BIO: Richard 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 399 & 400. _____________________________________________________________ RICHARD SHAW, deceased, was once a man of high business standing and public station in Clearfield county, Pa. He was born in County Derry, Ireland, February 2, 1792, and was a son of Archibald and Mary (Campbell) Shaw. Archibald Shaw was born in County Donegal, Ireland. His wife was also of Irish birth but probably of Scotch ancestry. Soon after the birth of their second son, Richard, they came to America and found their first home in Chester county, Pa. From there they moved to Mifflin county and from there, in 1810, to Clearfield county. Archibald Shaw and wife spent the remainder of their lives on the farm on which they then settled, living into the seventies. Richard Shaw was reared on the home farm, which was situated two miles north of the borough of Clearfield. When twenty-four years of age he married and then located in Bradford township, Clearfield county, and for four years lived on a tract of 100 acres, locally known as Bird Lands. From there he moved into Lawrence township and soon became interested in both farming and lumbering, acquiring in the course of years extensive tracts of land on the west side of the Susquehanna River. He was a man of extraordinary enterprise and for years carried on farm industries, operated saw-mills and engaged in merchandising. He also led his fellow citizens in public affairs and served continuously as a justice of the peace for years and also served in the office of associate judge. He lived to be eighty-four years of age, his death occurring in 1876. Richard Shaw was married in 1816 to Miss Mary Irwin, a daughter of Henry Irwin, who came to Clearfield county as a pioneer from Philadelphia, where Mrs. Shaw was born. A large family of children were born to them and those who reached mature years were the following: Joseph, who resides at Clearfield; Jane, who is now deceased, was the wife of Dr. Hills, of Clearfield; Mary E., who is deceased, was the wife of John Patterson; A. Henry and Richard, both of whom are deceased; Margaret, who became the wife of William A. Wallace, of Clearfield; William (deceased), and A. B., who resides at Clearfield. Richard Shaw and wife were members of the Presbyterian church. The town of Shawville perpetuates their honored name.