| |
This Lineage Page Last
Updated October 2020
3(iv). William T. Shirley
born 7 March 1806 KY. They were living in Hendricks Co.
IN in the 1850 census, age 44; Enumerated at Liberty Hendricks
Co IN in 1860 census, age 54; Enumerated at Clay Twp Hendricks
Co IN in 1870 census, age 64, age 74 in 1880 census with 2nd
wife, occupation dry goods merchant
"William T. Shirley, born 1806 KY and Mary "Polly"
Hitch Worrell were married in Claysville, Harrison County, Kentucky
on December 26, 1829. In 1832 they moved to Gosport, Monroe County,
Indiana. From there they moved in 1839 to a farm near Bellville,
Hendricks Co. Indiana. Later they moved to Pecksburg, Hendricks
County, where William, previously a tailor by trade, ran a store,
was postmaster, and railroad station agent. William T. Shirley
married a second time to a neighbor, Lucinda Taylor. They had
a daughter, Georgia. Ola Marshall Hubbard, who had grown up in
Pecksburg, pictured Pecksburg in 1845 in a "History of Pecksburg"
written in 1938-39 for a Pecksburg (Hendricks County Indiana)
homecoming. "(Pecksburg) boasted of two churches, Methodist
and Lutheran, blacksmith shop, schoolhouse, two stores, gristmill,
two doctors, post office, picture gallery, shoe shop, and millinery
store.....Uncle Bill Shirley's (William T.) store was on the
south side of the railroad and west side of the road. He handled
everything that anybody wanted, especially peppermint stick candy
for the children. He was the postmaster too! There was a long
platform between the railroad and the store where the passengers
could alight, and naturally when Uncle Billy would flag down
a train, all eyes were open. A man with long whiskers or a lady
with a long dress and hoop skirt might get off the train, climb
in a buggy, and drive away. There were no telephones or radios
in existence then. When there weren't any passengers to get on
the train, Uncle Billy would fix the mail bag on a crane and
the clerk would gracefully hook it in and with a friendly wave
go on...." We had a town pump, the flagpole raising, loyal
church members, good schools, town hall, town crier, prize fighters,
pretty women, fast horses, hog callers, horn tooters, coon hunters,
hounds and horse doctors. In those days we went to Sunday School
and Church and our choir carried off honors with Bill Shirley
(William T.) as the leader." I assume that there was one
thing you couldn't get at Uncle Billy's store. My mother told
me that her father-in-law, William R. Shirley got his wedding
suit at Springtown. About 1975 the schoolhouse was completely
destroyed and the bricks incorporated into a modern home and
in 1982 the railroad tracks were taken up. Since then there has
been no visible sign of the town that was Pecksburg, home of
the William T. Shirleys, including my grandfather, William R.
Shirley." - Submitted by Lois Crayton, gr-grandaughter of
William T. Shirley
married 1) Polly (Worrel) Hitch on 13 December 1829
in Harrison Co. KY. She was age 45 in 1850 census, age 55 in
1860 census, age 65 in 1870 census
married 2) Lucy ______ listed as wife in husband's
1880 census household
children
4(i). Lt. James A. Shirley born 26 September 1830 Harrison
Co. Kentucky, age 19 in parent's 1850 census household. Married
with infant child, enumerated at Liberty Twp Hendricks Co IN
in 1860 census, age 29; James served in the Union Army from 6
July to 10 January 1866. He was severely wounded, somewhat disabled,
and nearly blind the rest of his life. Enumerated in the same
location after the Civil War in the 1870 census, age 39; He divorced
his wife by 1880 census, living in Clay Twp Hendricks Co IN,
age 49, and again in 1900 census, "divorced" age 70.
His daughter Maggie B Reitzel was enumerated in his household
in that year.
A Portrait and Biographical Record of Hendricks County
(Chicago: A.W. Bowen & Co., 1895)--pages 982-983 - Lieut.
James A. Shirley, of Pecksburg, Hendricks County, Ind., is one
of the officers of the Civil War, who served through the entire
struggle. He is a native of Harrison County, Ky., and is the
son of William T. and Mary (Worrel) Shirley. The great-grandfather
of our subject, Richard Shirley, was a soldier in the Revolutionary
War and was burned at the stake by the Indians in New York or
Pennsylvania. James A. Shirley was born September 26, 1830, and
received a good common education for his day. He has come to
Indiana with his father, William T. Shirley, in 1832, who settled
in Monroe County; in 1839, came to Hendricks County and settled
in Liberty township. James A. learned the trade of a carpenter
and house painter and grainer, and in 1854 married, at Belleville,
Priscilla Jackson, and settled at Clayton, when he enlisted on
July 6, 1861, in Company E, Twenty-first Indiana Infantry, and
was transferred to the First Indiana Heavy Artillery in March,
1863, and veteranized in January, 1864, in the same organization,
and served until January 22, 1866, and was honorably discharged
at Indianapolis, having been mustered out Janaury 10, 1866, at
Baton Rouge, La. From March, 1862, to March, 1865, Mr. Shirley
was color bearer of his regiment and carried the colors at the
battle of Baton Rouge, where the spear-head was shot off the
flag-staff. He was next at New Orleans, under Gen. Banks; in
October, 1862, his company was put on a gun-boat to serve in
the bayous of Louisiana and the gulf coast, on scouting duty,
and in this line of duty was in many skirmishes and did good
service; he was next transferred to the heavy artillery and was
in a battle with Gen. Dick Taylor, called the battle of Corney's
Bridge, on Bayou Teche. He was in charge of the gun-deck on the
gunboat Diana, and the tackle of one of the guns being out of
order, he got under the gun to make repairs, and it was loaded
and discharged before he could get out, and the concussion rendered
him senseless and injured his eye-sight so that he became nearly
blind—one eye being now entirely covered with a cataract.
