Walter Shirley Descendants by Denise Fox
		bleichrodt@bellsouth.net Denise had this data posted elsewhere and decided to change it to our website. Thank you Denise! There is quite a bit of data and you will find it on various pages by following the links on this page. Descendants of Walter Shirley (some of the counties descendants lived: Defiance, Ross, Paulding County Ohio) 1   Walter Shirley b: 1690 in Stauton Harold, England??  d: Abt. 1755 in Frederick County, Virginia ..  +Dorcas Avis .. 2   Walter Shirley b: Abt. 1728 in Frederick County, Virginia  d: April 1804 in Charles Town, Jefferson County, West Virginia ......  +Hester Vance b: Abt. 1738 in Frederick County, Virginia m: Abt. 1759 in Charles Town, Virginia d: Abt. 1784 ...... 3   Lawrence Vance Shirley b: Abt. 1780 in Frederick County, Virginia (now West Virginia)  d: Abt. 1857 in Ross County, Ohio ...........  +Elizabeth Haynes b: Abt. 1791 in Charleston, Virginia (now West Virginia) m: May 05, 1808 in Chillocothe, Ross County, Ohio d: Abt. 1838 in Miami County, Indiana ........... 4   Joseph Shirley b: December 20, 1825 in Chillocothe, Ross County, Ohio  d: March 10, 1910 in Cass, Miami County, Indiana ...............  +Nancy Stryker  m: September 30, 1849 in Cass, Miami County, Indiana ............... 5   Joseph Andrew Shirley b: December 12, 1852 in Miami County, Indiana  d: October 01, 1918 in Marion County, Indiana ....................  +Malinda Jane Wilson b: August 08, 1853 in Cass County, Indiana m: April 18, 1874 d: February 17, 1931 in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana .................... 6   Burton Lee Shirley b: May 10, 1875 in Pittsburg, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania ........................  +Susan Marie Martin b: January 24, 1879 in Oshkosh, Winnebago, Wisconsin  d: June 19, 1944 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois ........... 4   Lorenzo Dow Shirley ...... 3   Nancy Shirley b: Bet. 1758 and 1768 in probably Virginia  d: Bef. 1819 ...........  +John Campbell  m: 1789 in Shenandoah, Virginia ........... 4   Richard Campbell b: Bet. 1799 and 1800 in Virginia  d: July 07, 1859 in Las Cruces New Mexico or in route to California ............... 5   Ignatius Campbell b: July 31, 1844 in Santa Fe, New Mexico   d: Bet. 1900 and 1910 in Morenci, Arizonia .................... 6   Carolina Campbell b: Bet. 1870 and 1872 in Silver City, New Mexico  d: 1900 in Morcenci, Arizona ........................  +? Membrila ...... 3   James Shirley ...... 3   David Shirley ...... 3   Samuel Shirley ...... 3   Elizabeth Shirley ...........  +Samuel French ........... 4   Walter W. French b: March 01, 1792 in Jefferson County, Virginia   d: July 21, 1880 in Darke County, Ohio ...............  +Rachel ............... 5   James Willet French b: July 07, 1816 in Virginia  d: January 25, 1901 in Gibson County, Indiana ....................  +Barbara Maria Null  m: December 04, 1839 in Greene County, Ohio ............... 5   Samuel Jackson French b: Abt. 1819 in Virginia ....................  +Mary Pember  m: September 02, 1844 in Darke County, Ohio .................... 6   Walter W. French b: June 13, 1845  d: February 25, 1865 in Army Hospital, Grafton, West Virginia .................... 6   Lovina Elizabeth French b: November 15, 1848 in Bartonia, Randolph County, Indiana  d: June 17, 1939 in Harriman, Roane County, Tennessee ........................  +David Curtis Mote  m: January 20, 1867 in Coletown, Darke County, Ohio .................... 6   James William French b: January 13, 1852 in Hollansburg, Darke County, Ohio  d: February 07, 1920 in Butler Township, Darke County, Ohio ........................  +Margaret Crick  m: November 15, 1874 in Darke County, Ohio .................... 6   Willard B. French b: April 28, 1854  d: September 21, 1884 in Sharpeye, Darke County, Ohio ........................  +Victoria Isabella Jefferies  m: January 01, 1880 in Darke County, Ohio .................... 6   Margaret Jane French b: 1856  d: 1938 ........................  +Francis Ware  m: August 08, 1874 in Darke County, Ohio ............... 5   Mary Jane French b: 1822 in Virginia ....................  +John Conrad Heironimus  m: December 15, 1839 in Darke County, Ohio ...........  *2nd Wife of Walter W. French: ...............  +Lavina Bailey  m: January 12, 1825 in Frederick County, Virginia ............... 5   Martha French   d: Bef. 1880 ............... 5   Walter J. B. French   d: Bef. 1880 ............... 5   Phoebe Levina French b: October 29, 1825 in Frederick County, Virginia  d: January 06, 1912 in Indiana ....................  +Robert M. C. Little  m: January 26, 1847 in Darke County, Ohio ............... 5   Rachel Ann French b: June 07, 1829 in Frederick County, Virginia  d: September 06, 1908 in Union City, Indiana ....................  +Joseph Gist Harland  m: May 07, 1888 in Darke County, Ohio ............... 5   Elizabeth French b: June 12, 1830 in Virginia  d: June 26, 1914 ....................  +David Ryan ............... 5   Emily Ellen French b: Abt. 1832 in Virginia              ....................   +J. M. Harrison ........... 4   Hester French ...............  +John Games  m: March 24, 1821 in Frederick County, Virginia ...... 3   Mary Shirley ...........  +Hugh Barton ...... 3   Margaret Shirley ...........  +Michael Wysong .. 2   Jarvis Shirley b: 1732 ...... 3   William Shirley ...... 3   Ephram Shirley ...... 3   Elizabeth Shirley ...........  +? Smallwood ...... 3   Rebecca Shirley ...........  +? Gardner ...... 3   Jarvis Shirley ...........  +Mary A.C. Nadenbousch ...... 3   Mary Shirley ...........  +Richard Miller ...... 3   Walter Shirley b: Abt. 1803 .. 2   James Shirley b: 1735 in Charles Town, Jefferson County, West Virginia   d: 1785 in Berkeley County, Virginia (now West Virginia) ......  +Mary ...... 3   Elizabeth Shirley ...... 3   Mary Shirley ...........  +Thomas Howard ...... 3   John Shirley b: Abt. 1764 ...........  +Ann Smithley ...... 3   James Shirley b: February 24, 1768  d: January 16, 1840 ...........  +Ruth Frier ........... 4   James Shirley b: June 22, 1794  d: October 11, 1831 in near Middleway, West Virginia ...............  +Mary Grantham b: August 09, 1796 in Virginia m: January 13, 1824 in Berkley County, West Virginia d: 1852 ............... 5   Walter Shirley   d: Bef. 1912 ............... 5   John James Shirley ............... 5   Ruth Helen Shirley   d: Bef. 1912 ............... 5   Margaret Amelia Shirley   d: Bef. 1912 ............... 5   James William Shirley ........... 4   Mary Shirley b: June 26, 1796  d: March 05, 1870 ...............  +William Hurst b: September 29, 1793  d: April 08, 1863 ............... 5   John Hurst ............... 5   James Hurst ............... 5   Ruth Annabelle Hurst ............... 5   Stephen Hurst ............... 5   Elizabeth Daniel Hurst ............... 5   Catherine Mary Hurst ............... 5   Jeannette Allen Hurst ............... 5   Julia F. Washington Hurst ......  *2nd Wife of James Shirley: ...........  +Matilda Vinson  m: December 26, 1821 ........... 4   George William Shirley b: 1827 ...............  +Caroline Grantham ............... 5   James Shirley ............... 5   Annie Shirley ............... 5   Thomas Lee Shirley ............... 5   Stanley Wallace Shirley ............... 5   Robert Vinson Shirley ............... 5   Clara Shirley ............... 5   William S. Shirley ........... 4   Thomas Lee Shirley   d: Bef. 1912 ........... 4   Elizabeth Shirley   d: Bef. 1912 ........... 4   Robert Vinson Shirley b: 1825  d: August 17, 1914 ...............  +Julia Baylor  m: Abt. 1857 ............... 5   Matilda Vinson Shirley ............... 5   Mary Moore Shirley ............... 5   Margaret Strother Shirley ............... 5   Henry Garnett Shirley ............... 5   George T. Shirley ............... 5   Daisy Shirley ............... 5   Ruth Annabelle Shirley ...... 3   Robert Shirley b: Abt. 1770 in Frederick County, Virginia  d: 1836 in Williams County, Ohio ...........  +Rachel Gilbert b: Aft. 1774 in Pennsylvania m: January 28, 1791 in Frederick County, Virginia d: Aft. 1840 in Defiance County or Williams County, Ohio ........... 4   Nathan Shirley b: December 05, 1791 in Frederick County, Virginia  d: August 25, 1871 in Charloe, Paulding County, Ohio ...............  +Mary Minear b: January 08, 1800 m: April 15, 1819 in Ross County, Ohio d: October 1844 in Williams  County, Ohio ............... 5   John W. Shirley   d: Aft. 1883 ....................  +Rachel Fryman  m: October 16, 1870 in Paulding County, Ohio .................... 6   Adrian Shirley b: Abt. 1872 in Ohio, probably Paulding County ........................  +Mary A. Fell  m: February 01, 1895 in Paulding County, Ohio .................... 6   Mina May Shirley b: August 29, 1876 in Auglaize Township, Paulding County, Ohio .................... 6   Winnie A. Shirley b: Abt. 1877 in Ohio, probably Paulding County ........................  +Christopher Hopkins  m: September 17, 1899 in Paulding County, Ohio .................... 6   Rachel M. Shirley b: December 19, 1880 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio .................... 6   Ella Grace Shirley b: November 26, 1883 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio .................... 6   John Wesley Shirley b: September 12, 1891 in Jackson Township, Paulding County, Ohio ............... 5   Nancy Shirley   d: Aft. 1883 ....................  +Andrew Dils  m: August 16, 1864 in Defiance County, Ohio .................... 6   Nathan Shirley Dils ............... 5   Stephen M. Shirley   d: Aft. 1883 ............... 5   Philip Shirley b: June 04, 1820 in Ross County, Ohio   d: March 29, 1901 in Dupont, Putnam County, Ohio ....................  +Elizabeth Prowant b: June 05, 1829 in Wayne County, Ohio m: October 09, 1849 in Defiance County, Ohio d: February 13, 1914 in Putnam County, Ohio .................... 6   Salathiel Shirley .................... 6   Mary C. Shirley b: 1852 in Putnam County, Ohio      ........................   +? Thompson .................... 6   Clara Melissa Shirley b: March 05, 1858 in Putnam County, Ohio ........................  +Remus R. Brown b: Abt. 1850 m: November 04, 1874 .................... 6   Anna E. Shirley b: 1861 in Putnam County, Ohio  d: 1890 ........................  +Thomas Conkle .................... 6   Nathan C. Shirley b: 1862 in Putnam County, Ohio ........................  +Emma Ridenour  m: 1888 .................... 6   Nancy R. Shirley b: 1865 in Putnam County, Ohio   d: November 1946 in Putnam County, Ohio ........................  +Oscar Lamont .................... 6   Dora Alice Shirley b: 1869 in Putnam County, Ohio ........................  +George Lafferty .................... 6   Jennie Shirley b: Abt. 1872 in Putnam County, Ohio ........................  +George Cocran ............... 5   Rachel Shirley b: Abt. 1821  d: December 03, 1843 in Paulding County, Ohio ....................  +Shadrach H. Carey  m: November 17, 1842 in Paulding County, Ohio ............... 5   Ruth Shirley b: January 19, 1829 in Auglaize Township, Paulding County, Ohio  d: 1852 ............... 5   Mary Ann Shirley b: November 08, 1833 in Auglaize Township, Paulding County, Ohio  d: 1836 ............... 5   Clark David Shirley b: Abt. 1835 in Ohio  d: Aft. 1883 ....................  +Emma L. Bennet b: Abt. 1849 m: December 24, 1865 in Putnam County, Ohio .................... 6   Ebel E. Shirley b: Abt. 1868 in probably Dupont, Perry Township, Putnam County, Ohio .................... 6   Stephen B. Shirley b: Abt. June 1870 in probably Dupont, Perry Township, Putnam County, Ohio ............... 5   Mary E. Shirley b: January 18, 1840 in Auglaize Township, Paulding County, Ohio  d: 1856 ...........  *2nd Wife of Nathan Shirley: ...............  +Anna P. (Gullick) Hankins b: September 12, 1809 in New Jersey m: May 05, 1853 in Charloe, Paulding County, Ohio d: October 04, 1883 in Paulding County, Ohio ........... 4   James Shirley b: 1797 in Frederick County, Virginia  d: Abt. 1852 in Delaware Bend, Delaware Township,  Defiance County, Ohio ...............  +Elizabeth Gilbert b: May 09, 1817 in Lewis County, Kentucky m: January 17, 1839 in Delaware Township, Williams County, Ohio d: April 27, 1900 in Defiance County, Ohio ............... 5   William James Shirley b: November 02, 1840 in Williams County, Ohio  d: May 09, 1874 in Delaware Township, Defiance County, Ohio ....................  +Missouri Ann Slough b: 1844 m: February 21, 1864 in Paulding County, Ohio d: 1895 in Paulding County, Ohio .................... 6   Versenith Shirley ........................  +George Jenks  m: March 23, 1888 in Paulding County, Ohio .................... 6   Della Francis Shirley b: March 29, 1866 in Defiance County, Ohio ........................  +John Christopher Peffley b: May 10, 1851 m: April 23, 1882 in Defiance County, Ohio ....................  *2nd Husband of Della Francis Shirley: ........................  +Henry Burton Wade b: October 31, 1872 m: March 28, 1896 d: 1926 in Summit County, Ohio ....................  *3rd Husband of Della Francis Shirley: ........................  +Joseph Krouse  m: Aft. 1900 .................... 6   Alice Ozilla Shirley b: June 09, 1868 in Defiance County, Ohio or Indiana?  d: May 09, 1930 in Summit County, Ohio ........................  +Peter Fournier b: in Canada m: June 10, 1884 in Defiance County, Ohio ....................  *2nd Husband of Alice Ozilla Shirley: ........................  +Parker E. Brown b: January 30, 1854 in Paulding County, Ohio m: Abt. 1892 d: September 11, 1917 in Barberton, Summit County, Ohio .................... 6   Infant Shirley b: March 10, 1870 in Delaware Township, Defiance County, Ohio .................... 6   Frank Shirley b: September 09, 1872 in Defiance County, Ohio  d: in Bemidji, Minnesota ............... 5   Robert B. Shirley b: October 24, 1842 in Defiance County, Ohio  d: February 06, 1930 in Woodburn, Allen County, Indiana ....................  +Ladora Faulkner b: 1856 in Allen County, Indiana,  m: May 01, 1880 in Delaware Bend, Delaware Township, Defiance County, Ohio d: May 02, 1945 in Allen County, Indiana ............... 5   Eliza Jean Shirley b: December 16, 1844 in Defiance County, Ohio  d: 1874 ....................  +Andrew Little  m: April 17, 1867 .................... 6   Horatio Albert Little ............... 5   Sylvester Shirley b: 1845 in Defiance County, Ohio .................... 6   Beatrice Shirley ........................  +Bud b: December 14, 1887 in Defiance County, Ohio d: December 12, 1958 in Defiance County, Ohio ............... 5   Alexander Shirley b: February 04, 1847 in Defiance County, Ohio  d: March 24, 1872 in Defiance County, Ohio ............... 5   Levisa Shirley b: October 14, 1850 in Defiance County, Ohio   d: 1854 ........... 4   Elias Shirley b: December 25, 1800 in Frederick County, Virginia   d: March 21, 1855 in Delaware Bend, Delaware Township,  Defiance County, Ohio ...............  +Phoebe Hudson  m: September 15, 1829 in Williams County, Ohio d: August 20, 1847 ............... 5   George Washington Shirley b: December 18, 1827 ....................  +Sara Emily Harris ...............  *2nd Wife of George Washington Shirley: ....................  +Lucy N. Lockwood ............... 5   Elizabeth Ann Shirley b: November 07, 1830 ....................  +John Andrews ............... 5   William Raper Shirley b: May 19, 1833  (see below for additional family info on him) ....................  +Sarah Hunter  m: September 08, 1853 in Defiance County, Ohio ...........  *2nd Wife of Elias Shirley: ...............  +Nancy Hoover b: November 29, 1807 in Kentucky m: May 1851 in Lewis County, Kentucky d: December 08, 1900 in Lewis County, Kentucky ........... 4   Mary Shirley b: 1804 in Frederick County, Virginia  d: April 11, 1826 ...............  +Thomas Warren  m: August 11, 1825 in Williams County, Ohio ........... 4   Nancy Shirley b: 1806 in Frederick County, Virginia  d: March 01, 1823 in Defiance County, Ohio ........... 4   Robert Shirley b: 1808 in Frederick County, Virginia  d: 1885 in Paulding County, Ohio ...............  +Sarah Hudson b: October 23, 1812 m: September 15, 1829 in Williams County, Ohio d: November 05, 1857 in Paulding County, Ohio ................5   William Shirley was born Abt. 1831 in Ohio. He married Julia Burt December 25, 1852 in Paulding County, Ohio (see his info below) ............... 5   Joseph H. Shirley b: April 20, 1832 in Paulding County, Ohio   d: April 03, 1910 in probably Paulding County, Ohio ....................  +Mary E. Ward b: October 20, 1833 in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania m: August 12, 1854 in Paulding County, Ohio d: 1866 in Probably Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio .................... 