BIOGRAPHY
of
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN3 SHIELDS
s/o Patrick2 Shields (Daniel1) and (2) Selina (Freeman) Rustof
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN3 SHIELDS
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 |
BENJAMIN FRANKIN3 "Frank" SHIELDS, son of Patrick2 SHIELDS (Daniel1) and (2) Selina FREEMAN, was born 13 April 1847 in Darke County, Ohio.1
In 1860 Benjamin Franklin was 13 years old and resided with Jacob and Melinda Harman2, while his sister, Elizabeth, resided with Frank and Mary Harman. Benjamin and Elizabeth's parents (Patrick & 2nd wife, Selina) had moved to Van Buren Township in Darke County, Ohio.
He married 5 August 1868 in Darke County, Ohio to Sarah Ann WEAVER, daughter of Joel WEAVER & Maria SHULL3 born 18 July 1848.
In 1870, Benjamin "Franklin" Shields, a teamster, and Sarah were living in the Delisle (Gettysburg Post Office) of Van Buren Township, Darke County, Ohio. They were the parents of one year old Daniel Elmer Shields.4 Living nearby were his parents, Patrick & Selina Shields.
Delisle, Darke County, Ohio Joseph Eichelberger saw mill fireman lot owner Stephen Allread farmer lot owner Wilson Reed grocer lot owner Franklin Shields teamster renter1 Patrick Shields retired grocer lot owner2 Carmen Lambertson wagon maker renter Alfred Floid (Floyd) teamster lot owner Nelson J. Lambertson wagon maker lot owner John Shower teamster lot owner William C. McCool dry goods & general merchandise lot owner William H. McCool dry goods & merchandise clerk boarder John W. McCool dry goods and general merchant lot owner Abram Williams farmer lot owner Francis Meadows country blacksmith - renter 1Benjamin Franklin Shields (1847-1944), s/o Patrick Shields (Daniel) & (2) Selina Freeman 2Patrick Shields (1784-1877), s/o Daniel Shields & Mary [--?--] |
By 1880, B. F. was a farmer residing in Neave Township of Darke County, Ohio. He and Sarah were listed as being the parents of Elmer, Cora, Lizzie, and Crawford.5
The Darke County, Ohio Birth Records, record E. L. Shields (female) having been born 17 November 1888 in Neave Township, but by the time of the 1900 U. S. Federal Census she appears to have been deceased.6
Next in 1900, we find Benjamin Franklin back in Van Buren Township, Darke County, Ohio continuing in farming. Benjamin and Sarah had been married 32 years, and the only child at home was Ora W.. Sarah had stated that she had six children, but only 5 were living.7
Benjamin Franklin as "Frank" and Sarah had moved again to another farm by the time of the 1910 U. S. Federal Census to the East Precinct in Greenville Township, Darke County, Ohio. At this time they had their 12 year old grandson, Virgil Garrett, and 8 year old granddaughter, Hazel Shields, living with them.8
In 1920, their grandson, Virgil Garrett, was the only one residing with B. Frank and Sarah in Greenville Township, Darke County, Ohio. Benjamin Franklin was the owner of the farm, but appears to have been retired with Virgil doing the farming.9
After 69 years of married life, Benjamin Franklin Shields lost his beloved Sarah Ann at the age of 89 years and 5 months. Like his father and grandfather, he lived a long life and was to survive for another seven years. He died on 8 May 1944 at the age of 97 years and 25 days in Greenville Township, Darke County, Ohio.
Funeral services for Frank Shields, 97, lifelong resident of this county were held at Abbottsville, Thursday afternoon of last week (May 11), with Rev. E.V. Loucks officiating and burial was made in the cemetery there. He was one of the countys oldest citizens and died Monday evening (May 8) at his home two miles east of Greenville. He was one of a family of eleven children, the son of the late Patrick and Celina Boyd Shields and was engaged in farming for more than 50 years. Two sons, Crawford of Greenville and Ora of Dayton and two daughters Mrs. Cora Beumee and Mrs. Elizabeth Slade both of Greenville are the immediate survivors. There are 14 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren. |
In death, they lie together at the Abbottsville Cemetery, in Van Buren Township, Darke County, Ohio.
Marilyn (WRIGHT) SHIELDS of Springfield, OH
Will Book Z, Page 419 B. F. Shields, decd. Residence Greenville Township No surviving spouse Heirs: |
1. Daniel Elmer Shields born 8 March 1869 Van Buren Twp., Darke County, Ohio; married 1 January 1891 Darke County, Ohio (1) Ionia L. Hartzell. Marriage ended in divorce. Daniel then married (2) Cora [--?--]. He died 6 June 1935.
2. Cora Shields born 22 March 1871 Van Buren Twp., Darke County, Ohio. Darke County, Ohio Birth Records name Cora Shields and Leslie Routzong as parents of Virgil Shields (2 September 1897)... later Virgil C. Garrett b 1897. Cora married 19 November 1899 to (1) Philip Garrett, and in 1900 Census, Virgil Shields was named step-son of Philip Garrett. This marriage ended in divorce. After her divorce, Cora went to Berrien County, Michigan where she worked as a servant for the O. Day Pennell family who ran a boarding house. She married (2) George Stanton. She married (3) Ulrick Beumee.
3. Ida Elizabeth Shields born 16 September 1877 Darke County, Ohio; married 26 September 1897 Darke County, Ohio to (1) Walter W. French who died. She then married (2) Wesley J. Slade. She and her husbands are buried at Abbottsville Cemetery, Van Buren Twp., Darke County, Ohio.
4. Crawford E. Shields born 4 September 1879 Darke County, Ohio; married 16 September 1900 Darke County, Ohio to Libbie Viola Rench. He died 1 May 1962. She died 16 July 1953. Both are buried Abbottsville Cemetery, Van Buren Twp., Darke County, Ohio.