On May 24, 1863, he was in the siege at Port Hudson, during which
time he was under fire with his company forty-five days, and
had the honor to fire the first shot from a land battery at the
port. On the surrender of Port Hudson he was taken sick, and
the following October his eyes became inflamed and he laid six
weeks at Baton Rouge in a dark tent. The latter part of 1863
he was detailed as ordnance sergeant at Fort Williams, Baton
Rouge, and remained there until he went to New Orleans to veteranize
in January, 1864. He was home on furlough sixty days, and was
commissioned lieutenant. His service after this was at Baton
Rouge until the surrender of Kirby Smith. On October 17, 1864,
he was mustered as first lieutenant, and had charge of dismantling
the two rebel forts at Alexandria. In May, 1865, his company
was ordered to Alexandria, La., where he was sick ten days, and
was detailed assistant paroling officer, served until September,
and assisted in paroling Kirby Smith's army. On October 7, 1865,
he left Alexandria and went to Baton Rouge, and detailed from
his company to command the One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Company,
Second Battalion, Veterans' Reserve Corps, and commanded this
company two months, and mustered them out, and this concluded
his service, having served altogether four years, six months
and fifteen days, one of the longest services rendered by any
soldier from Hendricks County. But one man had a longer service—Oliver
Boyd, of Stilesville. Mr. Shirley had also the longest record
of any soldier of Hendricks County in the Jesse s. Ogden post,
G.A.R., of Danville. After the war Mr. Shirley settled in Clayton.
He and wife have had two children, Orville G. (died aged twenty-one
years, seven months), and Maggie B. Mr. Shirley followed mechanical
work until 1877, moved to Pecksburg later, lived four years in
Danville, and then returned to Pecksburg, and now lives a retired
life, disabled from the effects of his army service. Mr. Shirley
is an honored citizen, who enjoys the respect of the people.
His long record of enduring and persevering service to his country
speaks for itself. When he went into the army he weighed about
180 pounds, and when discharged he weighed but 135 pounds, was
greatly disabled, and has never since been able to do much work.
married Prescilla Jackson on 19 April 1854. She was
age 38 in 1870 census, born North Carolina; Divorced by 1880
census
children:
5(i). Orville G. Shirley born about 1860 IN, identified
as 'infant' in 1860, and age 10 in 1870 census; he died
at age 21 years, 7 months
5(ii). Maggie B. Shirley born about 1867 IN, age 3
in 1870 census; Married Reitzel; Named in the published biography
of her father. Living with father in 1900 census
4(ii). Lucinda Shirley born 20 February 1833 Gosport,
Monroe Co. Indiana, age 18 in parent's 1850 census household.
She died 23 September 1906. She married James Worrell on 12 January
1859 in Hendricks Co IN.
4(iii). Sarah (Sallie) A. Shirley born 20 October 1833
Gosport, Monroe Co. Indiana, age 16 in parent's 1850 census household.
She married Robert N. Harvey on 26 September 1852 in Hendricks
Co IN.
4(iv). Meranda J. Shirley born 8 September 1838 Gosport,
Monroe Co. Indiana, age 11 in parent's 1850 census household.
Age 21 in parent's 1860 census household (as Jane); She married
Himelius Kendall on 20 March 1864 in Hendricks Co IN
4(v). Robert Eldridge Shirley born 6 October 1845 Gosport,
Monroe Co. Indiana. Not enumerated in parent's 1850 census
household, He died 23 July 1937, age 91. Can
anyone help track this person? We have a birth and death date,
but he is thusfar elusive otherwise. Source?