6   Clarence M. Shirley b: August 22, 1859 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio .................... 6   Milton Shirley b: Abt. 1860 .................... 6   Homer Shirley b: March 16, 1861 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio ........................  +Arminta Meyer b: Abt. 1868 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio m: October 02, 1887 in Paulding County, Ohio d: March 06, 1893 in probably Paulding County, Ohio ....................  *2nd Wife of Homer Shirley: ........................  +Leila Bosworth b: October 1875 in Ohio m: September 22, 1894 in Paulding County, Ohio .................... 6   Stephen W. Shirley b: June 24, 1863 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio ...............  *2nd Wife of Joseph H. Shirley: ....................  +Malinda Nash b: November 10, 1848 in Zanesville, Muskingum County,  Ohio m: August 23, 1868 in Paulding County, Ohio d: November 14, 1921 in probably Paulding County, Ohio .................... 6   Alice R Shirley b: July 23, 1870 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio .................... 6   Warren C. Shirley b: March 19, 1879 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio  d: August 21, 1898 in probably Paulding County, Ohio .................... 6   Ruth A. Shirley b: July 25, 1871 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio .................... 6   Ray Shirley b: January 09, 1891 in probably Paulding County, Ohio  d: September 23, 1908 in probably Paulding County, Ohio ............... 5   Nancy E. Shirley b: 1835 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio ............... 5   James Shirley b: 1837 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio  (see additional family info for him below) ............... 5   Elias W. Shirley b: August 16, 1838 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio  d: February 11, 1911 in Ohio ............... 5   David Clark Shirley b: January 16, 1840 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio  d: October 02, 1919 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio ....................  +Rachel Reed Strother b: October 01, 1843 in Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio m: March 11, 1866 in Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio (recorded in Paulding Co.) d: July 25, 1928 in Paulding County, Ohio .................... 6   Franklin Strother Shirley b: 1867 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio  d: in Idaho ........................  +Minnie Turner .................... 6   Edward C. Shirley b: September 05, 1870 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio  d: May 09, 1873 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio .................... 6   Ada J. Shirley b: January 24, 1872 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio  d: July 19, 1874 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio .................... 6   Millard Jay Shirley b: March 05, 1874 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio  d: December 18, 1878 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio .................... 6   Joseph Ray Shirley b: April 09, 1881 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio  d: July 1967 in Oakwood, Paulding County, Ohio ........................  +Clella Clark .................... 6   Bertha Anne Shirley b: December 05, 1882 in Defiance or Paulding County, Ohio  d: May 1972 in Defiance, Defiance County, Ohio .................... 6   Mabel Emma Shirley b: December 14, 1884 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio  d: December 09, 1975 in Holgate, Ohio ........................  +Frank Giltz b: March 26, 1884 in Auglaize Township, Paulding County, Ohio m: December 24, 1907 d: January 21, 1948 in Paulding County, Ohio ............... 5   Benjamin Shirley b: 1846 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio ............... 5   Emily Shirley b: 1848 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio ............... 5   Lydia P. Shirley b: 1852 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio ...........  *2nd Wife of Robert Shirley: ...............  +Elizabeth Strother b: January 24, 1827 in Licking County, Ohio m: November 19, 1863 in Paulding County, Ohio d: December 28, 1908 in Defiance or Paulding County, Ohio ............... 5   Robert Vernon Shirley b: July 07, 1865 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio  d: March 19, 1934 in Paulding County, Ohio ....................  +Mary b: 1874  d: 1922 in probably Paulding County, Ohio .................... 6   Annie Shirley b: August 11, 1909 in Paulding County, Ohio  d: October 17, 1909 in probably Paulding County, Ohio .................... 6   Fannie Shirley b: August 11, 1909 in Paulding County, Ohio  d: August 27, 1909 in Paulding County, Ohio ............... 5   Anna Ruth Shirley b: April 16, 1868 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio  d: 1913 in Grand Rapids, Michigan ....................  +George Peter Garman III b: April 23, 1869 m: September 26, 1891 in Paulding County, Ohio d: October 1950 in Grand Rapids, Michigan .................... 6   Anna Maud Garman b: Bet. 1892 and 1893  d: December 1946 in Trenton, Michigan ........................  +? Vermillion ....................  *2nd Husband of Anna Maud Garman: ........................  +Chris Whitman .................... 6   Estelle Marie Garman b: November 17, 1896 in Defiance County, Ohio  d: July 31, 1970 in Paoli, Pennsylvania ........................  +William Crawford Faust  m: November 24, 1921 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania .................... 6   George Glenn Garman b: January 17, 1900 in Mishiwaka, Indiana  d: October 1973 in Grand Rapids, Michigan ........................  +Dorothy Smith ............... 5   Sheridan S. Shirley b: April 16, 1868 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio ........... 4   Ruth Shirley b: May 01, 1811 in Ross County, Ohio  d: April 05, 1891 in Reno, Venango, Pennsylvania ...............  +James B. Austin b: August 16, 1806 in Surry County, North Carolina m: August 12, 1830 in Williams  County, Ohio ............... 5   James Austin b: in Clinton County, Ohio ............... 5   Mary Elizabeth Austin b: in Clinton County, Ohio ....................  +C.V. Culver ........... 4   John Gilbert Shirley b: June 1821 in Ross County, Ohio  d: 1849 ...... 3   Timothy Shirley b: 1777 ...........  +Ann Burbage  m: May 03, 1818 in Brown County, Ohio .. 2   Sarah Shirley b: 1738 .. 2   Dorcas Shirley b: 1741 .. 2   Robert Shirley b: 1745  d: 1815 ...... 3   Walter Shirley ...... 3   Robert Shirley, Jr. ...... 3   John Shirley ...... 3   Elizabeth Shirley ======================================================= Posted July 17th, 2002 Denise Fox has continued researching on this branch of the family and sends the following info. Thank you Denise for sharing your research. James Shirley James Shirley was born about 1837 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio. He was the son of Robert Shirley and Sarah Hudson and was a farmer. Robert was born in 1808 in Frederick County, Virginia to Robert Shirley and Rachel Gilbert. He died in 1885 in Paulding County, Ohio. Sarah Hudson was born October 23, 1812 and died November 5, 1857 in Paulding County, Ohio. She was the daughter of Shadrach Hudson and Lydia Winans. Robert and Sarah were married September 15, 1829 in Williams County, Ohio. Robert and Rachel (Gilbert) Shirley were early pioneers of Williams County, Ohio having arrived there in 1822 from Ross County, Ohio. Robert was born to James and Mary Shirley circa 1770 in Frederick County, Virginia and he died in 1836 in Williams County, Ohio. Rachel was born to Nathan Shirley and Elizabeth Scout about 1774 in Pennsylvania and died after 1840. Robert and Rachel were married January 28, 1791 in Frederick County, Virginia. Shadrach Hudson was born in 1775 and died in 1841 in Paulding County, Ohio. Lydia was born in 1781 and also died in 1841 in Paulding County, Ohio. Shadrach was an early settler of Paulding County. I found the following on the first page of the book entitled, "Early Births, Paulding County, Ohio", compiled by Ray E. Keck. It says This house is known as "the oldest house in Paulding County Ohio". It was built by Shadrach Hudson in 1822 or 1823. It was of square logs, was two stories in height, and had a huge fireplace in each end. There was two rooms on the first story. The house stood on and commanded a fine view both up and down of the Auglaize River. It was located one mile east of the town of Junction in Auglaize Township. It's builder, Shadrach Hudson, was a soldier with Gen. St. Clair and was at the battle where the General was defeated by the Indians; also during the war of 1812, Mr. Hudson visited the Maumee Valley, where being impressed with it's fertility and natural beauty, he afterward settled. At one time Mr. Hudson was a teamster employed in hauling supplies for the Army. The Hudsons were very hospitable and entertained many strangers who chanced to pass that way. What huge roasts of bear meat, vension and wild turkey they used to make before those old fireplaces. James Shirley married Angeline Rozilla Irwin December 6, 1866. Angeline was born about 1846 in Meigs County, Ohio. She was the daughter of John Irwin and Mariah Humphrey. James and Angeline had three children, Adelbert, who was born in Iowa, probably Fremont County about 1869; Minnie, who was also born in Iowa, probably Fremont County about 1871 and Jennie, who was born about 1872 in Nebraska, probably Falls City, Richardson County. The birth places of the children from census records show they moved to Iowa before 1869 and to Nebraska before 1872. Descendants of James Shirley   Generation No. 1   1. James8 Shirley (Robert7, Robert6, James5, Walter4, Robert Shirley (first Earl3 Ferrers), Sir Robert2 Shirley, Sir Henry1)1,2 was born April 1837 in Brown Township, Paulding County, Ohio3,4,5. He married Angeline Rozilla Irwin6,7 December 06, 18667, daughter of John Irwin and Mariah Humphrey. Notes for James Shirley: June 15, 2002 From Defiance County Genealogical Society Publication, "Yesteryears Trails", Fall 1982, Volume 1,No.4 page 47 "The following letters written by James A. Shirley were submitted by Mrs. Audrey Fahrer Sidney, Fremont County, Iowa, Apr 27 Dear father I recd your letter Aprile 25 and was happy to hear from you once more. We ar all well at present and hope these few lines will find you all enjoying the Comforts and Blessings of life. We have had a pleasant Spring day and the farmers have commenced tp plow for corn. I planted the Norway oats you sent me last spring but dident have very good luck with them. I shall try them again if you have plenty and think it will not be to late to sow them. I should like very much to have you send me a peck by express, to Sidney fremont Co. Iowa. I thank you very much for those you sent me last spring. I wish you would sell your farm and come out west and buy a farm that don't overflow. If you would sell out their you could by some very nice improved farms here now. Times ar good and money plenty. Corn is worth 60 cts wheat 55 and potatoes 2? cts per bushel. Excuse this short letter. yours as ever, write soon, James A. Shirley ############## Falls City, Neb Nov ? 1874 Dear father, I take this opportunity to write you a few lines. We ar all well at present and hope these few lines will find you and family all enjoying the comforts and blessings of life. It has been some time since I have recd a letter from you. We are having a very nice fall. It was very dry here this season. We only had three showers here during the growing season. Two of them was chintz bugs, the last was grasshoper. Our crops were almost an entire failure this year. Some of the western people are bound to suffer this winter for they have no grain of any kind. Some have plenty of Hogs to poor to sell for meat and no market for them, some of my neighbors are trying to give their Hogs away and can't find anyone that wants or will have them, their is some counties that is south and west of us that are entirely destitute of anything and are sure to suffer with cold and hunger - ere long before spring. I heard from Brother Will last week They wer all well then Mr Irwin and wife Angies father and Mother was down to make us a visit they live at Sidney, Iowa, they have made us one visit a year since we moved to Nebraska, and you have not made us one visit in 8 years. I cant help but think you ar treating us rather cool. I thought that last spring and all summer that I would be able to this fall to go and see sister nan, and then spend the winter in Ohio among friends but since I gather in my crops I find I will have enough to do and stay home. I have not heard from Stephen and nancy since in July they were compaining of bugs and dry weather. Come with your family and see us if you Possibly can.----If you don't come send me a good long letter. I would like to know what the boys and girls are all doing this is beautiful country, I would rather live here than anyplace I have seen between ohio and Newmexico. Come and see us Write soon Your Son, J.A. Shirley" ********************************************************** June 15, 2002 Sidney Township, Fremont County, Iowa, enumerated August 2, 1870, page 39 Shirley, James A., age 32, Farmer, Value of Real estate $800.00, Value of Personal Estate $600.00, born in Ohio Angeline, age 24, born in Ohio Adelbert (hard to read), age 1, born in Iowa ********************************************************** June 17, 2002 James and family must have moved from Iowa to Falls City, Richardson County, Nebraska about 1872 as the 1880 census for Falls City shows daughter, Minnie, age 9 as being born in Iowa and daughter, Jennie, age 8 as being born in Nebraska. *********************************************************** June 17 ,2002 1880 Census, Falls City, Richardson County, Nebraska, enumerated 3rd and 4th days of June, 1880 Shirley, James, age 41, Farmer, born in Ohio, parents born in Ohio Angeline, wife, age 32, born in Ohio, parents born in Ohio Adelbert, son, age 11, born in Iowa, father born in Ohio, mother born in Iowa Minnie, daughter, age 9, born in Iowa, parents born in Ohio Jennie, daughter, age 8, born in Nebraska, parents born in Ohio *********************************************************** July 8, 2002 1900 Census, Llanos Township, Sherman County, Kansas, ED 191, Sheet 2, Enumerated June 6, 1900 James was living next to his son, Adelbert in 1900. James was born April, 1837 in Ohio and was 63 years old. His parents were both born in Ohio. He was working as a U.S. Mail Carrier. His wife, Angeline was 53 years old and was born in March of 1847. She, as well as her parents were born in Ohio. She and James had been married for 33 years at the time of this census and she had given birth to 5 children with 4 living. Also residing with them was their son, Jesse who was born in October of 1880, was 19 years old and was a Farmer. Jesse was born in Nebraska.    Children of James Shirley and Angeline Irwin are: + 2 i. Adelbert9 Shirley, born January 1869 in Iowa. 3 ii. Minnie Shirley8, born Abt. 1871 in Iowa8. 4 iii. Jennie Shirley8, born Abt. 1872 in Nebraska8. + 5 iv. Jesse Shirley, born October 1880 in Nebraska; died April 1964 in probably Kansas.   Generation No. 2   2. Adelbert9 Shirley (James8, Robert7, Robert6, James5, Walter4, Robert Shirley (first Earl3 Ferrers), Sir Robert2 Shirley, Sir Henry1)8 was born January 1869 in Iowa8,9. He married Anna A. Decker October 19, 1893 in Sherman County, Kansas10. Notes for Adelbert Shirley: July 8, 2002 1900 Census, Llanos Township, Sherman County, Kansas, Ed No. 191 Sheet 2, Enumerated June 6, 1900 Adelbert was living next to his parents in 1900. He was 31 years old and was born in January of 1869 in Iowa. His parents were born in Ohio and he owned a farm and was a farmer. His wife, Anna A. was 20 at the time of the census. She was born in September of 1879 and was the mother of 3 children with 2 living. She and Adelbert had been married for 6 years at the time of the 1900 census. Anna was born in Illinois and her parents were born in Germany. Adelbert and Anna had two daughters, both born in Kansas, Olga A., born in November of 1895, 4 years old at the time of the census; and Vera C., born June of 1897, 2 years old at the time of the census ***********************************************************   Children of Adelbert Shirley and Anna Decker are: 6 i. Olga A.10 Shirley11, born November 1895 in Kansas11. 7 ii. Vera C. Shirley11, born June 1897 in Kansas11. 