Was referred to as Colonel James Shields because of his service in the War of 1812, the Indian campaigns and the Civil War.
In the early days of Indiana history, James and his cousin, John Tipton, took a contract to clear the trees and stumps for what was to be the capitol ground at Corydon. It was the first territorial, and later the first state, capitol.
Though he never held public office, those who did wished for his support. In 1832, John Vawter, himself an important man in Jennings County and seeking a seat in the Indiana House of Representatives, wrote to James' cousin John Tipton, at the time a United States senator, asking for Tipton's help in that regard. He wrote, "I would take it as a favour if you would write Major James Shields on my behalf, as he would do anything for you. He may be for me, but wish to secure his interest certain."
James, son of William and Margret, was commonly known as Colonel James, born in the fort in severe County, Tenn. Aug. 1794, Deanie in his 15th year when the family came into IN, settling near Brewersville. Later he entered the land and now known as the farm of James the Mc Cam in Hunts and Creek before IN became estate. He gave his military title because of his activities in the war of 1812 and the Indian campaign. He was married twice, first to Sarah J. Mc Causland, who died in 1834. William Preston, Mary Ellen, John Tipton, Eliza J., Nancy Ann and James Seviere were their children. His second wife was Martha Mc Castle and, in the he Wilson. The children were Charles, Sarah T., in Diana a less is, generally caller Alice D. There were two other children, Harvey and Winnifred, who died young.James with his cousin John Tipton took contract in early days of Indiana history to clear the trees and stumps from what was to be the capital ground that Corydon. In fact it was the first territorial and later the state capital. James was a Democrat and a Baptist. One of his daughters, Nancy Ann married Henry Wise in 1843; he was killed at Chickamauga while fighting with the Union Army. She too was loyal to the Union. In June 1864 James and Nancy Shields Elliott visited Colonel James Shields in Indiana after a happy greeting, Nancy Ann, the daughter asked if they were loyal to the Union. Upon being assured that they were, she arose with tears flowing, she said she wanted to shake hands with them again, as the she had given the treasurer of her life, her husband, for the cause. With three sons in the Union Army, Nancy, sister Col. James, took him aside and advised him not to mention politics or the war during the visit or Jimmy, her husband, would not stay overnight in his home. Although a fiery-fighter, he took her advice. For other descendants of Colonel James Shields, see history a of J. A. Shields.
James was married twice and apparently was divorced from his first wife, Sarah J. McCausland, in about 1834 because she did not die until 1900. (John A. Shields, an early genealogist, had presumed Sarah's death.) Sarah's obituary mentions Colonel James Shields as her husband and lists their six children. He married his second wife, Martha McCaslin, on 23 March 1835. Martha is listed as his spouse in the War of 1812 Pension List (WC-6983, SO-26252), published in 1840.During the Civil War, James was a member of a Home Guards company at Vernon, Indiana when Confederate General John Morgan made his raid into that section of the state. He actively engaged in opposition and was wounded and knocked from his horse in the battle. He was a prisoner for a short time but was released because the Confederates had no means of confining prisoners.
Research for the above: History of Jennings County, Indiana, published 1956; The Shields Family by John Arthur Shields, December 1917; Jennings County Order Book 1822-37, page 22; Jennings County, Indiana, Marriage Records;" "Threads of the Past" by Margaret R. McDonald, Galleon Press; List of War of 1812 Pensioners, page 1579; the "Tipton Papers" vol II, pp. 569-570.
Apparently, Sarah divorced from James about 1834 rather than dying, as John A. Shields and Mary Coleman supposed. Her obituary appeared in the North Vernon Sun 23 March 1900. It said, "Mrs. Sarah Shields, wife of James Shields, died at Vernon, Indiana, leaving six children. Col. Shields was among the first settlers of this county and died in 1875. The six children--all living and in good health, at at average of 77 years: William P. of Campbell Township.; Mrs. Louise Sullivan of Vernon; Mrs. Mary Newby and Mrs. H. A. Wise of North Vernon; Dr. J. T. Shields Seymour and Dr. J. S. Shields of Frankfort."
At the time of Sarah's death, her six surviving children averaged 77 years old. The North Vernon Sun, which identified Martha as wife of James Shields, identified the children as William P. of Campbell Township, Louise Sullivan of Vernon, Mary Newby and Mrs. H. A. Wise of North Vernon, Dr. J. T. Shields of Seymour and Dr. J. S. Shields of Frankfort.
There is a huge difference as to the death date, 1834 compared to 1900, also birth date of 1795 compared to 1800.
Was referred to as Colonel James Shields because of his service in the War of 1812, the Indian campaigns and the Civil War.
In the early days of Indiana history, James and his cousin, John Tipton, took a contract to clear the trees and stumps for what was to be the capitol ground at Corydon. It was the first territorial, and later the first state, capitol.
Though he never held public office, those who did wished for his support. In 1832, John Vawter, himself an important man in Jennings County and seeking a seat in the Indiana House of Representatives, wrote to James' cousin John Tipton, at the time a United States senator, asking for Tipton's help in that regard. He wrote, "I would take it as a favour if you would write Major James Shields on my behalf, as he would do anything for you. He may be for me, but wish to secure his interest certain."
James, son of William and Margret, was commonly known as Colonel James, born in the fort in severe County, Tenn. Aug. 1794, Deanie in his 15th year when the family came into IN, settling near Brewersville. Later he entered the land and now known as the farm of James the Mc Cam in Hunts and Creek before IN became estate. He gave his military title because of his activities in the war of 1812 and the Indian campaign. He was married twice, first to Sarah J. Mc Causland, who died in 1834. William Preston, Mary Ellen, John Tipton, Eliza J., Nancy Ann and James Seviere were their children. His second wife was Martha Mc Castle and, in the he Wilson. The children were Charles, Sarah T., in Diana a less is, generally caller Alice D. There were two other children, Harvey and Winnifred, who died young.James with his cousin John Tipton took contract in early days of Indiana history to clear the trees and stumps from what was to be the capital ground that Corydon. In fact it was the first territorial and later the state capital. James was a Democrat and a Baptist. One of his daughters, Nancy Ann married Henry Wise in 1843; he was killed at Chickamauga while fighting with the Union Army. She too was loyal to the Union. In June 1864 James and Nancy Shields Elliott visited Colonel James Shields in Indiana after a happy greeting, Nancy Ann, the daughter asked if they were loyal to the Union. Upon being assured that they were, she arose with tears flowing, she said she wanted to shake hands with them again, as the she had given the treasurer of her life, her husband, for the cause. With three sons in the Union Army, Nancy, sister Col. James, took him aside and advised him not to mention politics or the war during the visit or Jimmy, her husband, would not stay overnight in his home. Although a fiery-fighter, he took her advice. For other descendants of Colonel James Shields, see history a of J. A. Shields.
James was married twice and apparently was divorced from his first wife, Sarah J. McCausland, in about 1834 because she did not die until 1900. (John A. Shields, an early genealogist, had presumed Sarah's death.) Sarah's obituary mentions Colonel James Shields as her husband and lists their six children. He married his second wife, Martha McCaslin, on 23 March 1835. Martha is listed as his spouse in the War of 1812 Pension List (WC-6983, SO-26252), published in 1840.During the Civil War, James was a member of a Home Guards company at Vernon, Indiana when Confederate General John Morgan made his raid into that section of the state. He actively engaged in opposition and was wounded and knocked from his horse in the battle. He was a prisoner for a short time but was released because the Confederates had no means of confining prisoners.