4(vi). William R. Shirley born 15 August 1845
Pecksburg, Hendricks Co. Indiana, age 5 in parent's 1850 census
household. Age 15 in parent's 1860 census; In 1871, two years
after William R. Shirley's marriage to. Sallie Phillips, Sallie
acquired 40 acres of land on the south end of the present Shirley
farm. (A dowry?). There the young couple built their first home,
a log cabin and a barn. Later they built a brick house a little
farther north, where all children, except Ettie were born. William
was enumerated at Clay Twp Hendricks Co IN in 1880 census, age
34; He died 4 August 1902
married 1) Sallie Maria Phillips on 22 September 1869
(4 children), Surname identified on marriage record of child
Etta Shirley
married 2) Ruth Masten Hodson on 20 September 1898
in Hendricks Co IN
children:
5(i). Etta Lenore Shirley born 1 April 1872 IN,
age 9 in 1880 census; Married Wilson Shaw on 10 August 1892 at
Hendricks Co IN (parents named)
5(ii). Fred Grant Shirley born 2 February 1873 IN,
age 7 in 1880 census; Married with children, enumerated at Middle
Twp Hendricks Co IN in 1900 census, age 27
It is a well authenticated fact that success comes as the
result of legitimate and well applied energy, unflagging determination
and perseverance in a course of action when once decide upon.
She is never known to smile upon the idler or dreamer and she
never courts the loafer, only the men who have diligently sought
her favor being crowned with her blessings. In tracing the history
of the influential farmer and representative citizen of Clay
Township, Hendricks County, Indiana, whose name forms the caption
of this review, it is plainly seen that the prosperity which
he enjoys has been won by commendable qualities and it is also
his personal worth that has gained for him the high esteem of
those who know him. Fred G. Shirley, the proprietor of one hundred
and twenty acres of fine land in Clay Township, this county,
was born on the farm where he is now living February 2, 1873.
His parents were William R. and Sallie M. (Phillips) Shirley,
his father being a native of this county, born in 1845, and his
mother also a native of Hendricks County, her birth having occurred
in about 1855. William R. Shirley received a good common school
education and when a young man engaged in the general merchandising
business at Pecksburg, Clay Township, in connection with his
father. He continued with his father in the store until his marriage,
and shortly afterwards he bought forty acres, part of this land
being included in the farm of Fred G. Shirley. He continued to
reside on this farm until about 1900, when he retired from active
farm life and moved to Danville, where he remained until his
death, August 4, 1902, his wife having preceded him in death
some years previous in 1898. Sallie M. Phillips, wife of William
R. Shirley, was the daughter of Samuel and Rachel (Newman) Phillips.
Mr. and Mrs. William R. Shirley were the parents of four children:
Etta L., who married Wilson J. Shaw, of Danville, and they are
the parents of five children, Erver, Ina, Merrill, Ralph and
Phillip; Fred G., the immediate subject of this sketch; Alva
R., who married Elizabeth Hadley and has one children, Mildred,
and one who died in infancy. Mr. Shirley attended school for
two years in the village of Pecksburg and completed his common
school education in the Dover school house in Liberty Township.
After finishing the common school course he entered the Central
Normal College at Danville, where he made a very satisfactory
record as a student. Upon the completion of his educational training
he returned to his home and worked with his father until his
marriage, which occurred on March 16, 1898, to Elnora Hadley,
the daughter of Mathias and Matilda (Bringle) Hadley, and to
this union there have been born three children, Wendell, Lois
and Geneva. Mathias Hadley was a native of Hendricks County,
Indiana, and to him and his wife, who was the daughter of Solomon
and Cynthia (Suits) Bringle, there were born eleven children,
two of whom died in infancy. The other nine lived to maturity
and all of them married: Leora, married James Harvey; Alzora
became the wife of Dr. William Marshburn; Loretta married Perry
Hunt; Orlando married Eva Dickerson; Ozella married Miles Furnas;
Orien married Mary Stanley; Ozro married Rossilee Garrison; Orvis
married Catharine Cosner; Elnora married Fred. G. Shirley. Mrs.
Hadley died in 1894, and her husband the year following. John
Hadley, Mrs. Shirley's paternal grandfather, was a native of
North Carolina, and married Elizabeth Johnson, who also was born
in that state. They reared a very large family of children. Mr.
Shirley allied himself with the new Progressive Party in the
fall of 1912, because he felt that this new party had a platform
which, if properly carried out, would redown to the welfare of
the country at large. In his religious affiliations he has been
a member of the Friends Church since 1912, and has always taken
a very active part in the affairs of this denomination, being
a trustee in the church at the present time. The life which Mr.
Shirley has led stamps him as a man who has the interest of his
community at heart, and one who is not only concerned with his
individual advancement, but takes a keen interest in the welfare
of his friends and neighbors. Such men are a help to the community
in which they live, and because Mr. Shirley is such a man he
has won the esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
- The History of Hendricks County
5(iii). Alva Roy Shirley born 1 January 1875 IN, age
5 in 1880 census. Married, enumerated in Clay Twp, Hendricks
Co IN in 1900 census, age 25
married Elizabeth Hadley on 20 April 1898 in Hendricks
Co IN
|
William Shirley (continued)