5. Jesse9 Shirley (James8, Robert7, Robert6, James5, Walter4, Robert Shirley (first Earl3 Ferrers), Sir Robert2 Shirley, Sir Henry1)11 was born October 1880 in Nebraska11, and died April 1964 in probably Kansas12. Notes for Jesse Shirley: July 8, 2002   From the Social Security Death Index: JESSE SHIRLEY SSN 512-20-2686 Residence: Kansas Born 20 Oct 1880 Died Apr 1964 Issued: KS (Before 1951)   Child of Jesse Shirley is: 8 i. Leigh10 Shirley13, born July 16, 1915 in Brewster, Thomas County,Kansas14,15; died February 08, 1997 in Kansas16. Notes for Leigh Shirley:   July 8, 2002 From the Social Security Death Index: LEIGH B SHIRLEY SSN 513-03-1451 Residence: 67701 Colby, Thomas, KS Born 16 Jul 1915 Died 8 Feb 1997 Issued: KS (Before 1951)     Endnotes   1. compiled by Ray Keck, "Early Births, Paulding County, Ohio, 1819-1879, Volume 1". 2. 1850 census. 3. compiled by Ray Keck, "Early Births, Paulding County, Ohio, 1819-1879, Volume 1". 4. 1850 census. 5. 1900 Census. 6. 1880 Census. 7. Pedigree Resource File, Family search.org, Disc #15, Pin #817028. 8. 1880 Census. 9. 1900 Census. 10. use as a guide until confirmed, IGI. 11. 1900 Census. 12. Social Security Death Index. 13. 1920 Census. 14. Social Security Death Index. 15. use as a guide until confirmed, IGI. 16. Social Security Death Index. *************************************************************** William Shirley As James, William was also a son of Robert Shirley and Sarah Hudson. According to census records he was born about 1833 in Ohio, probably near or in Paulding County. He married Julia Burt on December 25, 1852 in Paulding County, Ohio. Julia was born about 1833. William was a farmer. William and Julia had four children. Sarah, who was born about 1856 in Ohio; Elmer, who was born about 1862 in Iowa; Clara, born about 1867 in Iowa and Lilly who was born in 1870 in Iowa. This information was found in the 1870 census for Sidney Township, Fremont County, Iowa. Descendants of William Shirley   Generation No. 1   1. William8 Shirley (Robert7, Robert6, James5, Walter4, Robert Shirley (first Earl3 Ferrers), Sir Robert2 Shirley, Sir Henry1)1,2 was born Abt. 1831 in Ohio3. He married Julia Burt4,5 December 25, 1852 in Paulding County, Ohio6. Notes for William Shirley: June 17, 2002 1870 Census, Sidney Township, Fremont County, Iowa, page 26, enumerated August 19, 1870 Shirley, William, age 40, farmer, born in Ohio Julia, housekeeping, age 37, born in Ohio Sarah, age 14, born in Ohio Elmer, age 8, born in Iowa Clara, age 3, born in Iowa Lilly, age 8/12, born in Iowa   Children of William Shirley and Julia Burt are: 2 i. Sarah9 Shirley7, born Abt. 1856 in Ohio7. 3 ii. Elmer Shirley7, born Abt. 1862 in Iowa7. 4 iii. Clara Shirley7, born Abt. 1867 in Iowa7. 5 iv. Lilly Shirley7, born Abt. 1870 in Probably Sidney Township, Fremont County, Iowa7.   Endnotes   1. 1850 census. 2. 1870 Census. 3. 1850 census. 4. compiled by Ray E. Keck, "Early Marriages, Paulding County, Ohio 1839-1902". 5. 1870 Census. 6. compiled by Ray E. Keck, "Early Marriages, Paulding County, Ohio 1839-1902". 7. 1870 Census. ***************************************************************************************************************** William Raper Shirley William was a first cousin to James and William Shirley. His father was Elias Shirley who was the brother of James and William's father, Robert. Elias was born December 25, 1800 in Frederick County, Virginia. He died March 21, 1855 in Delaware Township, Defiance County, Ohio. He married Phoebe Hudson September 15, 1829 in Williams County, Ohio. Phoebe Hudson was a sister of Sarah Hudson who married the brother of Elias, Robert Shirley. She died August 20, 1847. William Raper Shirley was born May 19, 1833 in Defiance County, Ohio. He married Sarah Hunter who was born about 1836 in Ohio. They married on October 25, 1853, probably in Ohio.   In the book entitled entitled, "History of Fremont County, Iowa", published in 1881 it states "Shirley, W.R., P.O. Hamburg; born in Defiance County, Ohio, May 19, 1833 and received his education in the common school and on a farm. He came to Iowa in 1858 and has since been a resident of Fremont County. Was married to Miss Sarah Hunter, October 25, 1853. They have nine chidren living Elias, Mary A., Almeda, Emma, Adolphus and Adelia (twins), Wilbur, Wallace and Guy. Owns eighty-three acres of finely improved land" =========================================================== Descendants of William Raper Shirley   Generation No. 1   1. William Raper8 Shirley (Elias7, Robert6, James5, Walter4, Robert Shirley (first Earl3 Ferrers), Sir Robert2 Shirley, Sir Henry1) was born May 19, 1833 in Ohio1,2. He married Sarah Hunter September 08, 1853 in Defiance County, Ohio3,4. Notes for William Raper Shirley: June 17, 2002 1870 Census Sidney Township, Fremont County, Iowa, Enumerated August 19, 1870 pages 26-27 Shirley, William, age 37, Farmer, Value of Personal Estate - $1,500, born in Ohio Sarah, age 34, born in Ohio Elias, age 14, born in Ohio Alice, age 11, born in Ohio Almeda, age 5, born in Iowa Emma, age 3, born in Iowa Adlephus, age 1, born in Iowa Adelphia, age 1, born in Iowa Andreson, Syrus, age 23, Blacksmith, born in LA.   Fom the book entitled "History of Fremont County, Iowa Des Moines: Iowa Hist. Co., 1881" Found under Iowa Biographies Project on Rootsweb.com SHIRLEY, W. R., P. O Hamburg; born in Defiance county, Ohio, May 19, 1833, and received his education in the common school and on a farm. Came to Iowa in 1858, and has since been a resident of Fremont county. Was married to Miss Sarah Hunter, October 25, 1853. They have nine children living: Elias, Mary A., Almeda, Emma, Adolphus and Adelia (twins), Wilbur, Wallace, and Guy. Owns eighty-three acres of finely improved land.   1900 Census Shirley, William, born May 1833, 67 years old, married 46 years, born in ohio, father born in Pennsylvania, mother born in Virginia, farmer, owned farm, no mortgage, farm schedule 236 Sarah, wife, born Oct 1836, 63 years old, married 46 years, mother of 10 children 9 living, born in Pennsylvania, parents born in Pennsylvania Wallace, son, born Feb 1876, age 24, single, born in Iowa, fahter born in Ohio, mother born in Pennsylvania, farm laborer Guy, son, born Feb 1879, age 21, single, born in Iowa, father born in Ohio, mother born in Pennsylvania, farm laborer ************************************ William and Sarah must have moved to Iowa between 1859 and 1865. William's first cousin, also William Shirley moved to Iowa between 1856-1862 *********************************************** June 18, 2002   Found of Rootsweb.com: History of Fremont County, Iowa Des Moines: Iowa Hist. Co., 1881. Sidney Township Transcribed by Cay Merryman SHIRLEY, W. R., P. O Hamburg; born in Defiance county, Ohio, May 19, 1833, and received his education in the common school and on a farm. Came to Iowa in 1858, and has since been a resident of Fremont county. Was married to Miss Sarah Hunter, October 25, 1853. They have nine children living: Elias, Mary A., Almeda, Emma, Adolphus and Adelia (twins), Wilbur, Wallace, and Guy. Owns eighty-three acres of finely improved land.    Children of William Shirley and Sarah Hunter are: + 2 i. Elias9 Shirley, born October 1855 in Ohio. 3 ii. Alice Shirley5, born Abt. 1859 in Ohio5. 4 iii. Almeda Shirley5, born Abt. 1865 in Iowa5. 5 iv. Emma Shirley5, born Abt. 1867 in Iowa5. + 6 v. Adelphus Shirley, born January 1869 in Iowa. 7 vi. Adelphia Shirley5, born Abt. 1869 in Iowa5. + 8 vii. Wallace Shirley, born February 24, 1876 in Iowa; died February 01, 1964 in Iowa. 9 viii. Guy Shirley6, born February 1879 in Iowa6.   Generation No. 2   2. Elias9 Shirley (William Raper8, Elias7, Robert6, James5, Walter4, Robert Shirley (first Earl3 Ferrers), Sir Robert2 Shirley, Sir Henry1)7 was born October 1855 in Ohio7,8. He married Susan8. Notes for Elias Shirley: June 17, 2002 1900 Census, Sidney Township, Fremont County, Iowa, Shhet 13, ED 65, Enumerated June 20, 1900 Shirley, Elias, born Oct. 1855, 44 years old, married 20 years, born in Ohio, father born in Ohio, mother born in Pennsylvania, Farmer, owned, mortgaged, farm schedule- 225 Susan, wife, born April 1854, 45 years old, married 20 years, mother of 4 children - 4 living, born in Pennsaylvania, parents born in Pennsylvania Edna M., daughter, born Sept. 1880, 19 years old, single, born in Iowa, father born in Ohio, mother born in Pennsylvania Joy M., daughter, born January 1882, 18 years old, single, " " " Minnie B., daughter, born January 1884, 16 years old, single, " " " Glen (?) A., son, born July 1890, 9 years old, " " "   Children of Elias Shirley and Susan are: 10 i. Edna M.10 Shirley8, born September 1880 in Iowa8. 11 ii. Joy M. Shirley8, born January 1882 in Iowa8. 12 iii. Minnie B. Shirley8, born January 1884 in Iowa8. + 13 iv. Glen A. Shirley, born July 1890 in Iowa. 6. Adelphus9 Shirley (William Raper8, Elias7, Robert6, James5, Walter4, Robert Shirley (first Earl3 Ferrers), Sir Robert2 Shirley, Sir Henry1)9 was born January 1869 in Iowa9,10. He married Jennie10 Abt. 1898 in probably Sidney Township, Fremont County,Iowa10. Notes for Adelphus Shirley: June 17, 2002 Art the time of the 1900 census, Adelphus was residing next-door to his father. 1900 Census, Sidney Township, fremont County, Iowa, Enumerated June 20, 1900 Sheet 13A   Child of Adelphus Shirley and Jennie is: 14 i. Arnold10 Shirley10, born October 1898 in Sidney Township, Fremont County, Iowa10. Notes for Arnold Shirley: June 17, 2002 1900 census, Sidney Township, Fremont Township, Iowa Shirley, Adelphus, born January 1869, married 2 years, born in Iowa, fater born in Ohio, mother born in Pennsylvania, farmer, owned , no mortgage, farm schedule 227 Jennie, wife, born May 1879, married 2 years, mother of 1 child, one child living, born in Iowa, parents born iin Iowa Arnold, son, born October 1898 in Iowa, parents born in Iowa 8. Wallace9 Shirley (William Raper8, Elias7, Robert6, James5, Walter4, Robert Shirley (first Earl3 Ferrers), Sir Robert2 Shirley, Sir Henry1)10 was born February 24, 1876 in Iowa10,11, and died February 01, 1964 in Iowa12,13. He married Melvina Hume14 December 14, 190414, daughter of Fountain Hume and Libbie Brown. Notes for Wallace Shirley: June 18, 2002 From the Social Security Death Index: Wallace SHIRLEY Birth Date: 24 Feb 1876 Death Date: Feb 1964 Social Security Number: 508-46-3536 State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: Nebraska   Actual Death Residence: Iowa   ****************************************************8 June 18, 2002 1920 Census, Sidney Township, Fremont County, Iowa, Enumerated March 4, 1920 Shirley, Wallie, head, owned home with a mortgage, age 43, born in Iowa, father born in Ohio, mother born in (illegible), farmer Melvina, wife, age 35, born in Iowa, father born in Kentucky, mother born in Ohio Martha, daughter, age 14, born in Iowa, parents born in Iowa Fountain, son, age 8, born in Iowa, parents born in Iowa Mary, daughter, age 4, born in Iowa, parents born in Iowa Irene (?), age 10/12, born in Iowa, parents born in Iowa   Children of Wallace Shirley and Melvina Hume are: 15 i. Martha10 Shirley15, born Abt. 1906 in Iowa, probably Fremont County15. 16 ii. Fountain Shirley15, born Abt. 1912 in Iowa, probably Fremont County15. 17 iii. Mary Shirley15, born Abt. 1916 in Iowa, probably Fremont County15. 18 iv. Irene Shirley15, born Abt. 1919 in Iowa, probably Fremont County15.   Generation No. 3   13. Glen A.10 Shirley (Elias9, William Raper8, Elias7, Robert6, James5, Walter4, Robert Shirley (first Earl3 Ferrers), Sir Robert2 Shirley, Sir Henry1)16,17 was born July 1890 in Iowa18,19. He married Emma H.19. Notes for Glen A. Shirley: June 18, 2002 1920 Census, Sidney Township, Fremont Couty, Iowa Shirley, Glen, 29, born in Iowa, father born in Ohio, mother born in Pennsylvania, Farmer Emma H., wife, 28, born in Iowa, father born in Illinois, mother born in Ohio Gracie, daughter, age 8, born in Iowa, parents born in Iowa T?, son, age 6, born in Montana, parents born in Iowa Ross, son, age 3, born in Iowa, parents born in Iowa   Children of Glen Shirley and Emma H. are: 19 i. Gracie11 Shirley19, born Abt. 1912 in Iowa, probably Fremont County19. 20 ii. T? Shirley19, born Abt. 1914 in Iowa, probably Fremont County19. 21 iii. Ross Shirley19, born Abt. 1916 in Montana19.   Endnotes   1. The Defiance County Historical Society, "History of Defiance County, Illustrated, 1976". 2. 1870 Census. 3. The Defiance County Historical Society, "History of Defiance County, Illustrated, 1976". 4. FTM CD# 236, Ohio Marriage Index, 1851-1900. 5. 1870 Census. 6. 1900 Census. 7. 1870 Census. 8. 1900 Census. 9. 1870 Census. 10. 1900 Census. 11. Social Security Death Index. 12. Ancestry World Tree use as a gude until confirmed. 13. Social Security Death Index. 14. Ancestry World Tree use as a gude until confirmed. 15. 1920 Census. 16. 1900 Census. 17. 1920 Census. 18. 1900 Census. 19. 1920 Census   ======================================================= Generation No. 1 1.  ROBERT6 SHIRLEY  (JAMES5, WALTER4, ROBERT SHIRLEY (FIRST EARL3 FERRERS), SIR ROBERT2 SHIRLEY, SIR HENRY1) was born Abt. 1770 in Frederick County, Virginia, and died 1836 in Williams County, Ohio.  He married RACHEL GILBERT January 28, 1791 in Frederick County, Virginia, daughter of NATHAN GILBERT and CATHERINE SCOUT. Notes for ROBERT SHIRLEY: In March of 1822 Robert and Rachel moved from Ross County, Ohio to Williams County (now Defiance County), bringing seven of their eight children with them.   The trip took three weeks. They arrived  at Fort Defiance and lived in a log home at the fort. This fort was built for the War of 1812, by General Winchester, but came to be spoken of as Fort Defiance. The fort (Winchester's) stood on the bank of the Auglaize River about 200 yards above the point where Wayne's old Fort Defiance stood. As soon as Robert could, he built a double-log cabin a short distance above the fort on the Auglaize. The family resided in the cabin for several years. Robert then bought land on the other side of the Auglaize River, one mile from Defiance, improved it and moved his family there. Robert was a farmer. ************************************************** The following is taken from the book entitled, "History of Defiance County, Ohio" Warner and Beers 1883. pages 84-85, concerning the organization of Williams County. Williams County was organized in April of 1824, and Henry, Paulding and Putnam Counties were attached to it for civil purposes. The nucleus of the early settlement of these counties was at Defiance and it was chiefly settlers, in what now constitutes Defiance County, who were active in the early official life of Williams County. The first court in Williams County at Defiance was held April 15, 1824, with Ebenezer Land, Presiding Judge, and Robert Shirley, John Perkins, and Pierce Evans, Associate Judges. The proprietors of the town of Defiance having deeded forty town lots to the county, the Commissioners offered them for sale at auction, February 1, 1826. Only seven were sold, as follows: Lot 4 to William Preston, $80.00, Lot 12 to Samuel Vance, $41.00, Lot 58 to John Perkins, $40.00, Lot 64 to Samuel Vance for $85.00, Lot 101 to John Perkins for $71.00, Lot 107 to John Pliver for $36.00, Lot 61 to Robert and Nathan Shirley for $77.00. *********************************************** THE WILL OF ROBERT SHIRLEY I Robert Shirley Senior of the County of Williams in the State of Ohio, make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say: First, It is my will that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be fully paid. Second, I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Rachel Shirley in lieu of her dower the plantation on which we now reside, situated south of Auglaize of section twenty six in Township Four North of Range Four East in the district of Piqua and state of Ohio, containing sixty nine acres and thirty hundredths of an acre, also the North fraction of the North West quarter of Section Thirty five in Township Four North of Range Four east in the district of Piqua and state of Ohio, containing sixty-six acres and seventy five hundredths of an acre,  during her natural life, and all the livestock, horses, cattle sheep, hogs, etc,  by me now owned and kept thereon. Also all the ho usehold furniture and other items not particularly named and otherwise disposed of in this will, during her natural life as aforesaid.  She however first disposing of a sufficiency thereof to pay my just debts as aforesaid, and at the death of my said wife all property hereby devised or bequeathed to her as aforesaid or so much thereof as may remain unexpended to my six children, Nathan, James, Elias, Robert, Ruth and John. Second I give and devise to my youngest son John Shirley, thirty acres of land off of the North fraction of the West quarter of section thirty five in Township Four North of Range Five East in the district of Piqua containing sixty six acres and twenty five hundredths of an acre.  