BIO: James Wittee SHANNON, Huntingdon County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Dave Wilson Copyright 2007. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ************************************************************** __________________________________________________________ McElroy, James Thomas Jr., McElroy's Family Memories, Huntingdon, PA: (Author), 1930, page 199. __________________________________________________________ REV. JAMES WITTEE SHANNON, A.B., A.M., D.D. Mount Union, Pa. Minister Lutheran Church: They, who labor for the betterment of mankind and who seek to impart wisdom are performing a mission which must bring forth a harvest, worthy of their efforts, and one who ministers to the sick and dying, who stands by the grave and administers the last sad rites of the departed, renders the highest type of service that can be attained. This Dr. Shannon has done for forty-two years, almost the average span of life. Dr. Shannon was born at Centre Hall, Centre Co., Pa., September 16, 1863; and in the common schools of Milroy, Pa., he obtained a preliminary education that fitted him later on to attend the Missionary Institute, now that bulwark of Lutheranism, Susquehanna University, which has turned out so many noble men, who have braved the storm of atheism, and whose adherents have held aloft the banner of Christianity. The Rev. Samuel G. Shannon was his father and Eliza V. (Herring) Shannon his mother; both are deceased. At Wittenberg College, Springfield, Ohio, in 1885, Dr. Shannon received the degree of A.B., and later on Susquehanna University bestowed the A.M. and D.D. degree. For thirty years at Elysburg, Pa., he held the pastorate, from 1887 to 1917, and in 1917 he was called to the pastorate of Mount Union, Pa. He is Secretary of the Synod and President of the Conference. A Republican ordinarily, and belongs to the Masonic Fraternity. Has two brothers, George H., Watsontown, Pa.; J. Preston, Norwood, Pa. Sisters are: Mrs. A. Buys, Jasper, Indiana, and Mrs. A.B. Van Valzah, Springfield, Oregon; one sister is deceased, Mrs. M.S. Roak, Norwood, Pa. Dr. Shannon was married to Mary I. Gearhart. Two sons: Rev. Lester G. Shannon, DuBois, Pa., received degree of B.D. from Juniata College; Rev. James S. Shannon, Jennerstown. Both are graduates of Susquehanna University and Seminary. Under Dr. Shannon's pastorate the church has taken on a broader field of usefulness.