Research for the above: History of Jennings County, Indiana, published 1956; The Shields Family by John Arthur Shields, December 1917; Jennings County Order Book 1822-37, page 22; Jennings County, Indiana, Marriage Records;" "Threads of the Past" by Margaret R. McDonald, Galleon Press; List of War of 1812 Pensioners, page 1579; the "Tipton Papers" vol II, pp. 569-570.
Apparently, Sarah divorced from James about 1834 rather than dying, as John A. Shields and Mary Coleman supposed. Her obituary appeared in the North Vernon Sun 23 March 1900. It said, "Mrs. Sarah Shields, wife of James Shields, died at Vernon, Indiana, leaving six children. Col. Shields was among the first settlers of this county and died in 1875. The six children--all living and in good health, at at average of 77 years: William P. of Campbell Township.; Mrs. Louise Sullivan of Vernon; Mrs. Mary Newby and Mrs. H. A. Wise of North Vernon; Dr. J. T. Shields Seymour and Dr. J. S. Shields of Frankfort."
Christine Brown says Martha Wilson was a widow. Richard Groharing says Martha was married previously to a McCaslin.
Shields HISTORY 1980, pg. 63 says that the name is Joshua LINDSEY, however, the information in the SHIELDS book by Margaret O. Derrick Coleman seems more correct and complete so expect John to be correct.
John Lindsey was one of the earliest settlers of what is now Bartholomew County, Indiana. He operated a ferry on the Driftwood River near Columbus 1821-27. He represented that county in the Indiana House of Representatives 1821-22 and was the first speaker of the Indiana House. In 1827, he moved to the northern part of the state and became gunsmith and blacksmith for the Potawatomi Indians, having been appointed to that position by his wife's cousin John Tipton. He married Nancy after the death of his first wife, Elizabeth.
John Lindsey moved with other relatives into Decatur Co., IN where they lived until early 1828, when in company with other relatives of Elizabeth SHIELDS LINDSEY. They moved into Northern Indiana, near the present town of Delphi, then Tippecanoe Co., IN which was later divided into Cass, Carroll and White counties. Early in 1829, John Lindsey was given the contract as Indian Agent by the Government to build a corn cracker mill to supply bread for the Pottawatomie Indians. In 1829 he sent for his family who in company with William SHIELDS, brother of Elizabeth and James ELLIOT, whose wife was a sister, and Joshua SHIELDS, a cousin moved their family moved their families into what is now Fulton CO., IN near Lake Manitou.John Lindsey, one of the earliest settlers of what is now Bartholomew County, Indiana, operated a ferry on the Driftwood River near Columbus 1821-27. He represented that county in the Indiana House of Representatives in 1821-22 and was the first speaker of the House. In 1827, he moved to North Indiana and was gunsmith and blacksmith for the Potawatomi Indians, appointed to that position by John Tipton, his wife's cousin.
After Elizabeth's death, John married Nancy, daughter of Joshua Shields and Rhoda Tipton.
Bill Navey records this name as Joshua Lindsey.
The 4th child and first daughter of the above, named Elizabeth, was born January 23, 1796, being the first child born outside the fort. She moved to southern IN with her father’s family in 1808, residing in the Fort during the Indian troubles and the war of 1812. She married John Lindsey, June 14th, 1814 near Salem, IN. The Lindsey’s came to IN in 1798. John was the oldest son of Joshua and Elizabeth Lindsey.
They resided in Fulton Co., IN until the Pottawatomie Indians were moved west of the Missouri River into the Kansas Territory in 1837. Their children were: William, born in 1816; Joshua, born in 1818; John born in 1820, married and lived in South Bend, IN where he was prominent in business; Mark, born in 1822, died in 1843; Elizabeth was born in 1824; Tipton was born on May 21st, 1829; Nathan was born in 1831. Elizabeth died March 26, 1832. After an effort to preserve the burial place of Elizabeth, the remains were reinterred in the Odd Fellows Cemetery and a marker placed by the D.A.R.s to her memory. Sometime in 1833, John Lindsey married for the second wife, Nancy SHIELDS, second cousin of Elizabeth and daughter of Joshua and Rhoda Tipton SHIELDS. General John Tipton gave Nancy a side saddle and gay saddlebags as a wedding present. They are still preserved in the family of her descendents at Valpariso, Indiana.
The following beautiful tribute written in memory of Elizabeth SHIELDS LINDSEY by the Editor of the News-Sentinel of Rochester is here included as a memorial for her beautiful example as a pioneer mother.
THE STORY OF ELIZABETH LINDSEY
The following account of a pioneer citizen was told to me by the late William A. Ward, probably twenty years preceding this date March 27th, 1925. Mr. Ward came to Rochester, then a mere Indian trading post, in 1831, and a few months thereafter, while a little child, attended the burial of Elizabeth Lindsey.
John Lindsey, wife and two or three children came to Rochester in 1829, sent here by the United States Government to build a “corn cracker” mill in compliance with a treaty entered into between the government and the Pottawatomie tribe of Indiana. The Lindsey family journeyed hither from some point in Ohio, their conveyance being a covered wagon. The good wife gently rebelled against coming to what was then to her “way out west,” fearing Indians, the wild and undeveloped condition of the country, wild animals, reptiles, swamps, miasma, etc., but persuasion of the husband induced her coming. A log cabin home was built in the forest in which they resided only a short time until Mrs. Lindsey, by reason of climatic conditions, surface water and unsanitary surroundings, took sick and, without a doctor in many miles, died, notwithstanding all her loving husband and a few white friends could do.At that time there was naught but a trail between Rochester and Akron, Indiana, which trail crossed Mill Creek at a point a few rods from the place where Elizabeth Lindsey was buried. There was no dam at Lake Manitou; hence Mill Creek was something like a river, quite deep, the only ford being near Mrs. Lindsey’s grave, which is located due east of the Fulton County courthouse, just west of the present city limit line and perhaps 200 feet north of Race Street.
On the day of her funeral her remains were lifted into a Conestoga wagon and, with a few friends, was conveyed to the spot near said ford, in a little clearing in the underbrush, where a grave was dug, and her form deposited therein, her husband, children, white settler associates and friendly Indians witnessing the sad rite for the first white person to die in Fulton County. Later, John Lindsey placed a marble marker at the grave of his wife, a slab approximately 16X30 inches, 2 inches thick, oval top, on which is carved this brief inscription:
Elizabeth was the first white child born outside the Shields Fort in Sevier County. In 1808, she moved with her father's family to South Indiana. After her marriage, she and John Lindsey moved with other relatives into Decatur County, Indiana, where they lived until 1828. Then they and other family members moved to North Indiana, near the present town of Delphi.
Early in 1829, John Lindsey received a contract as Indian agent to build a corn cracker mill to supply bread for the Potawatomi Indians. In 1829, John sent for his family, who in company of William Shields, brother of Elizabeth, and James Elliott, whose wife was a sister, and Joshua Shields, a cousin, moved their families into what is now Fulton County, near Lake Manitou.
Research: "Shields Genealogy" by Mary Coleman.
Died near Hanover, Washington Co., Kansas.