Said thirty acres is to be divided off by an east and west line running through said fraction, and John is to have the south part of said fraction and I also give and devise to my son John Shirley the sum of two hundred dollars and it is my will that the above sum should be laid out in hand under the direction of my son, Nathan Shirley.   I also give and devise to my son John, one horse, bridle and saddle, one cow and calf, and bed and bedding forever and at the death of my said wife all the property hereby devised or bequeathed to her as aforesaid or so much thereof as may remain after taking out that I have above devised to my son, John.  It is my will that the property be disposed of and divided equally among my six children, Nathan, James, Elias, Robert, Ruth and John. And Lastly, I hereby constitute and appoint my son Nathan Shirley as the executor for this my last will and testament revoking and annulling all former wills by me made and satisfying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the 25th day of January A.D. 1836 Signed, published and declared by the above named Robert Shirley Senior for his last will and testament in presence of us who at his request have signed as witnesses to this Samo. Peter Sharp Isaac Ho??? Robert Shirley E. Phelps Clerk **************************************************** August 1, 1998 The following is the History of Robert Shirley according to Audrey Fahrer who was a member of the Defiance County Genealogical Society in the 1970's and named the newsletter, "Yesterday's Trails". Robert Shirley brought his family to Defiance County (then Williams) inApril of 1822. He had been born in Frederick County, Virginia circa 1770 the son of James and Mary Shirley. On January 28, 1791 he married Rachel Gilbert, the daughter of Nathan and Elizabeth Scout. In 1808 he moved his family of wife and six children to the Brown County, Ohio area. The youngest of the children was a baby boy named Robert. In 1810 he moved again to Ross County, Ohio where two more children were born. After exploring the land north of Ross County, Robert Shirley decided that the land around Fort Findley was a more promising sight for a future home.In 1821 he sent his sons James and Elias with a party of men and boys to settle some land there. They took horses and wagons loaded with farming tools, seed corn, potatoes and a few hogs.  At the end of the summer, part of the group returned home, including Elias.  James stayed with two othersto harvest the crops and put the meat down. The provisions were left in the care of a Cox family who lived there. ************************************************** Children of ROBERT SHIRLEY and RACHEL GILBERT are: 2. i. NATHAN7 SHIRLEY, b. December 05, 1791, Frederick County, Virginia; d. August 25, 1871, Charloe, Paulding County, Ohio. 3. ii. JAMES SHIRLEY, b. 1797, Frederick County, Virginia; d. Abt. 1852, Delaware Bend, Delaware Township,  Defiance County, Ohio. 4. iii. ELIAS SHIRLEY, b. December 25, 1800, Frederick County, Virginia; d. March 21, 1855, Delaware Bend, Delaware Township,  Defiance County, Ohio. iv. MARY SHIRLEY, b. 1804, Frederick County, Virginia; d. April 11, 1826; m. THOMAS WARREN, August 11, 1825, Williams County, Ohio. Notes for MARY SHIRLEY: Mary died one year after her marriage to Thomas Warren More About THOMAS WARREN: Fact 1: August 11, 1825, Warren is spelled Waun on marriage record. 3.  JAMES SHIRLEY (ROBERT6, JAMES5, WALTER4, ROBERT SHIRLEY (FIRST EARL3 FERRERS), SIR ROBERT2 SHIRLEY, SIR HENRY1) was born 1797 in Frederick County, Virginia, and died Abt. 1852 in Delaware Bend, Delaware Township, Defiance County, Ohio.  He married ELIZABETH GILBERT January 17, 1839 in Delaware Township, Williams County, Ohio, daughter of ELIAS GILBERT and CATHERINE FRYE. Notes for JAMES SHIRLEY: James Shirley was one of the first settlers of Delaware Township, Williams County, Ohio. (Delaware Township became part of Defiance County in 1845.) He moved to Williams County in the spring of either 1821 or 1822 with his parents and siblings. At the age of about 42, he married his first cousin, Elizabeth Gibert who as about 22 years old. Her brother, John Gilbert was her legal guardian. He was very upset that she married her first cousin, and he wanted nothing to do with the Shirley family. When he died his widow, Nancy( Hoover), married Elias Shirley. Oral history says John Gilbert must have turned over in his grave. (Denise in 1998 says.... Because of the fact that my fourth great grand parents were first cousins, I have double relationships...my mother is my 6th cousin...my siblings are my 7th cousins and I am my own 7th cousin!!!!!) ************************************************* James was the "adopted" son of Indian chief, Ockonoksee. After Ockonoksee's son   died and was buried in a shallow grave,  James erected a booth over it   made from saplings he cut from the woods for protection. When Ockonoksee saw it he inquired who did it, and on learning it was James, he sent for him.  Ockonoksee set up a mark  and selected two Indian boys as well as James to try to hit the mark.  He stated whoever hit it would become his adopted son.  James hit the mark. At the time of James death he owned over 700 acres of land along the Maumee River in Defiance County, Ohio and Allen County, Indiana. The above is from "The History of Defiance County", Warner and Beers 1883. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following is from the book entitled "History of Defiance County, Ohio" Warner and Beers 1883, page 85, pertaing to the organization of Williams County: First Election: At the first election for county officers, held April 8, 1824, Timothey T. Smith received 37 votes, and H. Jerome 26 for Auditor; for Coroner, Arthur Burras 6 votes, John Oliver, 40 and Thomas Warren 17; for Sheriff, James Shirley had 14 votes and William Preston 48; for Commissioners, Jesse Hilton 58, Cyrus Hunter 37, Charles Gunn 31, Montgomery Evans 28, Benjamin Leavell 26, William Hunter 4, and John Oliver 1. James Shirley was also on the first Grand Jury of Williams County, Ohio. Page 10-111, same book Navigating the Maumee When the new settlers on the Maumee raised a surplus of grain it was sometimes shipped down the Maumee River in pirogues. Dr. John Evans, who was engaged in trade at Defiance at that time had taken in quite an amount of corn, which he concluded to ship, and hired Thomas Warren, Isaac Perkins and James Shirley to ship to market. It was loaded into a pirogue and started down the river, arriving at the head of the rapids (Providence) where they landed for a rest. Eighteen miles of rapid current and intricate channels were before them. None of them knew the channels and rock; neither of them had ever passed over the rapids, and in prospect was not a pleasant ride; after this short rest they moved on and into the whirling rapids through which they passed in saftey, and in due time arrived at Maumee City, where they sold their corn for 50 cents per bushel to Col. John E. Hunt. The measure upon unloading overrun 12 bushels, caused by the splashing of the water in the rapids, which swelled the corn. This the boatmen claimed, giving them each $2.00, which they proposed to expend on their home journey in high living. Being now ready to return, Mr. Thomas Garrett, a blacksmith, was on his way to Defiance to locate, and proposed to take passage with them. He treated the boys and thanked them from being thus relieved from the journey on foot. They now had to run the river against the current, and they made but six miles the first day, with the aid of Mr. Garrett, who towed manfully on the cordelle. Next morning, Mr. Garrett again treated the boys, thanked them for their kindness, but proposed to continue his journey on foot. *************************************************** James served as a Justice of the Peace for Williams County Date of commission: July, 31, 1830 Date of oath: August 20, 1830 Township: Delaware ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ As of 1998, there is still a Shirley family graveyard at "The Bend" but over the years it has been vandalized and the tombstones have been broken. It is family gossip that the missing tombstones are located at a house that is near the old Shirley cemetery. What is left of the site is on Speaker Road, not too far from Route 18.(Speaker Road is a gravel road located at "the Bend"  in Delaware Township, Defiance County, Ohio.)  St Stephens Catholic Church is on Speaker Road and their address is Rt 1 Speaker Rd., Sherwood, Ohio. After you go by the church, on the right is a gravel driveway and you take that until it ends. If you look to the left, you will see a clump of trees and that is where James Shirley's tombstone is. May of 1998 has found  the area dug up by ground hogs and the farmer who is renting the land has dumped a load of limestone gravel up against the site and it is making it's way to the grave of James Shirley. The whole site is overgrown. When you are walking from the driveway to the site, after you are about halfway, if you look to your right you will see where James Shirley built his cabin. Beyond the trees is the Maumee River. *************************************************** Notes for ELIZABETH GILBERT: The following is taken from the book entitled "History of Defiance County, Ohio", Warner and Beers 1883 Mrs. Elizabeth Speaker was born May 9, 1817 in Lewis County, Kentucky; and came to Defiance County and settled in Delaware Township, with family of James Shirley, in 1839, in what was known as the "Bend" on the Maumee River. The persons arriving earlier were Tobias Mulligan and father, Montgomery Evans and sons. Mr. Shirley improved his farm in the "Bend". Elizabeth married James Shirley in June, 1839. He lived 13 years and died in 1852. She hen married Charles Speaker June 10, 1853. He died December 16, 1872. His estate caused much litigation. The children were- William, Robert, Eliza, Alexander, Louisa, Sylvester; Elizabeth, Emma and Frank by her last husband. Four children are living, one by the first husband and three by the last husband. The family records are lost. The first settlers were George W. Hill, James Shirley, G. Lombard, G. Blair and others. ************************************************** Rachel Gilbert, the mother of James Shirley was Elizabeth's father's sister.   Elizabeth married her first cousin James, and they lived at "The Bend" in Delaware Township, Defiance County, Ohio.  At the time of their marriage Elizabeth was 22 years old and James was 42. James died thirteen years after their marriage and she then married Charles Speaker. ************************************************** OBITUARY of Elizabeth Gilbert Shirley Speaker One by one the pioneers of this section, by whose industry and sacrifice much of our comfort and welfare has procured, are passing to their reward. too soon will the links which bind the present generation to the past be severed and only the results of the labor and toil of the early settlers be left as a monument to the untiring zeal that changed the country from a wilderness to one of the garden spots of earth. In the death of Mrs. Elizabeth L. Speaker another beautiful chapter of the past is closed.   She was one of the noble pioneer women whose influence has ever been toward the upbuilding and and uplifting of the home and who by her quiet unostentatious lining has wielded a potent influence for good upon all with whom she came in contact. Mrs. Speaker was born May 9th, 1817 in Lewis County, Kentucky and came to Defiance County and settled in Delaware Township with the family of James Shirley in 1839 in what is now known as Delaware Bend on the Maumee River. In June 1839, she was united in marriage to James Shirley and six children came to gladden this home. only one survives the sainted mother, Robert B. Shirley, who resides in Woodburn, Indiana. James Shirley died thirteen years after their marriage, and in 1852, Mrs. Speaker was married to Charles Speaker, who died December 16, 1872. The three children of this union who survive their beloved mother are Mrs. J.K. Denman, wife of Dr. Denman, of Delaware Bend; Mrs. Emma Speaker Gray, wife of Glen Gray, passenger agent of the Wabash at Defiance Junction, and Charles Speaker. Mrs. Speaker passed into eternal life at the old homestead where she has spent all of her long, useful life, Friday, April 27, at 2:30 PM. Aged 82 years, 11 months and 18 days. The remains will be brought to this city Monday at 12:18 via the B&O and taken to Riverside Chapel where services will be held. Elizabeth Gilbert Shirley Speaker is buried at the Riverside Cemetery in Defiance County. *********************************************** 1880 Productions of Agriculture in Delaware Township, Defiance County, Ohio Elizabeth owned her farm that consisted of 90 tilled acres and 40 acres which were woods. Her farm was valued at $3,100. She had a milk cow and 50 pounds of butter was produced in 1879. She had 3 pigs and 30 chickens which produced 150 dozen eggs in 1879. She had 70 apple trees that produced 200 bushels of apples. *********************************************** 1880 Census, Delaware Township, Defiance County, Ohio Elizabeth Speaker, age 64, mother, widowed, dropsy of the heart, housework, born in Kentucky, parents born in Virginia Frank, son, age 23, single, farmer, born in Ohio, father born in Germany, mother born in Kentucky ************************************************ Children of JAMES SHIRLEY and ELIZABETH GILBERT are: 11 i. WILLIAM JAMES SHIRLEY, b. November 02, 1840, Williams County, Ohio; d. May 09, 1874, Delaware Township, Defiance County, Ohio. ii. ROBERT B. SHIRLEY, b. October 24, 1842, Defiance County, Ohio; d. February 06, 1930, Woodburn,Allen County, Indiana; m. LADORA FAULKNER, May 01, 1880, Delaware Bend, Delaware Township, Defiance County, Ohio. Notes for ROBERT B. SHIRLEY: Robert B. Shirley, 88, a former state senator, and for many years a Democratic leader in county and state politics, died at 5 o'clock Thursday morning at his home near Woodburn (Indiana). Stricken four weeks ago by mastoid complications, the former member of the legislature weakened rapidly and within a few days his condition was serious. On Jan. 20, Mr. Shirley was removed to St. Joseph's Hospital, but a week later he expressed a wish to return to the farm home where he spent most of his life since coming to Maumee Township, Allen County, at the age of 20 years. ( 1862) Robert Shirley was born on October 28, 1842 in Defiance County, Ohio, a son of James and Elizabeth Shirley.  At the age of 17 the youth accepted a clerking position in a grocery store in Antwerp, Ohio; which he retained until he came to Indiana with his parents, three years later. A splendid example of the self-educated man, Mr. Shirley received only a common school education in the Defiance county schools.  Later, through much reading, he became well educated and for a time studied law.  His career as a lawyer was interrupted by ill health and Mr. Shirley returned to work on the farm that he owned until the time of his death. The political career of the former state senator began in 1871, when he was elected justice of the peace and land appraiser of Maumee Township. (Allen County, Indiana). In 1874 he was re-elected to the joint offices by a large majority,. So well did he manage the public trusts that in 1880 he became candidate and was elected township trustee of Maumee Township.  In the next election he was again made trustee, which office he held until 1885. Mr. Shirley's first step into state government came in 1885, when he was appointed engrossing clerk of the state legislature.  He held that position during the four year term extending to 1889.  For a period of time between 1889 and 1898 his personal affairs demanded much attention and he remained out of public office. In 1898 the Allen County man became a candidate for the state legislature, and support by many of his friends gave him the election.  He was twice elected to that body. The political affairs of Mr. Shirley reached a climax in 1922, when he was elected to the state senate from Allen County. He retired from that office in 1926, when defeated by Otto W. Koenig in the primary election. In 1928 Mr. Shirley became a candidate for the state legislature, but the general Republican majority prevented his election.  Despite his advanced age, (86) the veteran official planned to become a candidate for the Democratic nomination for the state senator in the primary election to be held May 6.  His sudden illness prevented a formal announcement. During recent years in state legislature as a representative and as a state senator, Mr Shirley was active in support of farm legislation.  