BIO: Joseph SHAW, Clearfield County, PA
 
Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja & Sally

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/

NOTE: Use this web address to access other bios:
http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/clearfield/1picts/swoope/swoope.htm
_____________________________________________________________

From Twentieth Century History of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania,
and Representative Citizens, by Roland D. Swoope, Jr.,
Chicago: Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, 1911, pages 394 & 395.
_____________________________________________________________ 

  JOSEPH SHAW, deceased, for many years was a representative citizen of 
Clearfield county, largely identified with the lumber industry and later a 
leading general merchant at Clearfield.  He was born March 26, 1817, on his 
father's farm in Bradford township, Clearfield county, Pa., and was a son of 
Richard and Mary (Irwin) Shaw.
  Richard Shaw was born in County Derry, Ireland, February 2, 1792.  His 
parents, Archibald and Mary (Campbell) Shaw, emigrated to the United States 
when Richard was yet small.  They settled first in Chester county, from there 
moved to Mifflin county, and in 1810, to Clearfield county, their first 
purchased farm being situated in what is now the borough limits of Clearfield.  
Richard Shaw became extensively interested in both farming and lumbering and 
for many years was active in business and public life.  In 1816 he married a 
daughter of Henry Irwin.  Mrs. Shaw was born in Philadelphia and accompanied 
her parents in childhood to Clearfield county.  A large family of children were 
born to Richard Shaw and wife, the eldest of those who reached maturity being 
the late Joseph Shaw, whose death occurred at Clearfield, in 1907.
  Joseph Shaw grew to manhood on the family estate in Lawrence township and 
enjoyed such educational advantages as were obtainable at that day.  He 
inherited much of his father's business energy and capacity and very early 
interested himself in lumbering and conducted a saw-mill on Lick Run.  
Subsequently, for many years, he operated other business concerns successfully, 
conducting a general store at Clearfield until he retired in 1874.  He was a 
Jeffersonian Democrat in his views on public questions, accepted official 
responsibilities at times and served as treasurer of Clearfield county.  While 
he was noted for his keen business perceptions, he was equally respected for 
his sterling traits of character.
  Joseph Shaw married Miss Elizabeth Fulton, who died February 8, 1892, at the 
age of seventy-two years.  She was a daughter of Samuel Fulton, who was one of 
the first, perhaps the very first surveyor of Clearfield county.  Five children 
were born to Joseph and Elizabeth Shaw, namely:  R. Newton, Cornelia, Thaddeus 
H., Ella C. and Alice.  The two survivors are Thaddeus H. and Ella C., both of 
whom reside at Clearfield.  R. Newton Shaw, formerly sheriff of Clearfield 
county, died March 12, 1905; Cornelia died in 1872, and Alice died in 1882.  
Joseph Shaw and family were members of the Presbyterian church.  The Shaw 
family has been so prominently identified with the history of Clearfield county 
that the prospering town of Shawville appropriately perpetuates the name.