Washington Centenial
1860-1960
A Century of Progress
May 31, thru Juen 4, 1960
pg. 52 (No credit given for author of this article)
ONLY SIX PUMPKINS
In 1857---
James and Nancy Shields Elliott, Carolinians, sent to forward slavery in
Kansas, came with seven of their ten children and their wives, husbands and
families. They found not the tall bluestem grass advertised but short sod that
was only three inches high and so dry it crumbled when you trod on it. Only
1/2 dozen sweet pumpkins were all that would grow the first year. But Elliott
liked the free air of Kansas so well that he turned against slavery and sent
his armed men home, then stayed.
Served in the War of 1812 and was in the Battle of Tippecanoe.
Information sent by Tom Rasmussen, 620 Greenfield St. N.E., Cedar Rapids,
Iowa. 52402 Tel 319-393-3789.
When Nancy Agnes Shields was 10 years old, her father was detained from home one night until quite late. Soon after dark, there was a disturbance among the pigs, and Nancy was sent to investigate, taking her gun along. She saw a dark object near or in the pen and shot at it. On her return to the house, she said, "Oh, mama, I am afraid I shot a man. Something ran off into the woods, and it sounded like it cried, 'Oh, me! Oh, me!' " The next morning, her father took her to the trail, and they came upon the carcass of a bear.Nancy moved to Indiana with her parents in 1808.
As an adult, she took up the study of medicine under Drs. Sippe and Brackett and received her diploma. Her supply of drugs was oils, cream of tartar, sulphur and rosin, as well as a bottle of brandy always kept handy. She was successful in setting bones and in use of the lance for bleeding. She knew which veins to open and how much to bleed for treatment of various maladies.
Research: Information on the descendants of James and Nancy Agnes Shields Elliott is from the Shields Genealogy by Mary O. D. Coleman.
Decendants of William and Margaret Wilson Shields
(Continued)The fifth child of William and Margaret Wilson SHIELDS was named Nancy Agnes for her paternal grandmother, born Feb. 28, 1798, a 2nd edition of William her father in calm, self-poise, fearlessness, aid undaunted courage and high sense of justice. While yet in Tenn. And she a child of ten, her father was detained from home one night until quite late. Soon after dark a disturbance was heard among the pigs. Nancy was sent to investigate, taking her gun along. Seeing a dark object near or in the pen she shot at it, on her return to the house she exclaimed, “Oh mama, I am afraid I shot a man. Something ran off in the woods and it sounded like it cried, “Oh me! Oh me!” The next morning her father took the trail and soon came upon the carcasses of a bear.
After her family moved into southern Indiana, and while living in the fort in Jackson County, she met James Elliott, a fine Christian man. They were married after the close of the war of 1812, on December 7, 1815 in Salem, Indiana. They lived in Decatur County until 1827 when they, with other relatives, moved to northern Indiana in what is now Carroll County near Delphi. In August of 1829 they again moved, into Fulton County near Lake Manitou. James Elliott, owning the land on which Rochester is now built, living in his vicinity, among the Pottawattomie Indians until 1837. They became well versed in the language. James served through the War of 1812 under Capt. Bigger and Gen. Harrison at the Battle of Tippecanoe.
James and Nancy SHIELDS ELLIOTT were the parents of thirteen children, ten of whom lived to maturity. Their names and birthdates are: Elizabeth Ann, Feb. 23 1817; Margaret McClintoe, Feb. 13, 1819; Absalom, Aug. 27, 1821; James, 1823; Ruth Jane, Nov. 15, 1825; William, 1827; John Perry, May 29, 1829; Mary, 1831; Jasper Newton, Jan. 9, 1833; Nancy McCaleb, Dec. 24, 1835; Isaac Tipton, Feb. 6, 1837; Jesse Shields, June 10, 1840; Rebecca Ann, Jan. 3, 1843.Nancy took up the study and practice of medicine with Drs. Sippe and Bracket, receiving her diploma. Dr.. Gunn’s medical adviser and Remedies was the Standard works at that time. Her supply of drugs was obtained from nature’s storehouse of roots and herbs. While a supply of oils, cream of tartar, sulphur and rosin as well as brandy was always kept as hand. She was very successful in setting bones, also in the use of the lance for bleeding, having perfect knowledge o the veins of the temple, arms and ankles, and the result in lancing of either. One case in particular she was exact vein in the ankle to lance, obtaining a spoonful or so of blood. This resulted in the relief from the convulsions and brought on labor and saved both mother and babe. Lancing of a vein at the elbow, taking a pint or so of blood has saved many a case from what is now termed uric poisoning. In her 40 years of practice, no other doctor was ever employed by any of her descendents. In the diagnosing of contagious diseases, fevers, etc. she was adept, always sympathetic, calm, and serene. She was a benediction to all she ever met. Loved and all revered by all her children as well as all who knew her.
Marriage Notes for James Elliott and Nancy Agnes SHIELDS-2126
Line in Record @F0254@ (MRIN 30531) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
There is an Elizabeth A. Elliott buried in the Morrowville, Cem. Elizabeth
A. Elliott d. 8 June 1890 aged 66 yrs 4 mo. 20 dys. buried next to a Leona M. James who died 26 Mar 1906.Elizabeth Ann was called Betsey. In 1863, she and John Dunnuck moved to Kansas, where they had bought land from Elizabeth's brother John.
DESCENDANTS of JAMES and NANCY SHIELDS ELLIOTT
ALSO
CHILDREN of JOHN and ELIZABETH ELLIOTT DUNNUCK
Elizabeth Ann, the first child of the above, was born on Washington CO., Ind. Feb. 23, 1817. She was known as “Betsey” and was ten years old when her parents moved to Fulton CO., Ind. Here she was married to Isaac Kendall, Feb. 26, 1835. Their four children were: Nancy, b. 1836; Charlotte b. 1845. Isaac Kendall died October 15, 1851. In 1854 Betsey married John Dunnuck, a widower with six children. Thus increasing the home duties and cares from four to ten children, but their sorrows seemed to enlarge their sympathies and increase their faith in Divine Providence.
Catherine Ann Dunnuck, born June 10, 1857, the first child of John and Betsy Elliott Dunnuck. The second and youngest of their children, Samantha Jane was born July 22, 1860. Their home was a refuge for many in later years. She was a great mother, as it proved by the stepchildren’s devotion, respect and care in her last remaining years, and her love for them. The father, John Dunnuck, in his later years was a licensed minister in the United Brethren Church.
With the exception of the one death, Margaret Kendall in 1857, the family remained the same until the outbreak of the Civil War when John Adams Dunnuck and William Kendall enlisted early in 1861 and both passed away in less than two years.
In 1863, Elizabeth and John brought their family to Washington Co., Kansas and bought a claim of her brother John Elliott, joining her father’s homestead on the west. He passed away in April 1876, she survived him two years, passing away in September 1878, both are buried in the family cemetery on the mound west of Spence, on the Grand Island R. R.
Nancy was twice married, first to John Patchen. Their child Rose married Asa Andrew and to them were both four children, one daughter married a man named Kyle of Hanover, Kansas (son of Dan Kyle), they live in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nancy’s second marriage was to James Fielder.
Catherine Ann Dunnuck married Peter Peterson, a Dane, their children are: Clarence, born November 16, 1876, married Mary Gauby in Washington, Kansas in 1906. Their two children are Raymond, born April 18, 1908; Lloyd, born 1911. Clarence is one of the leading successful farmers of Smith Co., Kansas near Portis.