He took an active part in the passage of a bill which enabled the city of Ft. Wayne and railroad companies operating through the city to build elevated tracks and street subways. Throughout his many years of public life, the Maumee Township man remained loyal to the farm and until his fatal illness he actively followed the occupation of farming.  His farm, two miles of Woodburn, was a popular picnic resort and every year hundreds of persons enjoyed such affairs there. Shirley City, the legal name of the town corporation of Woodburn, is in honor of Senator Shirley, Shirley City is the designation by which the corporation appears upon the tax duplicate and other official papers. Woodburn is the post office name. Mr. Shirley was a member of I.O.O.F. lodge in Ft. Wayne and of the Knights of Pythias lodge at Defiance, Ohio.  He attended the Methodist Episcopal Church at Woodburn. Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Dora A. Shirley; one half-sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Crouch of Delaware, Ohio; A nephew, H.A. Little (Horatio) of Ft. Wayne, and other nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 1o'clock at the home of a niece, Mrs. J E Augspurger of Woodburn. Rev. Edward P. Smith, pastor of the Woodburn Methodist Episcopal Church will officiate. Burial will be in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery at New Haven.  Members of the Knights of Pythias Lodge will have charge of services at the grave. Notes for LADORA FAULKNER: Ladora is buried at the IOOF Cemetery, New Haven, Indiana. Ladora and Robert did not have any children, but they raised the granddaughter of Ladora's brother, Beatrice, who married Curtis Speaker. 12. iii. ELIZA JEAN SHIRLEY, b. December 16, 1844, Defiance County, Ohio; d. 1874. 13. iv. SYLVESTER SHIRLEY, b. 1845, Defiance County, Ohio. v. ALEXANDER SHIRLEY, b. February 04, 1847, Defiance County, Ohio; d. March 24, 1872, Defiance County, Ohio. vi. LEVISA SHIRLEY, b. October 14, 1850, Defiance County, Ohio; d. 1854. 4.  ELIAS SHIRLEY (ROBERT6, JAMES5, WALTER4, ROBERT SHIRLEY (FIRST EARL3 FERRERS), SIR ROBERT2 SHIRLEY, SIR HENRY1) was born December 25, 1800 in Frederick County, Virginia, and died March 21, 1855 in Delaware Bend, Delaware Township,  Defiance County, Ohio.   He married (1) PHOEBE HUDSON September 15, 1829 in Williams County, Ohio, daughter of SHADRACK HUDSON and LYDIA WINANS.  He married (2) NANCY HOOVER May 1851 in Lewis County, Kentucky. Notes for ELIAS SHIRLEY: Elias Shirley served as a Justice of the Peace in Williams County. Date of commission: April 23, 1839 Date of oath: April 14, 1839 Township: Auglaize This information comes from "Magistrates Qualifications 1824-1978" for Williams County, Ohio ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ "History of Defiance County, Ohio" Warner and Beers 1883. Page 171 The children of Elias Shirley, -  Elizabeth Shirley, G. Shirley, and W.R. Shirley are listed in a register of Pupils in School District No. 1, Defiance Township who attended the school from December 4, 1839 to February 28, 1840. The following is taken from the book entitled, "History of Defiance County, Ohio", Warner and Beers 1883 Pages 209-210, in an account written by Phillip Shirley, nephew of Elias:  In the year 1828, Elias Shirley and his wife, Phebe Hudson, settled on their farm, four miles south of Defiance, now known as the Shots farm. Once while Uncle Elias and Aunt Phebe were eating their breakfast, in came a large, rough looking old Indian who said he was buckata (hungry) and pointing down his throat. Uncle told aunt to give him some victuals on a plate (which was good treatment for Indian beggars and generally well received). The Indian appeared angry and asked to eat at the table which uncle denied him. He ate his meal, appearing to be angry, and left in an unthankful manner. About three weeks afterward, Uncle Elias Shirley was attending a public sale of James Hudson's property, preparatory to moving to Fort Wayne to work at the brick mason trade, and about 11 o'clock, he noticed that same old Indian and a young Indian looking on at the sale and observed the usual mean countenance of the old Indian. The two Indians soon left and went up to Elias Shirley's house, finding his wife and child alone. The old Indian ordered the woman to get the two Indians something to eat and to put it on the table. He ordered what to get and watched her closely while she got it, and the tea and sugar from the bureau drawer, etc. When the meal was got agreeably to order, the two Indians sat down to eat, the old Indian ordering her to get whatever was needed. The young Indian got up from the table first and started out of the house. When he got to the door, he beckoned the woman to come to him and told her to make her escape for the old Indian intended to kill her, and the young Indian went up the road. The old Indian finished his meal and went to the window and looked up and down the road, apparently to see if any one was passing, and while so doing, the woman took the child and ran toward the river, thinking to wade across the river to Abraham Hudson's farm, but the old Indian overtook her at the river, after running a quarter of a mile. He drew his butcher knife and drove her back to the house and set up a chair in the middle of the floor and made her sit down on it, and told her if she got up, he would kill her. He then took hold of the child and tried to take it from her. But she resolved to never let go of it, so they pulled till she thought it was badly hurt. He finally let go of the child and commenced dancing around her. He soon went to the window again to watch the road. She went out of the house in another direction and got behind a large sugar tree, and feared the child would cry. She saw the old Indian come out of the house and look all around, and then he ran toward the river as before, and she took to the woods and went down to the river two or three miles where the sale was. They were still selling, and she, knowing her safety, and not wishing to interrupt the sale, stood in the thicket of bushes near by for quite awhile, until the sale closed, when she appeared and told her story. Her husband, Elias Shirley, took his gun, mounted a horse and rode for his house, followed by his brothers, Nathan, James and Robert, and many neighbors. When they reached the house they found it knee deep in feathers, two feather beds having been ripped open and emptied on the floor. A few gallons of lard had been poured over the feathers. The chairs had been thrown into the fire in the fireplace and then thrown on the feathers. Medicine bottles were all broken. The bureau had been robbed of its contents, sugar, tea, etc., and a large iron kettle had been chopped down to the bottom with Shirley's ax, and all was quiet. Some forty neighbors went in pursuit the next day, rationed for an Indian hunt. They went to Occonoxee's village, but the Indian had gone to the woods to hunt. They ate their dinner at the village and while there some men drew a figure of an Indian on one of their doors with a big heart and several of the men shot the heart full of holes. The men divided into companies of ten men each and separated and went up Flatrock Creek, Blue Creek and Little Auglaize River, with orders not to shoot a gun until the Indian was found and then they were to shoot signal guns until they all got together. One company found the two Indians at their camp on Flatrock Creek and signaled all together. When Nathan Shirley and Elias Shirley and their company came up to the Indians, the old Indian's head was all white with feathers. Elias Shirley begged for a gun to shoot the old Indian but Nathan and others refused to give him a gun. They had the old Indian lodged in jail at Defiance, where he was confined for some time for trial. The young Indian was allowed to go at large, as being only a coward in bad company. The chiefs of the Ottawa nations were called together by their agent and a settlement made by paying Elias Shirley $100, it being a low estimate of the property destroyed without any compensation made for damages. The Indians said this Indian was a bad man and often abused their families and caused much trouble. They said they were sorry Shirley was prevented from shooting the Indian and the Indian was released from prison with orders to never be seen in that neighborhood, and if he ever came back Shirley was permitted to shoot him. Elias Shirley said he met him once afterward in Defiance, but when they recognized each other the Indian dodged away and he never saw him again. The next summer when Nathan Shirley and some hands were clearing on his new farm preparatory to moving, Occonoxee, the chief, and Segatchaway (Occonoxee's brother), Dr. Kickwas, Sco-be nah, Poke-shaw, and several other Indians, Occonoxee said to Nathan Shirley: "You are Colonel Shirley, and I am Occonoxee, chief; your men shoot Indian on wigwam door, Indian no like it." Shirley, seeing the situation, said: "Come to the house", and Shirley took a piece of charcoal and drew a large picture on a board of a white man having a hat on and a very large heart, and said, "Indian, you shoot at it." Several of the Indians took aim and shot through the heart. Then Occonoxee shook hands with Shirley and said, "good friends." and the Indians went away satisfied. Notes for NANCY HOOVER: Nancy is buried at the East Fork Church Cemetery, Lewis County, Kentucky. Children of ELIAS SHIRLEY and PHOEBE HUDSON are: i. GEORGE WASHINGTON SHIRLEY, b. December 18, 1827; m. (1) SARA EMILY HARRIS; m. (2) LUCY N. LOCKWOOD. ii. ELIZABETH ANN SHIRLEY, b. November 07, 1830; m. JOHN ANDREWS. iii. WILLIAM RAPER SHIRLEY, b. May 19, 1833; m. SARAH HUNTER, September 08, 1853, Defiance County, Ohio.  v. NANCY SHIRLEY, b. 1806, Frederick County, Virginia; d. March 01, 1823, Defiance County, Ohio. More About NANCY SHIRLEY: Cause of Death: measles 5. vi. ROBERT SHIRLEY, b. 1808, Frederick County, Virginia; d. 1885, Paulding County, Ohio. 6. vii. RUTH SHIRLEY, b. May 01, 1811, Ross County, Ohio; d. April 05, 1891, Reno, Venango, Pennsylvania. viii. JOHN GILBERT SHIRLEY, b. June 1821, Ross County, Ohio; d. 1849. More About JOHN GILBERT SHIRLEY: Fact 1: Never married Generation No. 2 2.  NATHAN7 SHIRLEY (ROBERT6, JAMES5, WALTER4, ROBERT SHIRLEY (FIRST EARL3 FERRERS), SIR ROBERT2 SHIRLEY, SIR HENRY1) was born December 05, 1791 in Frederick County, Virginia, and died August 25, 1871 in Charloe, Paulding County, Ohio.  He married (1) MARY MINEAR April 15, 1819 in Ross County, Ohio.  He married (2) ANNA P. (GULLICK) HANKINS May 05, 1853 in Charloe, Paulding County, Ohio, daughter of GULLICK. Notes for NATHAN SHIRLEY: Nathan Shirley was born December 5, 1791 in Frederick County, Virginia. He married Mary Minear April 15, 1819 in Ross County, Ohio. He started his move to Williams County, Ohio (now Defiance County) from Ross County, Ohio, March 1, 1825 with 16 other families.   They arrived April 1, 1825.  Nathan is buried at  Potter Klein Cemetery, Charloe, Paulding County, Ohio with his first wife, Mary Minear. Nathan had seven sons and six daughters with his first wife, Mary Minear. Nathan served in the war of 1812. He served in Captain Jacob Ritchart's Company   (Ross County, Ohio) from July 28 - August 18, 1813 and in Captain Alexander Menary's Company (Ross County, Ohio) as a Private from August 30 - October 12, 1812. (Ohio Historical Society) *********************************************** Nathan served as a Justice of the Peace in Williams County date of commission: not listed date of oath: January 7, 1833 township: not listed *********************************************** Nathan was a town proprietor for the village of Freedom, Williams County, Ohio. ( rec'd from Richard Cooley Williams County GenWeb) Village: Freedom Reference: Williams Co., Ohio Deed book 2 page 80 Plat surveyed Feb. 3, 1836 Surveyor: Miller Arrowsmith Township located in Center Township, Williams County, Ohio County Recorder: Foreman Evans Date survey recorded: Feb. 3, 1836 Number of lots in village: 79 Location of village: SE 1/4 of Section 25 Township 6N Range 2E Street names in village: Jackson, First, Second, Third, Fourth, Shirley, Water, Harrison and Main. Proprietors of Village: Montgomery Evans, Nathan Shirley, Thomas Warren, (husband of Nathan's sister, Mary.) +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following is taken from a book entitled, " Paulding County, Ohio Biography",    page 25, Auglaize Township The only village in the township is Junction. It was laid out in 1842 byJohn Mason, Sr. and Nathan Shirley. It is situated in the western part ofthe township at the junction of the Wabash and Erie and Miami canals. In it's early days it was a flourishing and enterprising place, so much so, that Capt. Dana Columbia sold his property on Columbia Street in the now busy city of Fort Wayne, and located at the Junction, believing that he would better his chances of gaining wealth by doing so. In those days canals were the great thoroughfares for commerce and the opening of the Wabash and Erie and Miami extension canals gave to Junction its flattering prospects. Daily lines of packets ran on both canals, and many passengers were transferred at this place. This gave a prosperous business for hotels, of which there were two or three. There were three or four large, well-filled dry goods stores and groceries; three large warehouses for the storage of grain; canal collector's office and residence and half a dozen salons. The wharves were lined with canal boats, loading and unloading grain and other freight, giving to the village the semblance of an embryo city, which many of its citizens believed it to be. But commerce found other channels than the canals through which to discharge its wealth, and for many years the dust of decay has been settling upon the once thriving city. The warehouses have all burned and many of the other buildings have rotted down. The streets have a forlorn and woebegone appearance, so much so, that if Goldsmith had traversed them he might have been inspired to improve upon his celebrated poem, "The Deserted Village", if improvement was possible. In common parlance, the place has been going "down hill" for several years and farmers in that vicinity remark that "its site will make a good corn field when its rubbish is moved away." 1870 Census, Auglaize Township, Paulding County, Ohio Shirley, Nathan, age 60, farmer, born in Virginia, value of real estate - $7,000., personal estate - $800.  Ann P., age 60, keeping home, born in New Jersey Also listed is Charley (Shirley?), age 15 or 18, farm laborer, born in Ohio ******************************************************** Pension Application March 21, 1871. At that time he was a resident of Auglaize Township, Paulding County, Ohio. The pension application states he and his second wife, Ann Price Hankins were married in Charloe, Paulding County, Ohio on May 15, 1853. He served the full period of 60 days in military service as a Private in the war of 1812 Under Captain Richart's Company of the Second Regiment Ohio Militia at the county of Ross, in the state of Ohio on or about the first day of August, 1812 and was honorably discharged at the town of Franklin in the county of Franklin, Ohio on or about the 30th day of October 1812. Ann's War Widow Application states she and Nathan lived in Defiance County from the date of their marriage until about 1854 when they removed to Junction, Paulding County, Ohio until the day that Nathan died. NATHAN SHIRLEY'S PENSION RECORDS from the WAR OF 1812 War of 1812 Declaration for Pension State of Ohio County of Defiance On this 20th day of March A.D. one thousand eight hundred and seventy one. Personally appeared before me Jacob J. (illegible) a Judge of the Probate Court, a Court of record within and for the County and state aforesaid Nathan Shirley aged seventy nine years, (illegible) a resident of the Township of Auglaize, County of Paulding, state of Ohio.   Who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is married, that his wife's name was Ann P. Hankins to whom he was married at the town of Charloe in the County of Paulding on the fifth day of May 1853.  