BIOGRAPHY
of
BENIRIAH3 SHIELDS
of
BENIRIAH3 SHIELDS
Later known as, WILLIAM B. SHIELDS
(Also appears in records as: William V. Shields.)s/o Patrick2 (Daniel1) and Selina Freeman
His Story and Family
Disclaimer:Information presented on this website is based upon facts and information available at this time from sources as cited. Much is still lacking validation in many areas. Some conclusions are made based upon preponderance of evidence. Perhaps in time other information will be discovered to prove some statements as incorrect. Sources used may include primary records, secondary records, and others' research: birth records, death records, burial records, marriage records, court records, census records, obituaries, Bible records, research and information from others. Know that even the primary records have errors as many times the informer was another who gave incorrect data...very evident in death records, obituaries and census records. Spelling by clerks/recorders and penmanship left much to be desired. Many of our ancestors were illiterate or spoke with their foreign accent or brogue making an even more difficult task for the clerks/recorders. Many records were lost in courthouse fires and floods. ASH |
BENIRIAH3 SHIELDS1, [apparently aka William Beniriah Shields and William V. Shields], son of Patrick2 SHIELDS (Daniel1) and his 2nd wife, Selina FREEMAN, was born 22 June 1852 in Ohio. At the time of the 1860 U. S. Federal Census2, Beniriah was seven years old and living with his parents and three siblings near Delisle in Van Buren Township, Darke County, Ohio. He was enumerated as 18 years of age at the time of the 1870 U. S. Federal Census3 and working as a farm hand while residing with his parents and elder sister, Elizabeth, near Gettysburg, Van Buren Township, Darke County, Ohio.
William V. (sic) (probably "B.") Shields married 20 May 1873 Darke County, Ohio to (1) Ella [Mary Ella] Hartle born 14 February 1854. This marriage appears to have ended in divorce after the birth of their daughter, Josie, in 1875 and before 1880.
Beniriah evidently left the Darke County, Ohio area, and at this time began using the name of William B. Shields. It appears as William B. Shields he is the one who married in Fountain County, Indiana to (2) Louisa ELLIS.
William B. Shields to Louisa Ellis – 19 July 1879 |
He and Louisa are then enumerated in Fountain County, Indiana at the time of the 1880 U. S. Federal Census. However, they have not been found in records after this.
Fountain County, Indiana Van Buren Township 5 June 1880 87-87 Shields, William, 27, male, Labourer, b Ohio; father b NY (sic); mother b PA |
As William B. Shields, he and his wife Louisa signed a quit claim deed dated 24 July 1880 (Deed Book 117, pgs 371-372) from Fountain County, Indiana. This quit claim deed was recorded in Darke County, Ohio. This deed named William B. Shields as an heir of Patrick Shields by his second wife Selina (Freeman) Boyd Shields. At this same time of the quit claim deed, his brother, Joseph M. Shields, was also residing in Fountain County, Indiana.
Little is known of Beniriah, his life, and his family. Family members in the 1960s indicated he fathered a son and daughter who resided in St. Clair County, Illinois. However, he has not been found in subsequent records at this time (2008).
Eventually Ella married a second time to Frederick Coppess.5 Frederick and Ella and two children are enumerated in 1900 as residing in Richland Township, Darke County, Ohio6 near Josie E. (Shields) Hubler, her daughter by Beniriah. Frederick Coppess and Mary Ella (Hartle) Shields Coppess are buried at the Beamsville Cemetery in Richland Township, Darke County, Ohio.7
Beniriah is said to have been the father of three children by two wives.
Child by Beniriah and (1) Mary Ellen:
1. JOSIE E. SHIELDS was born 1875 in Darke County, Ohio.
Josa E. Shields (female)
Born: 6 March 1875 Richland Twp., Darke County, Ohio
Father: B. Shields
Mother: Mary A. [sic] Hartle
(Source: Darke Co., OH Birth Records 1867-1908, Vol. 5, p. 98)
Josie Ellen SHIELDS married John E. HUBLER and they had two children Dora or Doris Opal Hubler (married Ralph F. Mott and she died young8) and Charlotte "Lottie" Hubler. By 1910 it appears that John E. was deceased and Josie was residing in Montgomery County, OH, Dayton Twp. Ward 4, with her daughters named as Opal & Charlotte. In 1910 Josie was working at home as a seamstress.
(Heritage Quest: 1910: Series: T624 Roll: 1217 Page: 214)
Children by William Beniriah & perhaps Louisa or another wife:
2. WALTER SHIELDS according to family information lived in East St. Louis, St. Clair County, Illinois. He may have been the Walter Shields who married is St. Clair County, Illinois9 named in the record below.