Emory Esta, the second son of Catherine Ann and Peter Peterson, was born Feb. 23, 1878 in Washington Co., Kansas. He married Mary Harvey near Forsyth, Mont., Nov. 11, 1904. Their one child, Jessie Peterson as born October 18, 1906. Esta Peterson was a farmer and stockman and owner of a large tract of land, he also handled a great many sheep near rosebud, Mont.
Dorothy Peterson was born in Smith Co., Kansas, January 23, 1881 and married Maurice Lance, Jan. 7, 1901 at Forsyth Montana. Their three children are Earl Lance, born Feb. 18, 1902; Fredrick lane, August 21, 1903; Milo Lance, Feb. 24, 1905. Their three boys are married, only Milo’s address in known; Miles City, Mont.
Mrs. Maurice Lance lives at Jordan, Mont. Milo Lance her son is known far and near from his patient kindness, integrity as well as honest industry. There are other children and grandchildren worthy of mention but we do not have their names or addresses.
Fredrick Peterson, the third son of Peter and Catherine was born Feb. 2, 1884 and married Mabel Westaby in 1911. Their two children are Leonard, born May 11, 1913 and Ernest born Sept. 27, 1916. Fredrick Peterson is a professor. He graduated from Montana State Teachers College and also attended the college at McPherson, Kansas. He is a well-known educator though out Montana.
Ernest Peterson, youngest son of Peter and Catherine, was born April 27, 1887and married Elsa Mount. Their son Steven Peterson was born July 13, 1916. They live in South Dakota.
Rosella Peterson, youngest child of Peter and Catherine Ann, Dunnuck Peterson was born March 21, 1889. She was married twice the first time to Merle Sherman on August 16, 1912. He passed away in 1921. Two children were born to them: Wesley Sherman, born April 27, 1916 and a girl later. Rosella’s second marriage was to Henry Hoelbein in 1931.
Ella taught at Twin Bridges, Mont., for two or three years. Her home since her last marriage is at Three Forks, Mont., where she was a teacher for several years.
Peter Peterson was an honest, thrifty, industrious man with a fund of good kind common sense and Catherine was always a student and deeply religious. They are buried at Forsyth, Mont., where they lived many years.
A word about the Dunnuck’s. John Dunnuck was a son of John and Sarah Hughes Dunnuck. The Dunnuck’s are pure English and the Hughes’ are Welch. They settled in Maryland, coming into Ohio and settled near Circleville, Ohio.
Samantha Jane was born July 22, 1860 in Indiana, she married William Driscoll, Feb. 25, 1877 near Hanover, Kansas. Their children are Cora Alma born Nov. 26, 1877; Royal Edward, March 25, 1880; Bertha Ellen, April 25, 1882; William roscoe, April 23, 1884 and died August 30, 1902; Sarah Catherine, February 15, 1886; Harvey J,. May 2, 1888, married Edna Smock in 1914; Alvin Craig, December 29, 1893, married Edna Beamer in 1916.
Cora Alma married Harrison Fetter at Weston, Ore., bother were teachers. Wm., and Samantha Dunnuck Driscoll kept the Weston Hotel many years. Both passed away and are buried near or in Weston, Oregon.
Marriage Notes for Isaac Kendall and Elizabeth Ann ELLIOTT-2127
Line in Record @F1076@ (MRIN 30551) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
John Dannuck was a minister in the United Brethren Church. He was a widower and brought six children to his marriage with Elizabeth Ann. One of the children, John Adams Dannuck, enlisted in the Union Army at the same time as his stepbrother William Kendall and, like William, he was dead within two years.
There is an Elizabeth A. Elliott buried in the Morrowville, Cem. Elizabeth
A. Elliott d. 8 June 1890 aged 66 yrs 4 mo. 20 dys. buried next to a Leona M. James who died 26 Mar 1906.Elizabeth Ann was called Betsey. In 1863, she and John Dunnuck moved to Kansas, where they had bought land from Elizabeth's brother John.
DESCENDANTS of JAMES and NANCY SHIELDS ELLIOTT
ALSO
CHILDREN of JOHN and ELIZABETH ELLIOTT DUNNUCK
Elizabeth Ann, the first child of the above, was born on Washington CO., Ind. Feb. 23, 1817. She was known as “Betsey” and was ten years old when her parents moved to Fulton CO., Ind. Here she was married to Isaac Kendall, Feb. 26, 1835. Their four children were: Nancy, b. 1836; Charlotte b. 1845. Isaac Kendall died October 15, 1851. In 1854 Betsey married John Dunnuck, a widower with six children. Thus increasing the home duties and cares from four to ten children, but their sorrows seemed to enlarge their sympathies and increase their faith in Divine Providence.
Catherine Ann Dunnuck, born June 10, 1857, the first child of John and Betsy Elliott Dunnuck. The second and youngest of their children, Samantha Jane was born July 22, 1860. Their home was a refuge for many in later years. She was a great mother, as it proved by the stepchildren’s devotion, respect and care in her last remaining years, and her love for them. The father, John Dunnuck, in his later years was a licensed minister in the United Brethren Church.
With the exception of the one death, Margaret Kendall in 1857, the family remained the same until the outbreak of the Civil War when John Adams Dunnuck and William Kendall enlisted early in 1861 and both passed away in less than two years.
In 1863, Elizabeth and John brought their family to Washington Co., Kansas and bought a claim of her brother John Elliott, joining her father’s homestead on the west. He passed away in April 1876, she survived him two years, passing away in September 1878, both are buried in the family cemetery on the mound west of Spence, on the Grand Island R. R.
Nancy was twice married, first to John Patchen. Their child Rose married Asa Andrew and to them were both four children, one daughter married a man named Kyle of Hanover, Kansas (son of Dan Kyle), they live in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nancy’s second marriage was to James Fielder.
Catherine Ann Dunnuck married Peter Peterson, a Dane, their children are: Clarence, born November 16, 1876, married Mary Gauby in Washington, Kansas in 1906. Their two children are Raymond, born April 18, 1908; Lloyd, born 1911. Clarence is one of the leading successful farmers of Smith Co., Kansas near Portis.
Emory Esta, the second son of Catherine Ann and Peter Peterson, was born Feb. 23, 1878 in Washington Co., Kansas. He married Mary Harvey near Forsyth, Mont., Nov. 11, 1904. Their one child, Jessie Peterson as born October 18, 1906. Esta Peterson was a farmer and stockman and owner of a large tract of land, he also handled a great many sheep near rosebud, Mont.
Dorothy Peterson was born in Smith Co., Kansas, January 23, 1881 and married Maurice Lance, Jan. 7, 1901 at Forsyth Montana. Their three children are Earl Lance, born Feb. 18, 1902; Fredrick lane, August 21, 1903; Milo Lance, Feb. 24, 1905. Their three boys are married, only Milo’s address in known; Miles City, Mont.
Mrs. Maurice Lance lives at Jordan, Mont. Milo Lance her son is known far and near from his patient kindness, integrity as well as honest industry. There are other children and grandchildren worthy of mention but we do not have their names or addresses.
Fredrick Peterson, the third son of Peter and Catherine was born Feb. 2, 1884 and married Mabel Westaby in 1911. Their two children are Leonard, born May 11, 1913 and Ernest born Sept. 27, 1916. Fredrick Peterson is a professor. He graduated from Montana State Teachers College and also attended the college at McPherson, Kansas. He is a well-known educator though out Montana.