That he served the full period of sixty days in the Military service of the United States in the War of 1812,  That he is the identical Nathan Shirley who enlisted in Captain Richart's Company of second Regt. Ohio Militia at the County of Ross in the state of Ohio on or about the 1st day of August A.D. 1812 and was honorably discharged at the town of Frankin in the County of Franklin in the state of Ohio. On or about the 30th day of October AD 1812. That he, at no time during the late rebellion against the authority of the United States Government giving them aid or comfort, or exercised the functions of any office whatever under any other authority or pretended authority, in hostility to the United States and that he is not in receipt of a Pension under any previous act. That he makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the Pension roll of the United States. under the provisions of the act approved February 14, 1871 and he hereby constitutes and appoints with full (illegible) of substitution and (illegible) William Higgins Esq. of Defiance Ohio his true and lawful attorney to prosecute his claim and obtain the Pension Certificate that may be issued. That his (illegible) offices Junction, Paulding County, Ohio, That his domicile or place of abode is Junction, Paulding County, Ohio Nathan Shirley ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The State of Ohio Paulding County In the matter of the claim for Pension of Ann P. Shirley widow of Nathan Shirley deceased of Paulding County, Ohio; who's claim is now on file for Pension in the Pension office of the United States No. 39035. We Robert Shirley and David C. Carey the undersigned do make Solemn oath that we was acquainted with the deceased Nathan Shirley and also with his first wife Mary Shirley and that the said Mary Shirley died on or about the year A.D. 1844 and the said Nathan Shirley died at the village of Junction in the County of Paulding aforesaid on the 26th day of August A.D. 1871 which we know to be the fact - as David C. Carey was at the time Probate Judge in and for said County and the Probating of his Estate was brought before me. We further make oath and say that we are acquainted with the applicant for Pension Ann P. Shirley the widow of said Nathan Shirley deceased and have been acquainted with her ever since the death of her said husband and know she has not since (illegible) and that she is still the legal widow of said Nathan Shirley, deceased. We further make oath and say that directly or otherwise (illegible) are we attorneys. Signed by Robert Shirley and David C. Carey Sworn to before me and subscribed in my presents (sic) this 17th day of May, AD 1879 and I hereby further certify that I am acquainted with Ann P. Shirley the above named applicant for Pension and know her to be the person she represents herself to be and know she has not remarried since the death of her late husband Nathan Shirley Signed by  J A. Boyd ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Newspaper Article from the Journal Gazette, year unknown, probably from a newspaper in Defiance County CENTURY OLD HOUSE AT DEFIANCE RAZED Homestead was Built of Oak and Walnut Cut on Land Where it Stands Defiance, April 15,--After sheltering four generations, the oldest house now standing between Defiance and Oakwood is being torn down.  It is said to have been built by Nathan Shirley shortly after he bought the land, on which it stands, from the government in 1827. It is now owned by Charles H. Newton in possession of whose family in the house has been since 1863. The oak and walnut timber for the house was cut, hewed and sawed on the farm, and the brick and lime used in the fireplaces and in plastering were burned near the place where the house stands. Some of the finest Indian relics collected in this part of the state have been found within a few rods of the Shirley homestead on the site of an old Indian village, said to have been occupied when the house was built. The first church and first school in that part of the county were held in the Shirley house. ********************************************************* The following is taken from the book entitled, "History of Defiance County, Ohio", Warner and Beers 1883  page 109 Johnny Appleseed Johnathan Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed, was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1773. He had imbibed a remarkable passion for the rearing and cultivation of apple trees from the seed. He first made his appearance in western Pennsylvania about the year 1800, and from thence made his way into Ohio, keeping on the outskirts of the settlements and following his favorite pursuit. He was accustomed to clear spots in the loamy lands on the banks of the streams, plant his seeds, inclose the ground and then leave the place until the trees had in a measure grown. When the settlers began to flock in and open their clearings, Johnny was ready for them with his young trees. From those who were in good circumstances he would receive their money, from others he would take their notes or exchange for some article of clothing or any other article of which he could make use, and to the poor and hopeless and helpless he would give without money and without price. About the year 1828 he started a nursery in this county, Defiance, at the mouth of the Tiffin River, about one mile south of Defiance, on lands now owned by Charles Krotz, by sowing the seed. The young trees to the number of several thousand, in a year or two after, he took up and set down again on a piece of land opposite Snaketown (now Florida) where they remained until sold out by a resident agent. Thomas Warren, Nathan Shirley, Lewis Platter and Samuel Hughs, of Delaware Township, set out orchards from this nursery. Johnny Appleseed died March 11, 1845 in St. Joseph Township, Allen County, Indiana at the age of 72. **************************************************** (I have a very poor copy and it is hard to read) Will of Nathan Shirley: On this the thirtieth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy one came (illegible) Most and filed in this office of the Probate Judge of said County of Paulding a certain envelope, purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of Nathan Shirley, late of Auglaize Township in Said County deceased.   And afterward to wit At a Probate Court begun and held at the Court House in the town of Paulding, Paulding County and state of Ohio. On this the first day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, by and before David C. Carey, Judge of said Probate Court. The following proceedings were had in the matter of the Last Will and Testament of Nathan Shirley, late of said County of Paulding in the state of Ohio, was this day presented to the court for Probate and H. S. Humphrey, Henry Daniel and Lewis S. Gordon, the subscribing witnesses to said will coming personally before the Court were duly sworn and examined according to law and this testimony reduced to writing and filed. And the Court being satisfied from said testimony that said will was duly executed and attested, that the testator at the time of executing the same was of full age, of sound mind and memory and under no undue or unlawful restraint, it is ordered that said will be admitted to probate, and that the testimony taken together with said will be admitted to probate and recorded to the provisions of the statute made and provided. And said is in the words and figures following to wit: I Nathan Shirley, of the village of Junction, in the county of Paulding and state of Ohio, do hereby make and (illegible) this my last Will and Testament; Item 1st.  It is my will that all of my just debts be paid out of my personal estate. Item 2nd. I give and devise to my beloved wife, Ann P. Shirley, in lieu of all dower interest in my estate, the following property, real and personal, viz. The home I am now building in Junction, and the lot on which the said is located, for and during the time of her natural life; the interest that may accrue on five promissary notes given sons by Nancy M. Dils and Andrew Dils, Each amounting to five hundred and ninety-five dollars and each dated July twenty-sixth, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy. It is my will that my said wife receive annually the interest that may become due upon said notes, Further, it is my will, that my said wife receive, during her natural life, one third of the rents and proceeds of my farm of one hundred and eighty acres, situated in Sections seven, eight, seventeen and eighteen, in Township number one (1) north of Range number five (5), east, in Putnam County, state of Ohio, and that my son, John W. Shirley, shall attend to the collecting and delivering to my said wife her said third interest in the rents and profits of said farm. My said wife shall suitably (illegible) (illegible) rate him for said service. Item 3rd. It is my further will, that at the death of my said wife, my executors him after named shall pay to my Grandchildren Nathan Shirley Dils, and Nathan Shirley, son of Phillip Shirley, the sum of One hundred dollars to each. Item 4th. It is my further will that at the death of my said wife, that all  f my property, both real and personal, shall go to my heirs, in equal amounts, share and share alike. Item 5th. At the death of my said wife, it is my will, that my son, Stephan Shirley, shall receive the sum of Three hundred and fifty dollars in cash out of my estate, and that he shall receive an equal share of my estate with the rest of my heirs, after said (illegible) is paid. I hereby appoint my sons, John W. Shirley and Stephen M. Shirley, Executors of this my last will and testament, and authorize them to sell and dispose of my sufficient property (after the death of my wife), to pay the cash bequeaths herein stipulated. I hereby revoke all former wills by me made. On witness whereof I have here (illegible) set my hand and seal, this twenty-sixth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one. Nathan Shirley (seal) Signed by the said testator, Nathan Shirley (mark). Witnesses: H. S. Humphrey, Henry Daniel, Lewis S. Gordon Notes for MARY MINEAR: Mary is buried at Potter Klein Cemetery in Paulding County, Ohio. Notes for ANNA P. (GULLICK) HANKINS: Ann is buried at the Charloe Blakeslee Cemetery in Paulding County with her first husband, Samuel Hankins. Letter written concerning Ann's War Widow Pension: The State of Ohio Paulding County In the matter of the claim for Pension of Ann P. Shirley widow of Nathan Shirley deceased of Paulding County, Ohio; who's claim is now on file for Pension in the Pension office of the United States No. 39035. We Robert Shirley and David C. Cavey the undersigned do make Solemn oath that we was acquainted with the deceased Nathan Shirley and also with his first wife Mary Shirley and that the said Mary Shirley died on or about the year AD 1844 and the said Nathan Shirley died at the village of Junction in the County of Paulding aforesaid on the 26th day of August AD 1871 which we know to be the fact - as David C. Cavey was at the time Probate Judge in and for said County and the Probating of his Estate was brought before me. We further make oath and say that we are acquainted with the applicant for Pension Ann P. Shirley the widow of said Nathan Shirley deceased and have been acquainted with her ever since the death of her said husband and know she has not since (illegible) and that she is still the legal widow of said Nathan Shirley, deceased. We further make oath and say that directly or otherwise (illegible) are we attorneys. Signed by Robert Shirley and David C. Cavey Sworn to before me and subscribed in my presents (sic) this 17th day of May, AD 1879 and I hereby further certify that I am acquainted with Ann P. Shirley the above named applicant for Pension and know her to be the person she represents herself to be and know she has not remarried since the death of her late husband Nathan Shirley Signed by  J A. Boyd +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++                                              U.L Pension Company                                               Columbus, Ohio Nov. 22, 1883 Hon. Wm. W. Dudley       Commissioner of Pensions Sir: I hereby report that the name of Ann P. Shirley widow of Nathan Shirley, War of 1812, who was a pensioner on the rolls of this Agency, under Certificate No. 24641, and who was last paid at $8.00, to Sept. 4, 1883 has been dropped because of information received by letter from Charles Hakes, of Paulding County, O. dated Nov. 20, 1883 stating she died Oct 4, 1883 Very respectfully, A. T. Wikoff Pension Agent ************************************************************ Children of NATHAN SHIRLEY and MARY MINEAR are: 7. i. JOHN W.8 SHIRLEY, d. Aft. 1883. 8. ii. NANCY SHIRLEY, d. Aft. 1883. iii. STEPHEN M. SHIRLEY, d. Aft. 1883. Notes for STEPHEN M. SHIRLEY: Stephen resided in Defiance County, Ohio 9. iv. PHILIP SHIRLEY, b. June 04, 1820, Ross County, Ohio; d. March 29, 1901, Dupont, Putnam County, Ohio. v. RACHEL SHIRLEY, b. Abt. 1821; d. December 03, 1843, Paulding County, Ohio; m. SHADRACH H. CAREY, November 17, 1842, Paulding County, Ohio. Notes for RACHEL SHIRLEY: Rachel is buried near her father, Nathan Shirley at Potter Klein Cemetery, Charloe, Paulding County, Ohio. vi. RUTH SHIRLEY, b. January 19, 1829, Auglaize Township, Paulding County, Ohio; d. 1852. vii. MARY ANN SHIRLEY, b. November 08, 1833, Auglaize Township, Paulding County, Ohio; d. 1836. 10. viii. CLARK DAVID SHIRLEY, b. Abt. 1835, Ohio; d. Aft. 1883. ix. MARY E. SHIRLEY, b. January 18, 1840, Auglaize Township, Paulding County, Ohio; d. 1856. ****************************************************** 6.  RUTH7 SHIRLEY (ROBERT6, JAMES5, WALTER4, ROBERT SHIRLEY (FIRST EARL3 FERRERS), SIR ROBERT2 SHIRLEY, SIR HENRY1) was born May 01, 1811 in Ross County, Ohio, and died April 05, 1891 in Reno, Venango, Pennsylvania.   She married JAMES B. AUSTIN August 12, 1830 in Williams  County, Ohio. Notes for JAMES B. AUSTIN: James was a traveling minister of the Ohio Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church and at the time of his death in 1857, a member of the Cincinnati Conference. Children of RUTH SHIRLEY and JAMES AUSTIN are: i. JAMES8 AUSTIN, b. Clinton County, Ohio. ii. MARY ELIZABETH AUSTIN, b. Clinton County, Ohio; m. C.V. CULVER. More About MARY ELIZABETH AUSTIN: Fact 1: 1867, Moved to Pennsylvania Notes for RUTH SHIRLEY: From "MAUMEE RIVER 1835" by Louis A. Simons 1979 James Shirley can be described in two words -- rough and tough. Much has been published concerning the Shirley family, perhaps I can add a few words that otherwise may be lost. For information about this family, the Defiance County, 1883, history book is recommended reading. Jim's story tells us much about the life on the upper Maumee, especially in the Delaware Town area. James Shirley lived across the river and a little west of the Newburg town plat. Thomas Warren had married his sister. Jim is considered a pioneer of Defiance County, Ohio, and of Allen County, Indiana. He was well- known for his real estate dealings; he was called a man of remarkable shrewdness and natural ability, "He was in his element when a law suit was either going for or against him." Jim was born in Frederick County, Virginia, around September of 1796 and came from Ross County, near Chillocothe, Ohio to Defiance in 1822; his parents, Robert Shirley, Sr. and Rachel (Gilbert) Shirley, with their children, had planned to settle elsewhere, but Jim had seen Defiance in 1821 and induced the family to settle there. James, his parents, three sisters and three brothers made a three week trip through Indian country to Defiance. They arrived April, 1822 and, for awhile, made their home in old Fort Winchester - the fort was still in good condition at the time. Jim's parents would eventually settle on a farm at the end of Jefferson Street and across the Auglaize River, south of old Fort Defiance. As a child, I spent much of my time playing around the old Shirley home site; in the winter it was a popular sledding place, down the steep hill to the river. On the crest of the hill there was, and perhaps still is, an old deep well. We often lifted the rotting boards and peered into the deep dark recess; it was brick lined and always had water in it. I've often wondered which of the Shirley's was brave enough to dig so deep. While the Shirleys were still living in the fort, a group of Indians gathered there. They were assembling for a trip to receive their annuity payments at Detroit. Chief Ocquinoxcy, of the Ottowas and his son were among them. The son, after chasing his run-a-way horse, was given a cup from which to drink. He drained the cup of what he thought was supposed to be water, and exclaimed: "Ugh, Whiskey" In his exhausted condition and with this large dose of whiskey, he laid down and slept, never to awaken. He was buried in a shallow grave, just north of the fort. On returning from Detroit, the chief visited his only son's grave. James Shirley had erected a booth over the grave as protection. Impressed by this kindness, the chief sent for Jim. A mark was set. Ocquinoxcy selected two young Indians to shoot at it, saying whoever firing once would hit the mark