In 1864 Reuben
and Jane moved to Lee Co. Illinois where they purchased a 240
acre farm. IN 1867 they moved into Whiteside Co. where they purchased
an 80 acre farm on the Dixon Road east of Rock Falls. they sold
this in 1876 to their son, Samuel, and purchased a half block
in Arey's Addition on Rock Falls, erecting a home in which they
were still living in 1885.
(Published 1885) Reuben F. Shirley, retired farmer,
and a resident of Rock Falls, was born Aug. 21, 1820, in Connersville,
Fayette Co., Ind., and was the youngest son of eight children
in the family of John and Elizabeth (Danner) Shirley, his father
a native of Virginia and his mother of Pennsylvania. Receiving
a limited school education, and remaining with his parents until
22 years of age, he bought a farm in Marshall Co., Ind., containing
170 acres, and occupied it from 1843 to 1864; he then sold it,
and came to Lee County, this State, buying 240 acres of land,
which he cultivated three years; selling this, he purchased an
80-acre farm in this county, on the Dixon road, and resided there
from 1867 to 1876. He then sold this place to his son, Samuel,
and came to Rock Falls, and purchased a half block in Arey's
Addition, erecting a residence thereon, which he now occupies.
Politically, Mr. Shirley is Democratic. He is a self-made man,
ready at all times to lend a helping hand for the good of society.
He was married June 2, 1842, to Jane Thompson, also a native
of Indiana. They have had six children, four of whom are now
living and married, namely: Samuel T., who married Alice V. Worthington;
Meredith A., who married Sarah L. Densmore; Sarah E., who married
Charles E. Payson, and Nancy A., who married J. H. Meckling.
married Jane
Thompson
on June 2, 1842 Marshall Co. IN
Children:
2(i). Samuel
Thompson Shirley
1843 Marshall Co. IN. He was married and living at Montmorency
Whiteside IL in 1870 census, age 26, occupation: farmer. He apparently
lived in Nebraska at some time in the mid 1870s. He took over
his fathers farm in Whiteside Co. IL. He was living at Rock Falls,
Whiteside Co IL in 1900 census, occupation: lecturer, age 57,
no children in the household. Living at Whiteside Co IL in 1930.
Died 23 January 1935, age 91. Buried at Riverside Cemetery.
married Alice
Virginia Worthington on
23 December 1869 in Whiteside Co IL. Born 26 January 1849 in
Coloma Whiteside Co IL. She was the daughter of Artemus Ward
Worthington and Phoebe Sammus. She was buried 27 January 1936.
Buried at Riverside Cemetery.
Children:
3(i). Leslie
Worthington (L. W.) Sherley
born about 1870 in Illinois, age 10 in 1880 census. Lived at
Chicago Cook Co IL in 1900 and 1910 census. Living in Seattle
King Co Washington in 1920 census. Lived in Seattle with his
2nd wife in 1930 and 1940 census. He died 29 October 1958 at
Payallup Pierce Co Washington, age 88. Shirleys of Seattle King Co Washington
married 1)
Edith Life Zuck
on 23 June 1894 at Chicago Cook Co IL; She was age 28
in 1900 census. She died 27 July 1923 at Seattle King Co Washington,
age 51. daughter of J. Zuck and Lydia Hursh.
married 2)
Katinka E.
Children:
4(i). Lawrence
Franklin Shirley born
10 April 1895 at Chicago Cook Co IL, age 5 in 1900 census, age
15 in 1910 census, age 24 living in parent's 1920 census household
in Seattle Washington. He died in 20 April 1975 in Seattle King
Co Washington
married Lucile
Geneva Elder
Children
5(i). James
Shirley
born 3 October 1924 at Seattle King Co Washington, age 5 in 1930
census; He died 10 November 1972
5(ii). Pauline
Shirley
born about 1937, age 3 in 1940 census
4(ii). Donald
Leslie Shirley
born 16 January 1897 at Chicago Cook Co IL, age 13 in 1910 census.
He was living in Portland Multanomah Co Oregon at time of 1917
WWI draft registration Shirleys
of Portland Oregon
June 1992
Betty Shirley's Shirley Association regional meetings - "We
stopped in Roseburg, Oregon and found Bryan Shirley in the phone
directory. We went to his house and met him and his son Donald,
who was busy doing some carpentry work. We introduced ourselves
and asked about their Shirley ancestors. Bryan said his father
was Donald Shirley born about 1898 and his grandfather was Leslie
Shirley born in Pennsylvania [sic]. That is all he knew."
3(ii). N.
A. Sherley (female)
born about 1874 in Nebraska, age 6 in 1880 census
3(iii). Lloyd
Emmett Shirley
born 26 January 1880 at Rock Falls Whiteside Co IL (source: immigration
doc), age 4/12 in 1880 census. He was living with his brother
Leslie in Chicago in 1900 census. Lived at Hillsboro Highland
Co Ohio in 1910 census; In 1915 he travelled to and from Port
Cabello Venezuela for business. Chief engineer (passport application);
1917 worked as a factory supervisor at C S Bell Co farm implements
in Hillsboro. He died 12 March 1940 at Hillsboro Highland Co
OH
married Leena ?Holmes, age 34 in 1920
census
No children
in 1910, 1920, or 1930 census household
2(ii). John
Ambrose Shirley
1845 Marshall Co. IN, d. Aug 30, 1873 Marysville, Yube Co CA.
His death caused by pnemonia, age 28
married Carrie
E Batcheller
on 30 August 1869 at Whiteside Co IL (untraced)
2(iii). Merideth
A. Shirley
1848 Marshall Co. Married in 1871, then age 23, place of residence
Rock Falls, IL, born Plymouth Indiana. He is living in Coloma
Whiteside Co IL in 1880 census, occupation: laborer, age 32.
He died prior to the 1900 census.
married Sarah
L., Densmore on
20 September 1871 at Chelsea, Suffolk Co Massachussetts (both
parents named in marriage record). Her mother Amelia Dinsmore
lived with Sarah and Merideth in Whiteside Co IL 1880 census.
Sarah was widowed and living with daughter Maud in Chicago Cook
Co IL in 1900 census.
Children:
3(i). Lucy
Shirley born
about 1872 in IL, age 6 in 1880 census. She married William Terrell
3(ii). Maud
Shirley
born 27 January 1883 in IL; age 17 in 1900 census. She married
Hugh Allen Ptolemy. She died 18 November 1958 at Cook Co IL,
age 75.
2(iv). Nancy
Arvilla Shirley
m. J.H. Meckling
2(v). Sarah
E Shirley.
m. Charles E. Payson
2(vi). son
Shirley
died young
John Ambrose Shirley