Ernest Peterson, youngest son of Peter and Catherine, was born April 27, 1887and married Elsa Mount. Their son Steven Peterson was born July 13, 1916. They live in South Dakota.
Rosella Peterson, youngest child of Peter and Catherine Ann, Dunnuck Peterson was born March 21, 1889. She was married twice the first time to Merle Sherman on August 16, 1912. He passed away in 1921. Two children were born to them: Wesley Sherman, born April 27, 1916 and a girl later. Rosella’s second marriage was to Henry Hoelbein in 1931.
Ella taught at Twin Bridges, Mont., for two or three years. Her home since her last marriage is at Three Forks, Mont., where she was a teacher for several years.
Peter Peterson was an honest, thrifty, industrious man with a fund of good kind common sense and Catherine was always a student and deeply religious. They are buried at Forsyth, Mont., where they lived many years.
A word about the Dunnuck’s. John Dunnuck was a son of John and Sarah Hughes Dunnuck. The Dunnuck’s are pure English and the Hughes’ are Welch. They settled in Maryland, coming into Ohio and settled near Circleville, Ohio.
Samantha Jane was born July 22, 1860 in Indiana, she married William Driscoll, Feb. 25, 1877 near Hanover, Kansas. Their children are Cora Alma born Nov. 26, 1877; Royal Edward, March 25, 1880; Bertha Ellen, April 25, 1882; William roscoe, April 23, 1884 and died August 30, 1902; Sarah Catherine, February 15, 1886; Harvey J,. May 2, 1888, married Edna Smock in 1914; Alvin Craig, December 29, 1893, married Edna Beamer in 1916.
Cora Alma married Harrison Fetter at Weston, Ore., bother were teachers. Wm., and Samantha Dunnuck Driscoll kept the Weston Hotel many years. Both passed away and are buried near or in Weston, Oregon.
Marriage Notes for John Dannuck and Elizabeth Ann ELLIOTT-2127
Line in Record @F1077@ (MRIN 30552) from GEDCOM file not recognized:
DESCENDANTS of ROBERT and NANCY STOCKTON SHIELDS
By Mary O'Derrick ColemanRichard, the second son was born in 1764. We have no record as to whom or when he was married, but his son, Robert's birth is given as Oct. 13, 1784, indicating that their marriage must have taken place soon after the family settled in the Fort (Sevier Co., Tenn.). If there were other children we have no record of them. Robert, son of Richard, married Margaret Emmert, who was 3 years his senior and survived him 12 years. Robert was a farmer and a justice of the Peace. His death occured January 11, 1850. Robert and Margaret Emmeret Shields resided at Cades Cove, Blount Co., Tenn. Eleven children were born to them. Arnett, their last surviving son died in 1915. Arnett and his wife, Elizabeth Kitchner Shields had eight children. They resided, some at Ducktown, Tenn. and others at Colberson, North Carolina as given in J.A. Shields History.
The Descendents of Robert and Margaret Emmert SHIELDS
by A. Randolph SHIELDS
128 Sunset Drive
Maryville, TN 37801Richard SHIELDS, our ancestor of the TEN BROTHERS, remained in Sevier County, as far as we know. There are some records relating him and his family to at least three Baptist Churches in the area, and records of land ownership in the Waldens Creek Section of the County. He was married, as were all of the older children, before the trek from Virginia. A record of his marriage has yet to be found. Some chroniclers indicate that his wife was possibly Matilda Arnett. At least one child, Arnett, was born in VA. On the way to the wilderness, Richard and family, along with his mother and younger brothers, diverted up the New River to the Yadkin area of North Carolina, where there were relatives. They remained there for a growing season, continuing on to the fort after the harvest of the crops. It was during this sojourn that the son Robert SHIELDS was born, in 1784. Arnett SHIELDS lived for a time in Tuckaleechee Cove, Blount County, TN. He was there at the 1830 census. He moved his family to Murray County, GA, around 1840, where he bought land, and where he is buried. Robert and Arnett married Emmert sisters of Sevier County. Arnett married Mary (Polly) Emmert in 1801. Robert married Margaret Emmert in 1809. They were daughters of Frederick and Barbara Knight Emmert, Formerly of Pennsylvania. The family name is recorded variously as, Emmitt, Emmert and Emert. I am using the earlier spelling of Emmert here.
Robert and Margaret started their family in Emmert's Cove, Sevier County, TN. After the signing of the Calhoun Treaty, in 1819, the lands of the Cherokees within Tennessee became legally available for settlement by white insurgents. Robert SHIELDS moved his family to the valley of the Little Tennessee River, in Blount County, in 1820. There were six children by that time. A few years later, the exact year is not known, a typhoid outbreak caused him to take his family deep into the Smoky Mountains, to the very headwaters of what is known today as Forge Creek, in the Cades Cove area. We believe that this was no later then 1823, and could have been earlier. He and his sons cleared the 'sugar cove', built their cabin and planted crops. Prior to 1830, the family moved 'out' into Cades Cove and built quarters on land owned by Jacob Tipton. This caused tention between the families that lasted for several years.
In 1831, Robert SHIELDS purchased 1600 acres in the western end of Cades Cove from William and Thomas Tipton. With financial aid from D. D. Foute, he and his brother in law, Daniel Emmert (sic), constructed a large water powered mill, for sawing lumber and grinding wheat and corn. This is referred to varioiusly as the Shields - Emmitt Mill, during the 1830's. From the 1840's on, the designation was the SHIELDS MILL. William Tipton and Foute cooperated in the building of a 'Bloomery' forge on the property in the late 1820's and early 1830's. Robert SHIELDS operated this smelter for a few years. It was closed in the 1840's, due to a paucity of ore and coke producing trees. Board sawing and wheat processing were discontinued at the mill about 1900. Corn grinding continued until 1936. The mill rocks were returned to Cades Cove in 1984. They are now (1986) exhibited at the Cades Cove Visitor's Center, at the Cable Mill area.From the book, SHIELDS HISTORY, 1980 pg. 59
There does not seem to be very much information on this Richard SHIELDS. In Deed book D. pg. 134, Sevier Co, TN. we find where he purchased land on the "Cove waters of Walden Creek, "the 18 May 1807. Willie Blount, Gov., signing, 9 May 1810. He was a member of the Baptist Church at Pigeon Forge. Entries of 30 Sept 1808, "Wears Cove Church fined Richard SHIELDS and Henry HAGGARD for "Illegal action". He was also Clerk of the same Church, Aug. 1838.The name of Richard's wife seems to be unknown and only one child, Robert is known. No doubt there were other children. From this son, Robert, comes most of the SHIELDS families in the Cades Cove and Sevier Co. area. Second of the Ten Brothers. According to John A. Shields, lived and died in East Tennessee, and had many descendants there and in North Georgia.
Christine Brownlee reports that records of Pigeon Creek Baptist Church show that 30 September 1808 the church fined Richard Shields and Henry Haggard for "illegal action." In August 1838, Richard was clerk of the congregation.[v28t2460.FTW]
Information from G. Ronald Hurd of Vienna, VA.
This name of Richards Wife is given but not proven.