should become his adopted son. Both Indians missed the shot; the chief then turned to Jim and asked him to try. Jim took steady aim and, fired and struck the mark. Oxquinoxcy then invested Jim with the honor of his son's place; ever after this the chief claimed Jim as his son and required many favors of him. It has been said that Jim settled at Delaware Town in 1823, living in his first cabin with David, one of his brothers. I suspect he stayed about Defiance for a period. If he settled at Delaware Town in 1823, he would have been a squatter; his father purchased the land where Jim lived in from the government on August 9, 1824, and deeded it to Jim on February 8, 1826. Jim's first and second cabin was in the old Indian village site, on a slight rise in the bottom of the land, north of the river and just east of the present "Bend" bridge. With the permission of Mr. and Mrs. Mark Baden, and with my sons, the area surrounding the cabin site was explored. Where the cabin formerly stood, in the plowed field, many brick fragments are present along with fragments of dishes, earthen ware and glass. One brick was intact. it had a glass-like surface imparted by time. The probable refuse site of Shirley's home has been disturbed from land grading. A portion of it was excavated; relics covering a wide time span are all mixed together. My son, Jason Simon has recovered a silver thimble, perhaps an Indian trade item from the Evans trading Post, located across the river. We attempted to match some of the ceramics from the Shirley site with those of the Evans site. The results were inconclusive. Just south of Jim's cabin site and across the river is a known Indian camping site; it also produced relics similar to the Evans and Shirley sites. Evidence of old Indian and early white activity are abundant through out the "Bend". Much of the white ware, glazed with blue, is present; it appears to be of the same time period as relics recovered in Indiana at Bull Rapids and Aboite River sites that were contemporary with Evans and Shirley. Jim became a farmer and real estate dealer; he brought the first sheep to (for farming) to the Defiance area in 1824. -Three of them, driven north of Urbana, Jim was one of the first Delaware Township Trustees, in 1824. In 1836 James Shirley owned a large tract of land in Maumee Township, Allen County, Indiana at the notorious Bull Rapids settlement. He platted a speculation town called Indiana City, but the name never caught on; Bull Rapids was the name which was remembered and because of the lawlessness in the area, the city was never settled. Present Woodburn, Indiana, was originally named for James - Shirley City. At one time, Jim owned over 700 acres at various places along the Maumee River. On January 17, 1839, James Shirley, aged 42, married Elizabeth Gilbert, a young lass of 16 or 17. To them were born 7 children. Their home was well furnished with home- made items; Jim loved to work with wood and had a good set of tools which his father had brought to Defiance when they first arrived. In the spring of 1850, Jim was setting out a new apple orchard. Jim received a fatal cut in his leg from a knife he was using. Elizabeth, Jim's wife, treated the wound, but blood poison set in. The infection increased and Jim died "cussing his wife" for her lack of skill; he claimed she did not have the proper salve. Jim died on March 14, 1850 and was buried on a hillside with several of his children. It is a neglected cemetery overlooking the old cabin site. I visited his grave in July, 1976. His was the only marker to be seen. Burrowing animals had placed fresh dirt about the place; on Jim's grave lay a small flint arrowhead. Jim's wife later married Charles Speaker; she moved out of the old log cabin with her spinning wheel, Bible, books and other household items and lived in a new home on the lands once cared for by Jim. ========================================== The following is taken from the book entitled, "History of Defiance County, Ohio, Warner and Beers 1883 Pages 201-208 Recollections of Pioneer Life in the Maumee Valley, by Mrs. Ruth Austin My father, Mr. Robert Shirley, Sr., moved with his family from Ross County, near Chillocothe, Ohio to Fort Defiance in the spring of 1881 (misprint should be  1822). Our family numbered nine persons, namely, my parents, Mr. Robert Shirley, Sr., and   Mrs Rachel Shirley, my brothers James, Elias and Robert, my sisters Mary and Nancy, myself (Ruth), and my baby brother, John Gilbert. My brother, Nathan, the eldest of the family, was at this time married and settled in Ross County. At the time of our removal I was eleven years of age. I have a vivid recollection of the journey, and of the wild appearance of the country. We started for Fort Defiance in March 1822, and arrived at our destination in April, having been three weeks on the way. The first place we saw Indians was at Wapakonetta. They were Shawnees and partly civilized. Mr. John Johnson was an Indian Agent. Through his influence, Government established a blacksmith shop and a store to supply the Indians, and appointed Mr. Broadex to superintend the work of teaching the Indians agriculture and mechanical pursuits. Some of the Indians lived in log cabins, others in wigwams. The next place of interest was Fort Amanda. I donot remember seeing any remains of the fort. A family by the name of Russell entertained travelers. The next was Fort Jennings - no fort standing here. One family lived here and were the last white people we saw until we reached Fort Defiance. We were now truly in the wilderness. On one side was the River Auglaize, on the other a vast wooded country with no road, only an Indian trail along the river. It required a man to go ahead with an ax in order to cut away trees that had fallen away from the across the trail, and to blaze the trees, and often to cut through the brush some distance to get to a place to ford the streams tributary to the Auglaize. The weather was unusually fine, so the family did not suffer much inconvenience in camping out. After we left Fort Jennings, brothers James and Robert took all the cattle and hogs (except one cow with a calf too young to travel with the herd) forward to Fort Defiance, where brother Robert, a lad of thirteen years of age, remained to take care of them. Brother James returned to the family, meeting us at the mouth of the Little Auglaize, fifteen miles above Fort Defiance. After assisting us to ford the stream, he left us for Fort Finley, for the purpose of conveying the provisions stored there, to Fort Defiance, for the subsistence of the family. Brother James made the journey through the unbroken wilderness alone, on foot, with his compass, gun ammunition, flints and punk, and his blanket. Our parents had great fears that James would fall prey to wild animals or Indians, but he got safely through, and, purchasing a pirogue, took the provisions down Blanchard's Fork to the Auglaize, and from thence on that river to Fort Defiance. These provisions had been raised the previous summer with the expectation that the future home of the family would be at Fort Finley. My father and Messrs. Moreland and Beaver, when viewing the country, had selected Fort Finley as the place of their settlement, and in the spring of 1821 they each sent out a four horse wagon with plows, etc., seed corn and potatoes, also a stock of provisions and a few hogs. Two men were sent with each wagon, making a party of six men. My brothers James and Elias took father's team. They cleared and fenced land and put in corn and potatoes. When the summer's work was done, One man each, with the wagons, returned home, leaving a horse apiece for the three men remaining. Brother James remained, and brother Elias returned. Now to fatten the hogs, slaughter and pack them down, and store the corn and potatoes for the winter was the work of those remaining; then they left all in the care of Mr. Cox's family - the only white resident there and returned to their homes. The horse left for brother James got away and went home. The alarm at home was great when the horse came home without it's rider; all were sure he had been killed until a letter explained. Having heard much of the Fort Defiance region, brother James went there before coming home and was so captivated with it that, upon his return, he persuaded his father to change the location of his future home from Fort Finley to Fort Defiance. Nothing of interest transpired after brother James left us for Fort Finley, until we came to Okonoksee's village on the Auglaize., thirteen miles above Fort Defiance, where Charloe now stands. These Indians were of the Ottawa nation, called by the whites Tawas. They had here a reservation of seven miles square. Okonoskee was chief and the village was called after him. The Indians were all at home, it being the close of the hunting and sugar making seasons. Many came out, men and women to see us. They were civil and manifested a curiosity to see the big horses and the "big wigwams on wheels", examining the cover, how it was kept on, and often exclaiming "Ugh!, big pashekoksee", meaning big horses. This was a great day with them being the day for their yearly feast and dance to celebrate the close of the hunting and sugar making seasons. (It was their custom to also celebrate yearly their corn harvest.) Brother Elias and sister Mary went into the village to see the big bear roasting. The bear was skinned nicely, all except his feet, and rested on his hind-paws on the ground, while the fore-paws were suspended to upright poles. The fire almost surrounded him. Their corn fields were on the opposite side of the river, where the farm of Mr. Robert Shirley, Jr. is now located. After we left the village, we hastened on as fast as possible, to get out of the reach of the Indians before they began their drunken dance. At noon we halted for rest and dinner, when, to our great discomfiture, we found we were without anything to strike fire, James having been given all of the flints and powder, excepting what was packed in the large chest at the bottom of the wagon. Mother had given the little papooses at the village all of the bread we had and we could not have any dinner. We let the horses rest and eat and then pushed on, hoping to come to an Indian camp, or fire left by them, but were disappointed. Night came on and we prepared to spend it the best we could. The horses were fed and tied; the feed box was always taken from the rear end of the wagon and firmly fixed on the tongue of the wagon, with the horses tied on either side of it. The family, supperless and without fire to keep off the wild animals were arranged as follows: Father and brother Elias lay under the wagon, mother, the three daughters and baby brother slept in the wagon. The cow, perceiving danger, got her calf close to the wagon, and then lay close to it on the outer side. The wolves howled alarmingly near, frightening the horses so that our young teamster, brother Elias, needed to be up most of the night to keep them from breaking loose. The next morning we started early, in the hope of finding fire, but were disappointed; so at noon we stopped and unloaded the wagon until we reached the chest and got the flints, when we soon had a fire made. My eldest sister quickly prepared nourishing food for our dear mother, who was almost overcome by her fast of thirty hours and her care of her nursing babe, ten months old. After we were all refreshed by a good dinner we started on. When the sun was getting low, we came to a little stream that was difficult to cross. While looking and planning what to do, an Indian came on foot came up to the bank. Father made him understand by motions of the hands that he wanted to cross. The Indian was soon in the bushes blazing trees as he went; after awhile he came back, saying, "Howshka!", (Come on). Our team followed, as he directed, and made the crossing safely and back to the trail, where we encamped for the night. The Indian lighted our fire. He was invited to eat supper and after he ate he pointed upward saying, "Heap bish" (rain); then pointing to the calf he said, "Heap anemoose", (wolves). He then took up a brand of fire and making a circuit, set fire to several dry logs to protect us from the wolves and left for the village. It rained a little, but the next morning was bright and beautiful. The stream that we had just crossed was Three Mile Run, so we were only three miles from the end of our journey, and this was the last night of our camping out. We reached Fort Defiance that forenoon, and to our  joy and the great delight of brother Robert, who had been there several days. My parents were pleased to find Mr. William Preston, a gentleman of intelligence and of pleasing manners, in possession of the fort. He had been there since the time of the war. There were two good log houses in the fort, built for the officers, one of which Mr. Preston's family occupied; in the other my father's family found narrow but quite comfortable quarters. The fort was all standing in good preservation, excepting the barracks on the banks of the Auglaize. The bank here was very steep and commanded a fine view of the low land on the opposite side of the river. The block- houses, the four large gates with sentinel boxes over them, were good, and the pickets were in good order, and strong enough to be a protection even then. The block- house on the north east corner of the fort had a good cellar that had been used for a magazine during the war. From the cellar an underground way led to the river by which the soldiers could get water without being seen by the enemy. In the block- house at the end of the barracks, facing south east, were two or three iron-bound chests full of written documents of the war left by army officers. In this block-house was a hand mill with buhr mill stones that ground quite good meal when the corn was ripe and hard.  There was also a large grater, like a horseradish grater, on which we could grate corn just out of the milk - this did not make bread, but mush and griddle cakes. This fort was built for the War of 1812 by Gen. Winchester, but came to be spoken of as Fort Defiance. This fort stood on the bank of the Auglaize River, about 200 yards above the point where Wayne's old Fort Defiance stood. Some of the stumps of the pickets and some of the embankments of Wayne's old  fort were still plainly to be seen. Very few white people lived in that vicinity at the time of our arrival. Four French families were living in log cabins on the banks of the Maumee above the point, and three American families on the Auglaize, one mile above the fort. Two of these by the name of Driver, one a silversmith, the other a shoe maker. Six miles below Fort Defiance, at Camp Number Three, there lived three American families; Namely: Mr. John Perkins', Mr. Montgomery Evans', and Mr. Hivelys'. Two of these families had looms and wove flax and tow linen. Every farmer's wife took her spinning wheel with her to the new country. There were no sheep in that region then. In 1824, my brother James bought three sheep in Urbana, and drove them out to Defiance. There were two trading houses, one of these was just outside the fort on the banks of the Maumee and was kept by a Frenchman. The other was on the other side of the Maumee and was kept by Mr. Rice. The latter was quite a store, with everything for the Indians - blankets, bright cotton shawls, beads, ribbon, cloth and bright calicoes, used by the squaws for short sacques that came below the waist. The calico was 50 cents per yard. The Indian men wore calico shirts. The traders made the most profit from selling whisky to the Indians. Mr. Burroughs was a blacksmith and lived near the Rice family. The Ottawa Indians brought most of their trade to Defiance. It consisted of fur pelts of the otter, beaver, raccoon, bear, muskrat, mink, fox and wild cat, also dressed deer skins, beeswax, ginseng, cranberries and wild gooseberries. The squaws made beautiful floor mats out of the large rushes which grew on the islands and at the river's edge. They colored some of the rushes black and others yellow. The mats were from one and a half to two yards long and one yard wide. All the travel, of both whites and Indians, passed through the fort, except that which went on the river in pirogues or in bark canoes. At that time there was not a white person living between Fort Defiance and Fort Wayne, Indiana. Travelers planned so they could go through with the mail carrier who carried the mail from Piqua to Fort Meigs (now Maumee City), or went in companies. There was a great deal of travel from Detroit to Fort Wayne, Green Bay and Chicago. All this passed through Fort Defiance. The Government paid the Miami Indians their annuities at Fort Wayne. The money, all silver, was carried on pack-horses through Defiance, Four or five gentlemen, with the men who drove the packhorses, made up the company. They had to camp out in the wilderness, but I never heard of any being molested in any way. Our fears in regards to the hostility of the Indians were groundless. There were very few depredations committed by the men on the property of whites, and when they did, it was when drunk on the whisky sold to them by the traders. Sometimes pigs would be found with arrows in their sides. If any white man's property was damaged by Indians, the amount of damage claimed and sworn to was paid by the Indian Agent out of the annuities of the whole tribe to which the offenders belonged. The whites did not like the chief of the village above Defiance, Okonoksee; they though he ought to control his young men better; but their hopes were upon his elder son, a fine young man, who would soon come into the chiefship, and whom everyone liked. He died the first summer we lived at the fort. The Indians were on their way to Detroit to draw their annuities, and as was their custom, they encamped on the other side of the Maumee to wait for all of the Indians to collect, when they would together make the journey. The young chief's horse broke its hobbles and ran away; he and others ran very fast to catch the horse, and while heated he drank hastily and freely of what he supposed was river water (he was temperate) but on draining the cup he exclaimed "Ugh! Whisky!" He laid down to sleep and never waked. His corpse was brought over to the fort and buried just a little way above the fort, on the high bank of the Auglaize, under a large apple tree. The corpse was dressed in his best suit, namely a dark blue cloth sacque coat and handsome leggings and moccasins .The coat had two small capes, one a little above the other; the edges of each were ornamented with small silver brooches. He wore silver arm bands and on his breast, two silver breast plates in the shape of a half moon, hung one above the other. A bunch of little silver baubles was in each ear, and around his waist was a beautiful wampum belt, in which was his hunting knife in its scabbard. His tomahawk and shot pouch were by his side. At his feet were placed a two quart pail full of soup, together with a wooden spoon, his pipe and some tobacco.  