Bucks County PA Archives Biographies.....Shelly, Andrew B.
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joe Patterson, Patricia Bastik & Susan Walters Dec 2009

Source: History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania; edited by 
J.H. Battle; A. Warner & Co.; 1887
Milford Township


   ANDREW B. SHELLY clergyman, P.O. Milford Square, was born 
in this township in 1834.  The original Shellys emigrated 
from Germany or Switzerland about 1730.  Jacob, the 
grandfather of our subject, was the great-grandson of 
Abraham Shelly, who emigrated from Europe, settled himself 
in this township, and from whom a now numerous Shelly 
family, scattered in different parts of our country, 
originated.  Jacob was the father of ten children.  His 
second son, Joseph, married Elizabeth, daughter of Andrew 
and Elizabeth (Bechtel) Bauer, of Montgomery county.  This 
couple were the parents of four children:  one son, our 
subject, and three daughters, the youngest daughter now 
deceased.  The father died in 1872, and his wife is now 
living at the age of 77 years.  Mr. Shelly's early education 
was received at the parochial and common schools, and at the 
age of 18 he commenced teaching school during the winter 
months, attending school part of his time during the summer. 
 The remainder of his time during the summer he devoted to 
work on his father's farm, and private study.  He continued 
teaching for ten years.  In 1854, as also in 1857, he was a 
student at Freeland seminary, now Ursinus college, in 
Montgomery county.  In 1858 he married Fannie, daughter of 
Joseph and Mary (Shelly) Weinberger, of this township.  The 
issue of this union is five children:  Mary Lizzie (Mrs. 
Clymer), Adeline (Mrs. Stauffer), Joseph, Menno, and Oswin.  
The first two sons are now teachers, and Oswin is a student 
at West Chester Normal school.  In 1864 Mr. Shelly entered 
the ministry, being a teacher and leader of the doctrines of 
the Mennonite religion, and is now a minister at East and 
West Swamp and Flatland churches.  For a period of fifteen 
years he was editor of the "Mennonitische Friedensbote," a 
church paper, which was printed at Milford Square.  Since 
then he was for some time associate editor of the 
"Christliche Bundesbote," a German paper, published in the 
interests of the Mennonite church at Berne, Indiana.  At 
present he is one of the editors of the "Mennonite," an 
English church paper, published at Philadelphia.  He has 
occupied a prominent position in his church; being president 
of the triennial general conference and a member of both the 
foreign mission and publication boards of the same.  Mr. 
Shelly, from early life, has been a faithful and ardent 
worker in whatever cause he undertook.