John Shields, Private Born in 1769 in Harrisonberg, Virginia John Shields at the age of 34 was recruited by Lewis and enlisted on October 19, 1803 becoming the expeditions oldest enlisted member. Shields possessed immaculate blacksmith, <../../blacksmith.htm> gunsmith, huntsmen, and craftsmanship skills, he was also a general mechanic. The success Shields had with all of these things were astonishing, there are over 70 references in journals made about Shields’ success with hunting. A year after the expedition, he spent a year with a close relative, Daniel Boone. Shields finally settled in near the Falls of the Ohio in Corydon and it is believed that he was a member of the Squire Boone Party that moved there. He resides in Little Flock Cemetery in Harrison County, having died in November of 1809.
John was the sixth child of Robert in Nancy Stockton Shields. He was born in VA about 1769. He was associated with Samuel Wilson in a mill and also worked at blacksmithing and as a gunsmith. John was best known to the 10 brothers, thus has more claim to a place in history of this country. He was a member of the Lewis and Clark expeditions and highly spoken out of in the reports of that expeditions as a scout and gunsmith. He is credited with saving the lives of the members of his party during the first winter, which was spent near the present site of Mandan, North Dakota. It is said that by diplomacy he kept the Mandan Indians in good humor through his skill as a blacksmith by fashioning hatchets, knives and implements which were traded to them for Corn and provisions so much needed when the little party found itself destitute and facing starvation. His married, etc. will be given later.
From Shields History by Mary O'Derick Coleman, pg. 7
This family is said to have come originally from Spain, and from there origins in Persia. By 300 BC had invaded and settled Ireland. In 300 BC, Ugane Mre, 20th in descent from Milesius, was King of Ireland; thence to Nial Noy Giollach, King of Ireland in 379 AD, who divided the kingdom among his six sons, with sept (clan) designations of Hy Nials from which our SHIELDS family is thought to have originated. From this lineage sprang the O'Neill septs, and from one of these the sept of Siadhail (Shee-ail) originated.
The O'Siadhail sept was not generally restricted to a territorial center, as were most of the septs of that time. The sept was designated a medical family, physicians to the varioius O'Neill chieftains of their domain. Surnames were not common before the 12th century, and the name of SHIELDS did not function as a surname for individuals before then. However, as a a sept designation of O'Sheel (O'Shiel, O'Shield(s)) was known in the 8th century, AD. The sept probably had it's origin in the Kingdom of Meath, a district in east central Ireland, where the O'Neills reigned. Long before the Norman Conquest (1066 AD), members of the sept began moving north into Ulster. By 1600 AD they were well established in the northernmost County of Antrim, remaining in the records as a Medical sept. It was in the County Antrim that the ancestors of our Irish immigrant resided. We now begin a more detailed outline of our ancestral trek with the birth of William Shields, ca. 1600 AD, in County Antrim, of North Ireland. Among his sons were William, JAMES (born 1635), and John. There may have been other children, but these are the three that made it to America. (See later notes under James).SELECTED HISORY OF THE SHIELDS FAMILY
Dr. Martin L. Skubinna, Ph.D The major Shields family in America today in America today is chiefly of Irish origin and can probably lay claim to having ancestry in Ireland dating back to the time of the initial Celtic invasions -- sometime between 500 and 1000 BC. As one member of the Shields family from Georgia expressed it, "We Shields' are Irish, nothing but Irish, and damn proud of it. There is no family any better, and very few as good."
IRISH ORIGINS
The original migrating generation of the Shields family to America appears to have been the sons of a family member who lived at the turn of the 17th century in County Antrim, Ireland. County Antrim is "on the shores of Lough Neagh," adjacent to Belfast, and the largest lake in the British Isles. William Shields, born at some time between 1590 and 1600, fathered four sons of whom we have record. He may well have fathered daughters as well, but we know only of the sons - as many genealogical records from this period of time mention female line offspring only in passing or omit them entirely. There were: William (born 1630); Daniel and John (born apparently in the early 1640's and presumed by other circumstances to have been significantly younger than the two older Shields sons).
EXILE
The two elder Shields offspring seem to have been involved in the roundups and deportation of young Irish men during the Commonwealth Period (1653-1659) under Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell. Their principal offense was the fact that they were Irish. Accounts report the family was greatly harassed, and younger sons were kept in concealment for much of their youth. This suggests that, for whatever reasons, the Shields' were in particular disfavor with Cromwell and the "Roundheads."
Family history and tradition hold that these two Shields brothers, William and James, were both exiled while in their early twenties to Barbados in the West Indies. At this time, during the middle 17th century, Barbados was an important British trading center and had a greater European population than the entire North American Mainland. how they survived their exile we do not know, but family history is agreed that within less than two years they managed to take passage via a slave ship to Virginia, arriving around 1655 at Middle Plantation, the site of present-day Willamsburg.
The subsequent histories of these two SHIELDS brothers is extensively chronicled, chiefly in books by the late John Arthur Shields, the late John Edgar Shields, and other descendant members of the resultant family lines. Other accounts exist which connect these two Shields immigrants wth the two younger sons of William 1600, the youngest of whom, John SHIELDS (ca. 1640), was the progenitor of the line which is the subject of this compilation. To treat with their careers and descent ina a very summary manner:WILLAIM SHIELDS (1630) A few years after the arrival of the two Shields brothers to Middle Plantation, James migrated Northward to the port of Baltimore. He subsequently located in Kent County, Maryland. William meanwhile, remained in Williamsburg. William became the owner and operator of SHIELDS Ordinary,a noted inn and tavern of the day. The tavern is noted occasionally in constabulary records, as one assumes for occasional breaches of the peace. Shields Tavern has been restored within the past two decades as one of Colonial Williamsburg's historical points of interest and informal dining establishments, and has become a popular stop on tours of the restoration.
William became the progenitor of a lengthy family line. Later generations migrated elsewhere in Virginia, to the river settlements in North Carolina, and ultimately into Indiana Territory around 1800. Various genealogical works treat with the resultant line which, collectively, are sometimes referred to as "the Willamsburg line." Among prominent Americans in this branch of the family were President John Tyler, and William Tyler Page.
John was the sixth child of Robert and Nancy Stockton Shields. He was born in Va. about 1769. He was associated with Samuel Wilson in a mill and also worked at blacksmithing and as a gunsmith. John was the best known of the ten brothers, thus has more claim to a place in the history of his country. He was a member of the Lewis and Clark expedition and highly spoken of in the reports of that expedition as a scout and gunsmith. He is credited with saving the lives of the members of his party which was spent near the present site of Mandan, ND. It is said that by diplomacy he kept the Mandan Indians in good humour through his skill as a blacksmith by fashioning hatchets, knives and implements which were traded to them for corn and provisions so much needed when the little party found itself destitute and facing starvation.See SHIELDS HISTORY 1980, pg. 64 John SHIELDS went with his parents to live in Shields Fort, Sevier Co., TN. Later he ran a mill and blacksmith shop for
Samuel Wilson.
Added dated,
State of Tennessee} By Virtue of Entry no. 1099 Sevier County } dated 19 Dec 1835
I have surveyed for John SHIELDS five and one half acres of land in said county on the waters of the west fork of Little Pigeon joining the land of Robert SHIELDS dec. Beginning on the south side of the river and at said SHIELDS lower corner running up the River South fifty Eight and a half East Sixty Eight poles to a stake on Sd. Shields old line with the same South fifty Six and a half east twenty poles to a Stake South thirty two East fifty two poles to a stake twenty seven east twenty poles to a Rock in the River. Said Robert SHIELDS upper corner crossing the River North forty nine East five Sixteen links to a Stake and persimmon on side of Alexander Preseton the land surveyed in the line of Mortica Lewis then with the same thiry one west Seventy nine. Poles to a Stake to line of Said SHIELDS forty two poles with Preston sixty one west forty two poles to an Alder. North west fifty two poles to a Stake on the line of sd SHIELDS thence a Direct line to the Beginning.Surveyed 8 July 1836. John Mullendore, City Surveyor
Condition on which this entry is founded is the Acres But complement can't be had for line.Survey Book 1, Page 357
Sevier Co., Registry of DeedsThe above Entry dated 19 Dec. 1835 would put a shadow on the death date quoted in several family histories.
