Meeker County MN Archives Biographies.....Shelley, James 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 November 16, 2014, 9:34 pm

Source: See Below
Author: Alden, Ogle & Co.

JAMES SHELLEY. Among the prominent pioneers of Darwin township, and well-to-do
farmers, there is none that has more influence in the community in which he
lives than the subject of this sketch. He has his residence upon section 26, on
his fine farm of 500 acres, 120 of which are under a high state of cultivation,
where he carries on agricultural pursuits.

Mr. Shelley is a native of Ireland, born in County Tipperary, in the parish of
Loughmore, where his fathers and ancestors had lived from time immemorial. In
1848, that eventful year in Irish history, he left his native land and
disembarked at New York after a long voyage, and for over seven years was
employed at Wilberham, Mass. At the expiration of that time he came West, and
after one week spent in Wisconsin, settled in Meeker county. April 29, 1857, he
took a claim by preemption, the northeast quarter of section 22, Darwin
township. At that time there were but eight or ten men settled here and the
country was in its wild and primitive condition. After putting in his crop of
potatoes, corn, etc., and working around some, he went to Minneapolis and fired
on board the steamer H. M. Rice, then plying upon the river. Returning to his
farm, he passed the winter here and made this his home until the Indian troubles
of 1862. Before this he had been accustomed to trade with the Sioux and found
them peacefully inclined, although they would steal whatever they could lay
their hands on. When he heard of the outbreak he was harvesting, but at once
went to Forest City, and the next morning started for Clearwater, where he went
to work for Eugene Baldwin. Shortly after he came back and procured some of his
things and returned to Clearwater. He was back and forth several times, and in
the fall took some of his stock to Minneapolis, and then returned and passed the
winter here. He then went to Minneapolis and remained nearly all the time,
occasionally coming to his place to see about it, until the spring of 1865, when
he came to stay and has lived on his place ever since.

Mr. Shelley was married in 1866 to Miss Mary Vaughan, in Minneapolis, and by
this union there have been born four children – William, John, Daniel and James,
all of whom are still living. Both Mr. and Mrs. Shelley are members of the Roman
Catholic Church and prompt in the fulfillment of their religious duties.

Additional Comments:
Extracted from 
Illustrated Album of Biography
Meeker and McLeod Counties, Minnesota
1888


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