and he could see she'd been beaten. He yelled "Jesus
crept, Moses wept and under the bed the devil slept". Letha
ran from the house. John Wesley went back to the field and said
nothing. When evening came, they went into the house. There was
no supper nor was Letha there. Silas never said a word and didn't
ask any questions. Letha and Silas divorced October 4, 1884.
Elmer was under 2 years of age and Owen Parmer was seven months
old. Silas agreed to let Letha keep them provided she lived nearby.
Gradually she started moving further and further away. Silas,
who always wore a beard, shaved it off and went to Letha's and
took Elmer and Owen Parmer. No one recognized him, not even the
kids. Silas raised the boys. ilas married Abelle Copeland January
1, 1885 and they were the parents of two daughters, Myrtle and
Millie. Arbelle was a very sweet person and a great mother and
grandmother to Silas' family. The grandchildren tell how they
looked forward to going to Grandpa Silas' house as he always
gave them a piece of candy. He kept a large box by his fireplace.
In it he stored peppermint sticks. He always had red delicious
apples in barrels in the basement of the old house. He was very
fond of children. Silas and Arbelle would sit by the fire and
smoke pipes and have a piece of candy before going to bed every
night. Logan County Arkansas was formed from parts of Franklin,
Johnson, Scott and Yell counties and this was approved March
22, 1871. At that time however, Logan County was named Sarber
County. Silas was was elected County Treasurer Oct 13, 1874.
An act of the General Assembly changed the name of Sarber to
Logan County December 15, 1875. Silas served as County Treasurer
until 1878. He hid the county money under the house through a
trap door. There no safes in the county offices. Silas' favorite
word was 'by cracky'. He had a deep voice and always wore a beard.
He was strong and could lieft a 500 pound bale of cotton. He
had long arms and could reach his knees standing straight up.
He became blind in his old age. Silas was in the hospital in
Paris, Arkansas for about five days before his death Feb 29,
1924. He lived 87 years, 10 months, and 10 days. Cause of death
was listed on death certificate as 'strangulated inguinal hernia'.
married 1) Abigail Driggs on April 2, 1856 Athens Co.
OH,
married 2) Letha Lowry on Oct 16, 1881 Logan Co. AR
(they divorced),
married 3) Arbelle Copeland on Jan 1, 1885.
Abigail Driggs Shirley
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Letha Lowry Shirley
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Silas Shirley and 3rd wife Arbelle Copeland
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note from Betty Shirley, founder of the
Shirley Association: "My husband is the grandson of
Silas and Letha."
children:
4(i). John Wesley Shirley born April 25, 1857 Cincinnati,
OH; He died July 12, 1936 Elizabeth Hall Cemetery, New Blaine,
Logan County, Arkansas
John Wesley Shirley
married Cansady Lee on Jan 4, 1883 Logan Co. AR
4(ii). Alfaretta Adela Shirley born April 17, 1859
OH d. July 10, 1900 (TB), m. Robert M. Riley Jan 22, 1879
Alfaretta Adela Shirley
4(iii). Mary Martha Shirley born April 12, 1861 OH
d. April 7, 1916, m. Francis Marion Williams Aug 21, 1882
Mary Martha Shirley
4(iv). Walter Walles Shirley born Mar 25, 1863 OH d.
Dec 25, 1945 (pneumonia),
Walter Walles Shirley
married Jimmie Florence Lucas Jan 6, 1889
4(v). Elijah Henry Shirley born May 14, 1867 OH d.
Aug 2, 1934 (cancer),
Elijah Henry Shirley
married 1st. Itera Luman Jan 17, 1892 (Typhoid),
married 2nd Ava Harriet Smith Nov 12, 1902 Logan Co.
AR
4(vi). Nelson Kelvy Shirley born Feb 5, 1870 AR d.
Dec 8, 1929,
Nelson Kelvy Shirley
married 1) Allie Baldridge Oct 14, 1894 (divorced),
married 2) Nola Brooks Sept 9, 1923
4(vii). George Quin Shirley born July 11, 1872 AR d.
Nov 3, 1879
4(viii). Leanna Maria Shirley born Oct 11, 1874 AR
d. Sept 1, 1947, m. Louis Daniel Keck April 9, 1899
4(ix). Silas Britton Shirley born Mar 19, 1877 AR.
They were enumerated in Logan County Arkansas in 1900 and in
1910 census. The family moved to North Little Rock, Pulaski County
Arkansas by the time of the 1920 census. He died Nov 13, 1939,
Silas Britton Shirley
married Amanda Carolyn Briggs Dec 24, 1905 in Logan
County Arkansas
children:
5(i). Herman Bernace Shirley
married Opal Matthews on 21 February 1928 at Little Rock,
Pulaski County Arkansas
Ancestor of DNA participant kit
#233702 and #233793
5(ii). Rufus Buren Shirley, born about 1909 in Arkansas,
age 11 in 1920 census
5(iii). Abbie Shirley born about 1911 in Arkansas,
age 9 in 1920 census
5(iv). Truman Shirley born about 1913 in Arkansas,
age 7 in 1920 census
5(v). Norman Shirley born about 1919 in Arkansas, age
1 in 1920 census
4(x). Elmer Arthur Shirley born Jan 15, 1883 AR d.
Sept 9, 1964
Elmer Arthur Shirley
m. Florence ____
4(xi). Owen Parmer Shirley born Mar 2, 1884 AR d. Feb
15, 1956
Owen Parker Shirley
married Millie Johnson Haley Dec 16, 1908
Ancestor of DNA participant kit
#8463
4(xii). Ody Myrtle Shirley born Jan, 1888 AR d. July
7, 1950, m. Byron Hall Mar 14, 1909
Ody Myrtle Shirley
4(xiii). Millie Ethel Shirley born Mar 26, 1891 AR
d. May 3, 1971, m. J. Wes Lee Oct 10, 1920
Millie Ethel Shirley
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John Shirley (continued)