Of the "Ten Brothers" John has the greatest claim to fame and to an honored place in hisotry. He was one of the little band of 29 men on the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1803/04. He was the Scout and Gunsmith on that extra ordinary adventure. His ingenuity at the forge, in making knives, hatches and trinklets for trading with the Indians near the present city of Mandan, N.D., and his dipolomatic skill in trading with them, saved the Expedition from starvation and massacre. He walked, scouting for hostile Indians, all the way from the mouth of the Kansas River to the headwaters of the Missouri, thence down the Columbia to the Pacific Ocean, being one of the first, if not the first white man to make that perilous transcontinental journey. He is given highest praise in the Official Reports of both Merryweather Lewis and William Clark. On returning from the Far West he spent a year with Squire Boone in Indiana. The fatigue, exposure, starvation and other hardships of his long trip with the Lewis and Clark Expedition ruined his health and that of most of those on the expedition. Efforts to secure relief for them from the government failed. John SHIELDS spent his last years as an invalid and pauper among his relatives. He is reportedly buried in a rural cemetery in an unmarked grave near Athens, TN.His only child, Jennie SHIELDS married a cousin, John Tipton.
Fifth of the Ten Brothers. Was a scout and gunsmith and was one of the 29 members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to Oregon in 1803. John F. Shields says he appears to have never married and was a wanderer all his life.
In 1784, John went with his family to live in the Shields Fort in Tennessee. Later, he ran a mill and blacksmith shop for Sam Wilson. He was the gunsmith for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. His ingenuity at the forge in making knives, hatchets and trinkets for trading with the Mandan Indians near the present site of Mandan, North Dakota and his diplomatic skill in treating with them saved the expedition from starvation and massacre, according to John A. Shields. He walked, scouting for hostile Indians, all the way from the mouth of the Kansas River to the headwaters of the Missouri, then down the Columbia to the Pacific Ocean, being one of the first to make that perilous transcontinental journey, probably the first white man to do so since, as scout, he was a distance ahead of the other members of the expedition. He is praised highly in the official reports of Merriweather Lewis and William Clark.
John was recruited by Clark at Clarksville, Indiana in October 1803. At 35, he was the oldest man signed on for the expedition.On returning from the Far West, he spent a year trapping with Daniel Boone in Missouri and another with Boone in Indiana. The fatigue, exposure, starvation and other hardships of his long trip with Lewis and Clark ruined his health and that of most of the members of the expedition. Efforts to secure relief from the government failed. John Shields spent his last years as a pauper and invalid among his relatives and died relatively young about 1815. He is buried in an unmarked grave in a rural cemetery near Athens in McMinn County, Tennessee.
John A. Shields reports that John's "only child, Jennie, married her cousin, John Tipton" (son of Janet).
Christine Brown says a land survey made for John Shields 8 July 1836 makes doubtful the about 1815 date for John's death. The survey by John Mullendore was for 5 1/2 acres on the west fork of the Little Pigeon adjoining land of Robert Shields. She does not indicate how she knows this was 10 Brother John.John Shields is mentioned several times in "Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson and the Opening of the American West" by Stephen E. Ambrose, Simon & Schuster, 1996.
The following is from "We Proceeded On," the official publication of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, Inc., July 1979:Charles G. Clarke in his "Men of the Lewis and Clark Expedition," provides a brief biographical sketch of Private John Shields and says that Shields "was born in 1769 near Harrisonburg [sic], Augusta County, Virginia. Being aged 35 when he joined the exploring party, he appears to be the oldest man of the round-trip party." Captain Clark was born in 1770, Sergeant Gass in 1771 and Captain Lewis in 1774, and there were several members of the party born between 1771 and 1774. Despite the statements made by the captains, when recruiting men for the enterprise, that they would consider only unmarried men, Charles Clarke's biographical data indicates that Shields married in about 1790 while living in Kentucky and that he and his wife Nancy had a daughter, Janette.
The captains referred to him as one of the ". . . nine young men from Kentucky, . . . "and he served the enterprise as an enlisted man from October 19, 1803 until October 10, 1806.
This man has been most often referred to as the blacksmith, gunsmith or general mechanic of the Expedition's personnel. Like Sergeant Gass, who specialized, among other things, as a carpenter, it was Shields whom the captains extol as the man who improvised from what little metallic products they carried with them; kept the firearms in good working order, and probably formed their rounds of ammunition by melting the lead from cannisters which contained their gun powder. . . .
Both Olin Wheeler and Paul Cutright make the observation that William Bratton and Alexander Willard, in addition to John Shields, were blacksmiths. Cutright comments: "When repair work lagged, an imaginative brave saved the day by conceiving the idea that Shields' artistry could make an iron battle-ax for him. Shields obliged with the result that he and his helpers had a rash of requests for these formidable weapons. They had a zest for their work, however, since they were rewarded by watching their stockpile of Indian corn grow larger and larger. So, due to the hardihood of the hunters and the industry of Shields, Bratton and Willard, the explorers had plenty of food and good variety throughout the winter. . . . "
Shields' other contributions to the success of the enterprise are many and varied.
When George Shannon was lost along the lower Missouri River from August 27 to September 11, 1804, it was John Shields, along with Joseph Field, who were assigned by the commanders to search for him. The journals do not document that they found him, but rather indicate that Shannon, thinking that he was behind the main party and the vessels on the river, had hurried on ahead of them, thus increasing the distance each day until he ran out of ammunition. When Shields and J. Field caught up with him, if they were the ones that did, he was near starvation and exhaustion.Lewis' journal for May 20, 1805 credits Shields with the discovery of a " . . bould spring or fountain from the foot of the Lard. hills . . . about five miles below the entrance of the Yellowstone River.'' Lewis commented further that this was a significant discovery since most of the springs they had encountered in this region ". . . without exception are impregnated with the salts [minerals] which abound in this country. . . ."
Once Shields had completed his gunsmith and blacksmith duties and had all the guns in good working order, he apparently spent a good deal of his time using the firearms as a hunter. The Thwaites Index lists nearly 70 references to his activity as a hunter, and the much briefer Sergeant Ordway journal lists seven instances related to Shields' hunting accomplishments.
In early August 1805, near Lemhi Pass, Shields was in the advance party with Captain Lewis, Drouillard (drewyer) and McNeal, who were well ahead of the main party. Their purpose was to make contact with the Snake or Shoshone Indians. Having reached the headwaters of the Missouri and its tributaries, the main party would soon be abandoning travel on the waterways, would cache their canoes and continue their journey overland. Lewis hoped that finding friendly Indians would provide a source for horses. When they did finally see, and attempted to make contact with, an Indian, it was Shields who probably did not see Lewis' signal to stop advancing and by failing to halt frightened the Indian so that he retreated. Lewis' journal reveals: " . . . but looking over his shoulders he still kept his eye on Drewyer and Shields who were still advancing neither of them having the sagacity enough to recollect of impropriety of advancing when they saw me thus in parley with the Indian . . . but he did not remain unit I got nearer than about 100 paces when he suddenly turned his ho[r]se about, gave him the whip leaped a creek and disappeared in the willow brush in an instant, and with him vanished all my hopes of obtaining horses for the present. I now felt quite as much mortification and disappointment as I had pleasure and expectation at the first sight of this Indian. I fe[l]t soarly chagrined at the conduct of the men particularly Shields to whom I principally attributed this failure in obtaining an introduction to the natives. I now called the men to me and could not forbare abraiding them a little for their want to attention and imprudence on this occasion. . . ."