This was the outfit of the dead chief for his journey to the great hunting grounds. The grave was dug so shallow that the corpse was nearly even with the surface of the ground. My brother James hastened and brought some clapboards to lay over the grave before they covered it with earth. The Indians would not permit more than a slight and flat depth of earth over the grave. Before the grave was closed, Sagatchaway, the brother of the old chief, stood over the grave and made a loud and vehement speech, threatening any man, white or Indian with death who would rob the corpse of its expensive ornaments. Two guns were fired off toward the Indian village to inform a brother and sister buried there of the young chief's death. Tobacco and whisky were sacrificed at the grave. All this time the young chief's parents sat on the ground, dressed without their ornaments. Ockonoksee's hair hung down upon his shoulders; dust was upon his head. He sat in an erect position, his feet crossed like a tailors. His wife sat by his side, her head oftentimes bowed to the ground, and moaning low she would beat the ground with her hands. The little brother of the young chief, who was only 5 years old, and whom his father had named General Wayne, and who was now the heir of the chiefship, kept all the while close to his father, with behavior as dignified. When the ceremonies were over, all of the Indians left in great haste for their camp except Ockonoksee and his wife; they remained and took farewell of the grave, the mother uttering pitiful cries. Mr. Preston took them into his house and gave them their dinner; they then rode slowly out of the fort. The next morning we hastened to the grave, fearing that from its shallowness, the hogs would disturb it, and found the earth rooted away and the clapboards exposed. My brother, James, took his ax, and going into the woods, cut small saplings and erected over the grave a strong and shapely booth, which protected it perfectly. When the Indians returned from Detroit, they stopped at the grave and shot off two guns and burned tobacco and poured out whisky. When Ockonoksee saw how nicely his son's grave was protected, he inquired who did it, and on learning it was brother James, he sent for him. Having a mark set up, he selected two young Indians to shoot at it and told them whoever, firing once, hit the mark would be his adopted son. They eagerly tried, but both missed it. Ockonoksee then bade James to shoot at the mark. James did so and hit it; whereupon Ockonoksee took a roundabout, or sailor's jacket that belonged to his dead son, and put it upon James' shoulders, thus investing him with the honor of his son's place. Ever after that the old chief claimed James as his and whenever he came to the fort he exercised much authority over him and required many favors at his hand. Two years after the young chief's death, a half-breed shot his wife. She was an Ottawa squaw. They were on their way to Detroit and were camping on the other side of the Maumee, waiting for others to come. He was shooting ducks, and having killed one among the willows, sent his wife to fetch it while he reloaded his gun. As she was going down the bank, he shot her in the back, ran to the nearest canoe, crossed over the river below the point, and was soon lost to sight, first in the corn fields and then in the woods. The few Indians who were there, and my brothers James and Elias, with others of the whites, all joined in the pursuit of him all that day, and some of the Indians kept on to him to the Indian village on Blanchard Fork, but did not find him. The squaw lived in great agony until the next afternoon, when she died. By this time a large number of Indians had arrived and they were very much excited. They buried her on the bank near the wigwam where she died and then moved over to the Defiance side of the river - men, squaws, papooses, horses, dogs, camp kettles and all - and camped on the green just below our cabins. Some of the men began to gather wood and brush, and others rails from off father's calf-pasture fence for a great fire, while others hobbled and belled the horses. The squaws, in the meanwhile, were stealthily carrying off armfuls of bows and arrows, tomahawks, knives, and guns, to hide them in the bushes. When it was quite dark, a squaw came into our yard and motioned us to put out all the lights and keep within the house. She said, "Indian mad at white man because half-white killed squaw."  We gratefully acted upon her advice. The green was lighted up with the great fire and we, being in the dark, could distinctly see every movement of the Indians. Not a squaw or papoose was to be seen; they were all hidden in the bushes. The war dance commenced to the time of an instrument that sounded like a Negro banjo.  They had stripped themselves of all clothing except a piece of broadcloth about the loins. They divided into two parties, dancing different ways and then meeting as would enemies, all the time having the wildest gestures, throwing their arms and springing off of the ground and keeping up a shrill war whoop. They looked frightful with their faces painted in red streaks on one side and on the other black and feathers of different colors in their hair. We were thoroughly alarmed; even brother James, our brave pioneer, sat quietly in the house. The war dance kept on until the great fire had burned down to a mass of coals; then they began to scream and beat upon their camp kettles, making the dogs howl. We could see the squaws and papooses among them now, and in the height of the yelling and pounding we heard the distressed squeals of a pig and soon smelled the singing of hair. Then father said, "Go to bed children. I am thankful that it required only a pig to appease their wrath." They cooked, ate and slept. The next morning they were astir early and preparing for a start, and were sober and very quiet. Father walked out among them and called attention of some of the Indians to the pigs in the pen and holding up three fingers made them understand that there were three pigs last night and now there were only two this morning. They looked very innocent and exclaimed, "Wawhaugh! waugh! no good! no good!", meaning that whoever took them was not good. The pigs were six months old and of fine breed. The Indians were not commonly thievish. They did not steal from each other and very rarely from the whites; And in that thinly settled country, where neighbors were miles apart, I never heard of but one white woman being molested, and then no personal harm was offered her, but two drunken Indians demolished dishes and furniture in her husband's absence. The squaws were very modest and virtuous. Ockonoskee, the chief, did not stop with his young warriors to restrain them in their violent demonstrations toward the whites, and the whites thought he did not care to. He was intoxicated almost all of the time and every year he became worse and worse. His little son, General Wayne, sickened and died. All of his children were now dead except two daughters; one of them was married to a brave, noble Indian, and their little son was the last direct heir to the chiefship. In a drunken frolic at the village one night, Ockonoskee sought out a quarrel with his son-in-law and drew a knife, threatening to kill him. The young man stepped into his wigwam, not because he was a coward, but to get out of the way of the drunken man, but the chief followed and stabbed him to the heart, killing him instantly, and either with design or a stagger, he plunged the knife which he still held in his hand into his little grandson that was sitting on hid mother's lap, killing him also. The indignation against him was very great. The chiefs of other villages came to Ockonoskee's village to try him for the crime. They sat in council for three days, and decided he must die. An Indian brought the word to Defiance that he was to be beheaded the next day. Messrs. Preston, Warren and Kepler, with my brothers and others, went up to the village to see, as they supposed, the last of the old chief. When they got there the Indian men were formed in a circle with the condemned man sitting on the ground in the midst, his arms folded, his head bowed, and his good, faithful wife by his side. The Indians made room for all of the whites to join the circle. The chiefs were in council in a wigwam set apart for that purpose. After a time, the chiefs came out and walked up to the condemned chief. One of them made a speech; then they all walked around him. Having done this, the oldest chief, with some words, laid one hand on Ockonoskee's head and the other hand on his mouth; and all the chiefs in turn did the same. The words were evidently the reprieve from the sentence of the day before, and the announcement of his punishment. The laying the hand on the mouth was to signify that it was to be closed in council and in authority and that he was divested of his chiefship. This ceremony being ended, they brought a young Indian, a distant relative of the old chief into the circle. They put on him a wampum belt and some silver ornaments and with other ceremonies I have forgotten, they installed him chief. Everyone, both Indians and whites were dissatisfied with "George", the new chief. The Indians neither loved or feared him. There was little difference in Ockonoksee's lofty bearing after he was deposed, but he did not boast so much about his great bravery nor count on his fingers how many white men he had killed in the war. His people obeyed his word sooner than they did the new chief's. The Indians became dissatisfied when the land near them was bought and settled by the whites, and finally, the Government bought their reservation and moved them west of the Mississippi. My father, as soon as possible, built a double log cabin a short distance above the fort on the Auglaize, These cabins were roofed with clapboards and the floor made of puncheons. The trees were felled and sawed into proper lengths, split into puncheons, dressed off with a broadax and adze, place evenly on the sleepers, driven closely together and firmly wedged. My brother, James loved to work in wood and my father had taken a good supply of tools to Defiance. This double cabin, with a large entry between, was our home for several years.  Here we entertained many people, travelers and land viewers, as there were none but Mr. Preston's and father's family to keep them. We had at this time neither church nor minister, nor schools; we had no physician, no roads, no carriage and no mills. We had not a post office even, but had to use Piqua of Fort Meigs (Maumee City) post office, and the mail carrier who carried the mail from Piqua via St. Marys, Fort Wayne and Fort Defiance to Fort Meigs, would mail our letters for us, and when he took letters out for us, he paid the postage and we refunded him. We felt sorely the absence of society, but our few neighbors were excellent people, and though we suffered many deprivations in that new country neighbors hastened to each others help in sickness or trouble of any kind and were ready to lend a hand in putting up their cabins, etc. Besides our good neighbors, we every week met men of refinement and polite manners passing through to Fort Wayne. My father was a farmer. He cultivated part of the bottom land on the other side of the Auglaize River. It was very productive and yielded fine crops of corn, potatoes, melons, etc. The land was not yet surveyed. I Think the contract was given that year to Capt. James Riley. I remember when he came to the fort, he was entertained at our house. Soon after that the surveying was commenced. The surveyors suffered greatly while at their work from the mosquitoes and gnats. The surveyors came frequently to Defiance for a rest. We were at Fort Defiance nearly a year before there was a religious meeting of any kind. The first was held by a Presbyterian minister who was passing through and put up at the Prestons. My mother invited him to preach in our house, and she sent word around to all the people to come, and they came, French and all. It was a year and a half later after that before we heard another sermon. The second was preached by Rev. Solomon Manear, from Ross County, a young man just licensed to preach by the Methodist Episcopal Church (and afterward admitted to the Ohio Conference). He had come out to Fort Defiance with others in charge of two wagons loaded with flour, bacon and dried fruit. My parents invited him to preach in our house; we had just moved into our double cabin. We were at Fort Defiance two years before we had a school. Then a Mr. Smith came with his family and moved into an old trading house, and opened school in an old blacksmith house that stood near Shane's apple tree.  The tree was full of apples. Mr. Rice claimed the apples, but the scholars were allowed to play under it. It gave fine shade. The trunk was short and thick, the top large and spreading. The tradition of the tree then was that the wigwam where Shane was born stood near there, and on that day his father planted this tree, and when he was a little boy, the Indian boys when mad at him would break down his tree to spite him, which accounted for it's shape. Shane was then a man of fifty years old, living at Shane's Prairie, on the St. Mary's River. Having no mills, father had to sent to Swan Creek (now Toledo) for flour and salt also. These were hauled to the head of the Maumee Rapids and from there brought in pirogues. It was hard work, both in low and high water - in low water they very often had to get out and push and pull the pirogue over the riffles. Ague was prevalent in the Fort Defiance region. The first year we lived there our family were all down with it except for my father and one sister, but the cold winter restored us to health. In the early years of our pioneer life, death visited our family and took from us our lovely sister Nancy, seventeen years of age. She died of the measles. Under the shadow of death, the deprivations of a pioneer lifer were most keenly felt - no religious services to comfort and console, and not even a beautiful coffin in which to lay one of the loveliest of earth's fair flowers away. Nothing but the trees of the forest were available for this, and Messrs. James Partee and John Plummer, members of Mr. Perkins' family, came and made the coffin out of puncheons of a black walnut tree.
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