5. Ora Wesley Shields born 17 November 1885 Darke County, Ohio; married 21 August 1905 to (1) Anna Puterbaugh; married to (2) Bertha [--?--].
6. Ethel Lovella Shields (Benjamin Franklin Shields/Patrick/Daniel) born 27 June 1888, died 11 October 1892, age 4y 3m 14d, buried Abbottsville Cemetery, Van Buren Twp., Darke County, Ohio.
1 Anita (Bowers) Short & Ruth Bowers, DANIEL SHIELDS Family Lineages, ca 1970; Research of Audrey (Shields) Hancock; Internet, July-August 2008, E-mail to ASH: ALBS
2 1860 U. S. Federal Census
1860 U. S. Federal Census
Preble County, Ohio
Harrison Township
Page 101
#761-734
Jacob Harman, 41, male, farmer, Real Estate $1500, Personal Property $250, b OH
Melinda _____, 26, female, b OH
Henry _____, 8, male, b OH
John _____, 4, male, b OH
Rachel _____, 1, female, b OH
B. F. Shields, 13, male, b OH
B. F.'s sister, Elizabeth age 10, was living at #762-735 with Frank and Mary Harman. Their parents, Patrick & Selina were residing in Van Buren Township, Darke County, Ohio(Internet, Heritage Quest: Series: M653 Roll: 1026 Page: 51 Image: 53)
32000, Research of Marilyn Shields
"Sarah was born in Darke County in 1848. Her father was Joel Weaver and her mother was Maria Shull. The Weavers came to Darke County by way of the Germanna Colony in Virginia after their g-grandparents came here from Germany."
4 1870 U. S. Federal Census
1870 Ohio Census
Darke County
Van Buren Township
P.O.: Gettysburg
Page 28
23 August 1870
#205-193Franklin Shields, 23, male, white, teamster, Personal Property $118, born Ohio
Sarah Shields, 22, female, white, keeping house, born Ohio
Elmar (Elmer) Shields, 1, male, white, at home, born Ohio
Living at #206-194 were his parents: Patrick Shields & Selina Freeman (as Salina Shields)(Internet, Heritage Quest: Series: M593 Roll: 1194 Page: 345 Image: 29)
5 1880 U. S. Federal Census
1880 U. S. Federal Census
Darke County
Neave Township
P.O.: New Harrison
Page 9
4-5 June 1880
#81-85Shields, B.F., white, male, 33, married, farmer, b Ohio, father b Ireland, mother b Ohio
_______, Sarah, white, female, 31, married, keeping house, b Ohio, father b Ohio, mother b Ohio
_______, Elmer, white, male, 11, son, single, b Ohio, father b Ohio, mother b Ohio
_______, Cora, white, female, 9, daughter, single, b Ohio, father b Ohio, mother b Ohio
_______, Lizzie, white, female, 2, daughter, single, b Ohio, father b Ohio, mother b Ohio
_______, Crawford, white, male, 9/12, (born in August) son, born August, b Ohio, father b Ohio, mother b Ohio
(Internet, Heritage Quest: Series: T9 Roll: 1010 Page: 270 Image: 5)
6 A daughter is born, then apparently dies before she is 2 years old.
Born: 17 November 1888 Neave Township, Darke County, Ohio
Father: B. F. Shields; Mother: S. A. Weaver
(Source: Darke Co., OH Birth Records 1867-1908, Vol. 5, p. 96)
7 1900 U. S. Federal Census
1900 U. S. Federal Census
Darke County
Van Buren Township
Page 144
20 June 1900
#248-252Shields, Benjamin F., Head, white, male, Apr 1847, 53, married 32y, b Ohio, father b Ireland, mother b Ohio, farmer
_______, Sarah A., wife, white, female, July 1848, 52, married, 6 ch/ 5 living; keeping house, b Ohio, father b Pennsylvania, mother b Pennsylvania
_______, Ora W., son, white, male, Nov 1885, 14, single, born August, b Ohio, father b Ohio, mother b Ohio; farm laborer
(Internet, Heritage Quest: Series: T623 Roll: 1262 Page: 144 Image: 24)
8 1910 U. S. Federal Census
1910 U. S. Federal Census
Darke County
Greenville Township
East Precinct
Page 217
29-30 April 1910
#146-149Shields, Frank (sic) F., Head, male, white, 63, married 41y, b Ohio, father b Ireland, mother b Ohio, farm, general farm
_______, Sarah A., wife, female, white, female, 62, married, 6 ch/ 5 living; b Ohio, father b Pennsylvania, mother b Ohio
_______, Hazel, granddaughter, female, white, 8, single, b Ohio, father b Ohio, mother b Ohio; farm laborer
Garrett, Virgil, grandson, male, white, 12, single, b Ohio, father b Ohio, mother b Ohio
(Internet, Heritage Quest: Series: T624 Roll: 1163 Page: 217)
9 1920 U. S. Federal Census
1920 U. S. Federal Census
Darke County
Greenville Township
Page 165
15-16 January1920
#147-151Shields, B. Frank, Head, Owner, Mortgage, male, white, 72, married, b Ohio, father b Ireland, mother b Ohio, general farming
_______, Sarah A., wife, female, white, 71, married; b Ohio, father b Pennsylvania, mother b Pennsylvania
Garrett, Virgil, grandson, male, white, 22, single, b Ohio, father b Ohio, mother b Ohio; farmer, general farming
(Internet, Heritage Quest: Series: T625 Roll: 1358 Page: 165)
Webpage by: Audrey (Shields) Hancock
Created: 14 August 2008 Revised: 31 August 2008
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