Ray County, Missouri Biographies - Samuel B. Shirky (b. 1840)

Source: History of Ray County, Missouri 1881; p. 741


SAMUEL B. SHIRKY

Samuel B. Shirky was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, on the 1st day of September, 1840. He
attended the common schools of the neighborhood, and after he grew up remained at home, working
on the farm until the beginning of the war between the states. He enlisted in the Confederate
army in August, 1861, company H., 10th Virginia cavalry, Hampton’s brigade. He was engaged in
the battle of Gettysburg, the seven days fight around Richmond and at Spottsylvania court house.
He was paroled after the surrender of General Lee, at Appomattox court house, and returning home
resumed the business of farming. In the spring of 1869, he came to Missouri and located where he
now resides, section twenty-six, township fifty-three, range twenty-six, in Ray county. He owns
one hundred and sixty acres of very productive land, all in a high state of cultivation except
about twenty acres of timber land. Upon this land is a large spring affording water sufficient
for hundreds of head of stock. He has two thrifty young orchards, besides small fruits and grapes
in great abundance. He has a handsome commodious residence, and a barn unusually large, well
arranged and convenient for the accommodation of all his live stock, hay, grain and agricultural
implements. For the past four years Mr. Shirky has been seeding his fields successfully in blue
grass, timothy and clover, in order to convert them into a stock farm exclusively. He now handles
all the live stock the size of his farm will allow. He has some very fine graded cattle and is
constantly improving his herd. Samuel B. Shirky was married in the year 1865, to Miss Catharine
Zigler, a native of Rockingham county, Virginia. They are the parents of eight children, six of
whom are now living: John H., Anna C., Gideon E., Joseph B., Sallie V., and Emma F. Mr. Shirky
and his wife are both members of the German Baptist Church. His parents, David and Catharine
Shirky, are both natives of Rockingham county, Virginia, and both still living. Mr. Shirky has
a model farm, and he conducts it very successfully.

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