We do not have detailed information concerning John Shields after the expedition returned to St. Louis. His discharge from the military is dated October 10, 1806. He received his pay plus a warrant for land in Franklin County, Missouri. Charles G. Clarke indicates that he spent a year trapping with Daniel Boone in Missouri and Indiana and that he died in December 1809 and was probably buried in Little Flock Baptist Burying Ground near Corydon, Harrison County, Indiana. His wife Nancy survived him, and John Tipton, who married his daughter Janette, served as an executor of his will.Dr. Coues indicates that the captains named two streams for John Shields. One is a branch of the Missouri, which flows in a northwesterly direction into the south side of the Missouri a few miles below the Great Falls. Today's cartography indicates this waterway to be Highwood Creek. The other stream is a tributary of the Yellowstone River. Shields was in Captain Clark's party on the return journey across today's Bozeman Pass from the Three Forks of the Missouri, and eventually to the descent of the Yellowstone to its confluence with the Missouri. Captain Clark gave the name of Shields River to the first principal tributary which flows southward from out of the Crazy Horse Mountains. This stream is just east of the Bozeman Pass divide and flows into the Yellowstone River near Livingston, Montana. Modern maps indicate this to be Shields River in Park County, Montana, and the waterway remains a lasting tribute to this important member of the great exploration.
A final accolade to John Shields' contributions to the success of the enterprise appears in Captain Lewis' letter and enclosure of the roster of men who accompanied him, which he forwarded to the secretary of war, Henry Dearborn, on January 15, 1807. This was an unusual request, and the only instance of such a request in Lewis' remarks to the secretary of war concerning the men of his command. Lewis wrote: "John Shields [sic] has received the pay only of a private. Nothing was more peculiarly useful to us in various situations than the skill and ingenuity of this man as an artist, in repairing our guns, accoutrements, &c. and should it be thought proper to allow him something as an artificer, he has well deserved it." Unfortunately, we find no record in any of the literature and documentation of the expedition that the secretary of war took any action in response to Captain Lewis' request.
John Shields' wife is said to have been a sister of Hugh Lawson White, who ran for President in 1828 against Jackson and Adams.
James and Penelope moved into Southern Indiana in 1808, settling in Jackson Co. James, with other members of the family, along with the Tipton family, built a fort just north of the present city of Seymore where they lived for protection against the Indians. James was in command of the Fort and won the title of Col. in various Indian Skirmishes in which he led the settlers. In time he was owner of 1200 acres in Jackson Co., IN. He was a very social being and enjoyed entertaining his friends....
The Shields homestead is an interesting landmark in the vicinity of
Seymore.See pg. 65 of SHIELDS HISTORY, 1980
In 1784 James accompanied his mother and father, and his sister and four smaller brothers to the Yadkin Settlement in North Carolina. The next year he helped to bring them on pack animals to SHILDS Fort in Sevier Co., TN, via the Watauga and Traders Trail. In 1808, he settled in Indiana, building his own SHIELDS Fort on the present site of Seymour, IN. He marreid in 1795, Penelope White, a niece of James WHITE, the founder of Knoxville, TN. and a sister to Sabra White, wife of his brother Robert. James was the ancestor of a large and prominent Indiana family. His son, Meady White Shields, founded the City of Seymour. James died 2 Feb. 1847 at the age of 76 years. He is buried in Riverview Cem., Seymour, IN by teh side of his wife that died six years previous.Sixth of the Ten Brothers. According to John A. Shields, went to Indiana in 1808 and established a fort at the present site of Seymour.In 1784, James accompanied his mother and father and his sister and four smaller brothers to the Yadkin Settlement in North Carolina. The next year, he helped bring them back on pack animals to Shields Fort in Sevier County, Tennessee, traveling by way of the Watauga and Traders Trail.
John A. Shields tells that in 1784, James, then 13, accompanied his mother, sister and four smaller brothers to the Yadkin settlement in North Carolina. The next year, he brought them on pack animals to Shields fort in Tennessee via the Watauga and Traders Trails.
In 1808, with his sister Janet Tipton, he settled in Indiana, building his own Shields Fort on the present site of Seymour, Indiana, known previously as Mule Crossing. He acquired several thousand acres in the area. The site of the Shields fort was later the city cemetery.
His wife was Penelope White, a niece of James White, the founder of Knoxville, Tennessee and cousin of Congressman Hugh Lawson White, who had been a presidential candidate.
James Shields, the seventh child of Robert and Nancy, was born in Rockingham County, VA in 1771. He married to Penelope White a sister of James White the founder of Knoxville and a cousin of Hugh Lawson White who was a member of Congress and candidate for president against Andrew Jackson. James and Penelope had two sons and three daughters born in Seiver Cedar County, Tenn.
They moved into southern Indiana in 1808 settling in Jackson County. James with other members of the family along with the Tipton family built a fort just north of the present city of Seymore where they lived for protection against the Indians. James was in command of the fort and won the title of Colonel in various Indian skirmishes in which he led the settlers. In time he was owner of over 1200 acres of land in Jackson County. He was of a social being enjoyed entertaining his friends.
Their oldest son, William, became a member of the Indiana Legislature. Meedy White Shields, second son of this couple was a businessman, also owned large tracks of land and milling interest.
The father, James, passed on Feb. 2nd, 1848; Penelope the wife and mother having preceded him six years. Both were buried in the Riverview Cemetery near Seymour. The Shields homestead is still an interesting Landmark in the vicinity of Seymour.
Penelope White is the sister of James White, the founder of Knoxville, and a cousin of Hugh Lawson White who was a member of Congress and a candidate for President against Andrew Jackson.
Penelope and Sabra White were sisters. There is one report that their mother was a Cherokee. They were sisters of James White, the founder of Knoxville, Tennessee.
Benjamin moved his family near Roane County, near Kingston, Tennessee.Ninth of the Ten Brothers. According to John F. Shields, appears to have died young. John A. Shields says he was born in 1780.
Later manuscript by John A. Shields says Benjamin, his brother and the Veatch family moved in 1808-1811 from Shields Fort at Pigeon Forge to Indiana. Benjamin and Mary had nine children. He is buried in Little Flock burying ground south of Elizabeth, Indiana.
Bill Navey gives Benjamin Shields' date of birth as 1779.[v28t2460.FTW]
Moved to IN in 1810.
Information from G. Ronald Hurd of Vienna, VA, and letter to Walter Davidson from Ila and Oliver Shields of Veneta, OR (1 May 1983), and from WFT Vol. I #5770.
Was called Polly. Herbert L. Blue says that, after the death of Benjamin Shields, Mary and her children moved from Indiana to Illinois, where she married James Trone. Herb Blue says the Veatch family came to America from Scotland.
Bill Navey records that Agnes Shields was born in Indiana.