Los Angeles County CA Archives Biographies.....Shively, Daniel 1846 - 1907
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Author: Luther A. Ingersoll (1908)

DANIEL SHIVELY.

    The names of Daniel Shively, with that of his most estimable widow, are
intimately associated with the history of the City of Sawtelle. Mr. Shively was
a native of Ohio and was born in Hardin County, October 24th, 1846. At the age
of nine years he was compelled to assume responsibilities to aid in support of
the family that usually come to men only. Upon the breaking out of the Civil War
he enlisted in the 130th Indiana Infantry and served in the ranks for a period
of three years, participating in many of the bloodiest battles of the conflict.
He was twice wounded, an injury to his head causing him pain up to the day of
his death. After mustering out of the army, Mr. Shively followed contracting in
brick work near Lima, Ohio.

    In 1876 he married at Fort Wayne, Indiana, Miss Sarah Lucelia Booth, a
daughter of Sidney Smith and Mary Jane (Whaiples) Booth, of Mentor, Ohio. Mr.
Booth was of English parentage, a son of Sir John Booth, Earl of Booth Ford,
North of England, a landlord of wealth and high social standing. He came to
America and located at Mentor. Sidney Smith Booth latterly located with his
family at Paynesville, Ohio, and it was here that Mrs. Shively spent her
girlhood. She was educated in a private school under the care of a governess.
Mrs. Mary Jane Whaiples Booth was a direct descendent of William Whaiples, who
was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

    Immediately after marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Shively came west to Peru, Kansas,
where he engaged in farming and she, meantime, taught school. Later they lived
at Dedan, Chanute and finally at Chard, Kansas, where they engaged extensively
in merchandising and where he held the office of postmaster. Here they suffered
severe loss by fire—the store with a valuable stock of merchandise all going up
in smoke. Mr. and Mrs. Shively then went to Coffeyville, Kansas, and she engaged
in the restaurant business, while he conducted a photograph gallery. In 1888
they came to California and for a time lived on Spring Street, Los Angeles. In
1901 they located at Sawtelle when the now thrifty little city was in its
infancy. They invested in town property and became a factor in its industrial
social and civic advancement.

    Mr. Shively was in every way a most exemplary and useful citizen. He was a
devout member of the religious order of Dunkards, was broad in his piety and
tolerant of the religious beliefs of others. He was an honored member of
Burnside Post, No. 188, G. A. R., of Sawtelle, and the following tribute to his
memory is quoted from a Memorial Address of the Post published in the Sawtelle
Sentinel:

    "In the death of Daniel Shively, another name is stricken from the ever
lessening list of the G. A. R. He was a man of generous impulses and never
forgot the hospitable ways of the pioneer. The stranger and the beggar never
failed to find food and shelter at his hands. He was often at the bedside of the
sick, and he delighted in the performance of all kinds of neighborly offices. He
was a man of sound sense and strong convictions. He was candid and outspoken in
his convictions. He lived nobly and died peacefully."

    Mr. Shively died June 26th, 1907, the result of a stroke of paralysis about
six months previous thereto. The funeral obsequies took place at the Baptist
Church, the Rev. George Taylor preaching the sermon which was followed by the
service of the G. A. R. and the W. R. C. Interment was in Sunset Cemetery, at
which a choir rendered his favorite hymn, Only Remembered By What I Have Done.

    Mrs. Shively is one of the most widely and favorably known of the women of
Sawtelle. Upon arrival there she plunged into local work for the social,
spiritual and civic upbuilding of the community. She worked diligently for the
establishment of the first day school in Sawtelle, and was one of the prime
movers for the first Sunday School, contributing the necessary funds to
establish the same at Wyant's Hall on Fourth Street. She is prominent in the
work of the W. R. C. and has served three terms as its patriotic instructor. The
following resolution of respect will indicate the esteem in which she is held by
the corps:

    "WHEREAS, That while we recognize that the present success and prosperity of
this Corps is due to the earnest efforts of all its members, we would at this
time especially honor our Patriotic Instructor, Sarah L. Shively, the organizer
of this Corps, who has by her generosity and constant efforts for the betterment
of the Corps, won our highest esteem and deepest gratitude. Therefore be it

    RESOLVED, That Sarah L. Shively be recognized and honored as the Mother of
Burnside W. R. C., No. 105, G. A. R.; that the proper record be made on our
minutes and a copy of this resolution properly attested be given to Mrs.
Shively, and that our Post be duly notified of our action.

                                          Elmira J. Stewart, C. P.
    Seville A. Gray, Secretary.

    She is a leading "Rebecca" and has served two terms as Chaplain in the local
lodge. In 1904 she organized and uniformed the Sawtelle Guards, made up of
twelve of Sawtelle's brightest boys, which became a feature of the social life
of the new town. She was the leading spirit in the organization of the Sawtelle
Cemetery Association, of which she is now secretary and treasurer.

    Mrs. Shively has been a leading spirit in all communities fortunate enough
to claim her as a member. Los Angeles was comparatively a small city when, in
1888, Mr. and Mrs. Shively came from the east and located there. Mrs. Shively
was soon discovered and enlisted in the work of the Chamber of Commerce, then
just organized and located in Mott Market, and served as one of the active
members of its directing committee. Later they lived near Tropico and were
instrumental in securing the betterment of the highways between Tropico and Los
Angeles, notably the building of the old Walnut Street bridge, crossing the
Arroyo Seco at Twentieth Avenue—a result of her individual effort. While a
resident near Tropico and the Southern Pacific Ry. track she, one dark night, in
1890, hearing unusual sounds of distress and though ill, ventured out to learn
its source, and discovered that a team of horses had run away onto the railway
right of way and fallen into a cattle guard, breaking their legs and obstructing
the track. She rushed to the house, lighted a lamp and returned barely in time
to flag an oncoming passenger train by frantically swinging her light across the
track. Such heroism is certainly worthy of marked recognition, yet Mrs. Shively
relates it as the performance of an act of duty simply.

    Mrs. Shively, while a practical, discerning and alert woman of action, is at
once inherently retiring and unobtrusive. She is nevertheless found wide awake
when occasion demands and duty calls.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Ingersoll's century history, Santa Monica Bay cities: prefaced with a brief
history of the state of California, a condensed history of Los Angeles County,
1542 to 1908: supplemented with an encyclopedia of local biography and
embellished with views of historic landmarks and portraits of representative
people.

Los Angeles: Luther A. Ingersoll (1908)


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