John  Shaw

            John Shaw, an old citizen of Addison Township, was born in Jackson Township, this county, October 3rd, 1823, being the youngest of a family of nine children born to  William and  Elizabeth (Miller) Shaw, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and emigrated from Ohio to this State about 1816 or '18, and first settled in Jackson Township, where they continued to live about two years, when they removed to another tract in the same township, where they lived until their death.  The father dying when John was but fourteen years of age, left him to aid in the support of his widowed mother, who survived her husband, and made her home with our subject until her death, which occurred, January 2nd, 1863.  They were poor and endured all the hardships and trials that were incident to pioneer life in the early settlement of the county. John received a very limited education, the family being unable to spare him much from work on the farm. January 4th, 1857, his marriage with  Salina Willits  was solemnized, and to their union six children have been born of whom these five are now living:  Thomas, who married  Florence Bradley Ellen now Mrs. James Cherry,  Jennie, wife of  Martin Cherry,  James and  Harry.  Mr. Shaw has always made farming his principal occupation, in connection with which he trades in stock for several, years and he has been very successful.  He commenced a poor boy, and by hard work, industry and economy, he now owns a fine well improved farm of 277 acres, formerly owned by the  LaMaster brothers, later by  Jacob Vernon.  In politics he is a Democrat, and always manifests a live interest in the political affairs of the county. State and Nation, being a citizen universally esteemed by those who know him.
History of Shelby County, Indiana, "Addison [Township] Sketches," Brant and Fuller, Chicago, 1887.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming
Biography Index     Main Page