3. MAMIE SHIELDS according to family information lived in East St. Louis, St. Clair County, Illinois.
END NOTES 1 Anita (Bowers) Short & Ruth Bowers, DANIEL SHIELDS Family Lineages, Manuscripts, & Documents, 1965-1970: Research SUMMARY; 2008, Internet: E-mail to ASH: Anita (Bowers) Short
2 1860 U.S. Federal Census
1860 U. S. Federal Census
Darke County, Ohio
Van Buren Township
P. O.: Delisle
9 July 1860
#1090-1108Patrick Shields, 76, male, grocery keeper, Real Estate $4120 (?), Personal Property $200, born Ireland
Salina Shields, 47,female, born Ireland
N. D. Shields, 21, male, day laborer, born Ohio
Harry Shields, 19, male, day laborer, born Ohio
J. R. Shields, 15, male, day laborer, born Ohio
Beainaka (sic-Beniriah) Shields, 7, male, born Ohio(Internet, Heritage Quest: Series: M653 Roll: 956 Page: 403 Image:5)
3 1870 U.S. Federal Census
1870 U. S. Federal Census
Darke County, Ohio
Van Buren Township
P. O.: Gettysburg
23 August 1870
#206-194Patrick Shields, 86, male, white, retired grocer, Real Estate $150, Personal Property $100, born Ireland
Salina Shields, 55, female, white, keeping house, born Ohio
Elizabeth. Shields, 21, female, white, Domestic Servantry, born Ohio
Beninah Shields, 18, male, white, farm hand, born Ohio(Internet, Heritage Quest: Series: M593 Roll: 1194 Page: 345)
4 This Darke County, Ohio Quit Claim Record was signed by William B. Shields, said heir of Patrick Shields & his 2nd wife, Selina. Although not specifically identified it appears that this is William Beniriah Shields, who in other records is Beniriah Shields and William V. Shields.
Deed Book 117, pgs. 371-372 William B. [probably Beniriah] Shields and wife Louisa signed a quit claim deed dated 24 July 1880 from Fountain County, Indiana, which was recorded in Darke County, Ohio. This deed named William B. Shields as an heir of Patrick Shields by his second wife Selina (Freeman) Boyd Shields. It is unknown at this time how William B. Shields was related to Patrick and Selina.
5 Biographical Sketch of Frederick Coppess
Darke County Biographical History, 1900
Page 516Frederick Coppess born June 27 1830 Richland township………Mr. Coppess has been twice married, his first wife dying without issue. On May 25, 1890 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Ella (Hartle) Shields. They are the parents of 2 sons Forest Benton and Frederick H. Mrs. Coppess is a daughter of Solomon and Sarah Ann E. (Warvel) Hartle. Mrs. Coppess was born in Darke County February 14, 1854. Her first husband was William V. [sic] Shields and of this union one daughter was born, Josie Ellen wife of John Hoobler [sic-Hubler] who is an energetic and prosperous young farmer of the county. They have 2 daughters: Dora O. and Lottie.
6 1900 U. S. Federal Census
1900 U. S. Federal Census
Darke County, Ohio
Richland Township
8 June 1900104-107
Hubler, John E., Head; b July 1872, age 27; mar 6y; b Ohio, father b OH; mother b OH; farmer
______, Josie E., wife; b Mar 1875, age 25y; mar 6y; 2 children/2 living; b Ohio; father b OH; mother b OH
______, Doral O., daughter; b May 1896, age 4; singled, b Ohio; father b OH; mother b OH
______, Charlottie, daughter; b Sept 1898, age 2; b Ohio; father b OH; mother b OH
105-108
Coppess, Frederic, Head, b June 1830, age 69; mar 10y, b Ohio; father b NC; mother b PA
_______, Mary E., Wife, b Feb. 1854, age 46; m 10y; 3 children/3 living; b Ohio; father b OH; mother b OH
_______, Forest B., son, b Mar, 1892; age 8y; b Ohio; father b OH; mother b OH
_______, Fredrick H., son, b Oct 1895; age 4y; b Ohio; father b OH; mother b OH(Ancestry: page 5B-6A, Images 10-11)
(Heritage Quest: Series: T623 Roll: 1262 Pages: 94-95)
7 Beamsville, Darke Co., OH Cemetery: COPPESS
Beamsville Cemetery, Richland Twp., Darke County, Ohio Coppess, Frederick, born June 27, 1830, died March 10, 1907
Coppess, Mary E. born Feb. 14, 1854, died Dec. 1, 1938
8 Beamsville, Darke Co., OH Cemetery: MOTT
Beamsville Cemetery, Richland Twp., Darke County, Ohio Mott, D. Opal Hubler, wife of Ralph F. Mott, 1896-1920
9 Illinois Statewide Marriages
Illinois Statewide Marriages
ST. CLAIR
#2393
SHIELDS, WALTER & SHARP, EMELINE
April 20, 1903
Webpage by: Audrey (Shields) Hancock
Created: 6 September 2008 Revised: 7 September 2008
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